Science Lead Modeling and Systems Analysis Center of Excellence; Scientist

Overview

Join to apply for the Science Lead for the Modeling and Systems Analysis Center of Excellence (Scientist
4) role at Los Alamos National Laboratory
.

The Information Systems and Modeling Group (A-1) conducts applied complex systems modeling to support decision makers responsible for preparing for and responding to key national security threats. A-1's competencies include critical infrastructure resilience analysis, chemical and biological weapon plume dispersion modeling, applied quantum computing, pandemic modeling and response, wildfire modeling, and more.

LANL is standing up a Center of Excellence for Modeling and Simulation to support LANL's strategic assessments and systems analysis for joint interest with the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the Department of Defense (DoD). The Center will integrate code development, verification and validation, data management, AI applications, and hardware recommendations. As the science lead for the Center, you will lead a dynamic team of scientists and engineers who support NNSA and DoD partners in critical strategic planning roles.

Your focus will be to deliver, on short timelines, a wide breadth of decision support tools to meet the needs of DoD strategic leaders. You may identify and develop mission-relevant capabilities in areas such as AFSIM, implement a novel AI LLM approach to exploring possible conflict situations, or develop critical infrastructure resilience models. This role requires thoughtful, thorough, and timely communication with the team and with internal and external partners and sponsors.

The Candidate will interface with key LANL and DoD stakeholders to lead the identification, design, and implementation of crucial strategic planning tools. This position requires extensive DoD-relevant strategic planning expertise, deep modeling and simulation knowledge, and experience leading software development teams. Some mentoring will be provided to ensure the Candidate has the required mission background and contextual information, internal and external network, and technical understanding.

The Candidate is expected to mentor a team of staff, postdocs, and students.

Minimum

Job Requirements:

• Proficiency with Python and common third-party modules for data science, optimization, modeling, and simulation
• Proficiency developing software that integrates with various services and tools through APIs (including some that may not be well documented)
• Extensive experience designing and implementing models and simulations for complex real-world phenomena
• Extensive experience documenting software for use by non-experts
• Extensive experience collecting, organizing, and using real-world data from a variety of sources in models and simulations
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Extensive experience leading medium- to large-sized teams centered on deliverable-focused software development projects using modern industry best practices (e.g., Git Lab, CI/CD, unit/integration testing)
• Extensive experience and working knowledge of the DoD
• Extensive experience and success leading grant proposals for a variety of sponsors
• Extensive experience mentoring staff, postdocs, and students
• Ability and desire to obtain Q and SCI clearances, which requires U.S. citizenship

Education/

Experience:

Position requires a Master's degree in a STEM field from an accredited college or university and 12 years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Desired

Qualifications:

• Familiarity with standard modeling and simulation tools employed by the NNSA and DoD
• Knowledge of AFSIM and experience developing AFSIM modules
• Current Q and SCI clearances
• Experience developing software at multiple classification levels

Work Location: The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.

Position commitment: Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position in order to be eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the time required, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. The position commitment for this position is 1 year or 2 years.

Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of certain countries are prohibited from accessing facilities that support national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, including LANL.

Located in northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science for national security. Our benefits package includes PPO or High Deductible medical insurance, dental and vision, life and disability insurance, paid childbirth and parental…