Research and Development Associate, Verification Technologies

Requisition

Overview:

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation's most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment.

These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

We are seeking a full-time Research and Development Associate specializing in Verification Technologies to lead the development of cutting-edge safeguards verification technologies for international nuclear safeguards. This role will also lead technical analyses related to nuclear nonproliferation, particularly in advanced reactor domains. This position resides in the Verification Technologies Group of the Nonproliferation Engineering Science and Technologies (NEST) Section in the Nuclear Nonproliferation Division (NND) of the National Security Sciences Directorate (NSSD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

As part of our team, you will contribute to our group's mission to develop and implement technologies to verify that nuclear material and associated facilities are being used only for peaceful purposes, thereby strengthening global nuclear nonproliferation efforts.

The Verification Technologies Group specializes in creating innovative verification technology solutions that monitor nuclear materials and facilities across a range of applications, including domestic accountancy, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards, bilateral arms control treaties, and various national security initiatives. We have a strong emphasis on the science and engineering of radiation inspection systems including radiation portal monitoring and have established recognized expertise in supporting advanced reactor safeguards and their associated fuel cycles.

Additionally, we develop innovative technologies and systems tailored for inspector use and have played a vital role in the deployment of multiple technologies utilized by the IAEA.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

* Advance global nuclear nonproliferation efforts through innovative scientific research and technology development.

* Support senior technical staff in the design, development, testing, and documentation of safeguards and verification technologies for international nuclear safeguards and related nonproliferation applications.

* Conduct technical analyses both independently and as part of a research team to support nuclear nonproliferation efforts, particularly focusing on advanced reactor technologies.

* Independently complete assigned technical tasks and solve well-defined technical problems using established methods, procedures, and discipline techniques, with guidance from project leadership as needed.

* Assist with development and evaluation of measurement concepts, algorithms, prototypes, and experimental setups (e.g., radiation detection/measurement systems, inspector-use tools, data analysis workflows).

* Perform data analysis, develop and document code, models, or analysis tools as appropriate, and contribute to interpretation of results.

* Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across ORNL to leverage scientific capabilities relevant to verification technologies.

* Conduct research and development spanning from proof-of-concept to technology implementation and testing.

* Contribute to laboratory and field-testing activities, including preparation of test plans, execution of procedures, troubleshooting, and maintaining documentation.

* Prepare technical deliverables such as internal documentation, test reports, sponsor briefings, publications, and presentations.

* Contribute to proposal and program development.

* Collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary team members across ORNL and with external partners under the direction of project leadership.

* Maintain a strong safety culture and uphold ORNL's core values of Impact,…