Principal Scientist

Mission Support and Test Services, LLC (MSTS) manages and operates the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Our mission is to ensure the security of the United States and its allies by providing high‑hazard experimentation and incident response capabilities through operations, engineering, education, field, and integration services while acting as environmental stewards to the site’s Cold War legacy.

(See NNSS.gov for our unique capabilities.)

• MSTS offers full‑time employees highly competitive salaries and benefits packages including medical, dental, and vision; a pension and a 401(k); paid time off and 96 hours of paid holidays; relocation (if located more than 75 miles from work location); tuition assistance and reimbursement; and more.
• MSTS is a limited liability company consisting of Honeywell International Inc. (Honeywell), Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (Jacobs), and HII Nuclear Inc.

The Stockpile Experimentation and Operations, Technology and Operations (SEO T&O) Directorate is seeking a highly motivated individual with a strong work ethic and willingness to learn to join the Radiography and Imaging Systems Team within the Dynamic Instruments Section of SEO T&O. Dynamic Instruments is comprised of approximately 35 scientists, engineers, and technicians, and is the core for innovative diagnostic design, simulation, fabrication, characterization, and fielding in support of the NNSS’ stockpile stewardship mission.

• Responsible for operating diagnostic equipment such as optical imaging equipment, cameras, lens systems, oscilloscopes, lasers, function generators, delay generators, fiber‑optic inspection and cleaning equipment, etc.
• Develop solutions for a range of complex problems and issues related to beamline diagnostic development.
• Oversee and conduct research, data compilation, and data analysis.
• Oversee and contribute to the research and development of new beam‑line diagnostics or upgrades to current diagnostics.
• Serve as a discipline‑specific subject matter expert to other scientists, engineers, and management, both internal to the NNSS and with external collaborators.
• Coordinate work efforts through interaction with peers, project leaders, supervisors/managers, both internal to the NNSS and external collaborators.
• Define and develop technical proposals.
• Participate in fielding optical and electrical diagnostics at large facilities.
• Foster a work environment that supports open communication and trust.
• Represent the NNSS at conferences, workshops, and meetings.

• Bachelor’s degree in a calculus‑based (STEM) field, plus 9 years of relevant experience.
  • Skill‑building experience must demonstrate either deeper technical specialization or additional cross‑disciplinary knowledge. Graduate research experience may be recognized.
• Experience developing and fielding plasma diagnostics and dynamic experiments.
• Executes work in a disciplined manner to demonstrate compliance with laws, codes, orders, and MSTS policies and procedures.
• Must be willing and able to travel as required by the job.
• The primary work location will be at Los Alamos Operations, located in Los Alamos, New Mexico.
• Work schedule will be 4/10s Monday through Thursday (subject to change).
• Pre‑placement physical examination, which includes a drug screen, is required. MSTS maintains a substance‑abuse policy that includes random drug testing.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.

MSTS is required by DOE directive to conduct a pre‑employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants offered employment with MSTS are also subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or material if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance.

Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties…