Job Description
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 help 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 and by acting as environmental stewards to the Site's Cold War legacy. Our VISION is to be the user site of choice for large-scale, high-hazard, national security experimentation, with premier facilities and capabilities below ground, on the ground, and in the air. (See NNSS.gov for our unique capabilities.) Our 2,750+ professional, craft, and support employees are called upon to innovate, collaborate, and deliver on some of the more difficult nuclear security challenges facing the world today.
MSTS offers our full-time employees highly competitive salaries and benefits packages including medical, dental, and vision; both a pension and a 401k; 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.
Responsiblities
Senior Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff, Solid State Pulsed Power Physicist
Join an elite team at the forefront of national security, conducting groundbreaking research and development in defense of our nation. The Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) is seeking an exceptional candidate for a Senior Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff (Sr. DMTS) in Solid State Pulsed Power Physics, to provide unparalleled technical leadership and strategic direction for the Scorpius Accelerator project.
The Advanced Sources and Detectors (ASD) Project centers on the development of Scorpius, a multiple-pulse, single-axis linear induction accelerator radiographic system. This cutting-edge system will be critical for studying the late-time stages of implosions involving sub-critical quantities of special nuclear material within the Principal Underground Laboratory for Subcritical Experimentation (PULSE) tunnel complex at the NNSS. Scorpius relies on highly sophisticated solid-state pulsed power systems, enabling the collection of essential radiographic data vital to national security missions.
The Sr. DMTS in Solid State Pulsed Power Physics will serve as a national expert, providing ultimate technical authority, strategic guidance, and visionary leadership. This role demands a profound theoretical and practical understanding of solid-state pulsed power technologies, specifically those employed in linear induction accelerators, and a proven ability to innovate and solve the most intractable problems in high-consequence national security applications.
Key Responsibilities
Exercises recognized technical leadership, creativeness, and judgment to prove or disprove the feasibility of ideas and devices for the most complex technical problems across a broad program scope. Solutions are comprehensive in science, engineering, and business aspects and exhaustive at all levels, and are cross-disciplinary. Solutions are comprehensive in science, engineering, and business aspects and exhaustive at all levels, and are cross-disciplinary.
Serve as the subject matter expert and national technical authority on all aspects of solid-state pulsed power systems for the Scorpius Accelerator. Provide technical guidance and strategic direction during installation, commissioning, and sustained operation, ensuring the system meets stringent performance and reliability requirements.
Guide the integration and optimization of the Scorpius solid-state pulsed power systems, leveraging deep expertise in the LLNL-developed technologies, while mentoring early-career scientists and engineers. This includes critical oversight of the pulsers, modulators, and associated control and diagnostic systems to achieve precise electron beam delivery parameters.
Identify and drive advanced research and development initiatives for next-generation solid-state pulsed power technologies and methodologies relevant to future accelerator requirements at NNSS, building upon the foundation of the Scorpius pulsers.
Provide leadership in the identification, diagnosis, and resolution of the complex technical challenges related to solid-state pulsed power performance, stability, and longevity during Scorpius deployment and operation at ITS and PULSE. Champion inventive solutions to problems in this highly specialized field.
Mentor and guide a dispersed team of physicists and engineers across various career stages, fostering world-class expertise in solid-state pulsed power. Facilitate critical knowledge transfer, particularly concerning the unique characteristics and operational nuances of the LLNL-developed Scorpius pulsers.
Collaborate with ECSE and SEO leadership to formulate long-range strategic plans for the development, sustainment, and evolution of pulsed power capabilities across NNSS accelerator programs (Cygnus, ZEUS, Scorpius), ensuring alignment with national mission objectives.
Work extensively with ASD Technical Leads, NNSS System Leads, and LLNL collaborators to ensure that the requirements, capabilities, and operational parameters of the solid-state pulsed power systems are thoroughly understood, communicated, and impeccably implemented.
Develop, implement, and continuously enhance advanced operational and maintenance protocols for the solid-state pulsed power modules, aiming for maximum system uptime, reliability, and precision in their operating environments.
Represent NNSS's solid-state pulsed power expertise at national and international conferences, workshops, and review panels. Act as a primary liaison with external partners, particularly LLNL, for ongoing collaboration and technology exchange related to the Scorpius pulsers.
Provides leadership in development of new business initiatives. Develops new initiatives for additional scopes of work.
Conceives, plans, and conducts pioneering work in heretofore unexplored areas through defining customer needs, developing proposals, and by planning or modifying strategic research and development projects that will produce results meeting customer needs.
Employs expert communication skills to advise customer decision makers. Exercises extensive influence on customer management and technical experts to ensure their needs are clearly defined and their program mission objectives are met.
Defines cutting-edge projects and pioneering solutions in the scientific or technical arenas, often in unexplored areas of investigation and research that have impact on the business.
May be called upon to represent company position to headquarters or regulatory customers. As required, will provide expert advice and counsel to the national laboratories and to DOE headquarters.
Develops and presents education or training events in applicable discipline, as needed.
Occasional travel is expected.
Qualifications
Minimum Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree in an engineering program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) or Bachelor's degree in calculus-based Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) field, plus at least 20 years' relevant experience.
Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in applied physics or a related field preferred.
A Ph.D. in Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution, coupled with a minimum of 25 years of groundbreaking experience in accelerator physics and engineering, with significant contributions to accelerator technology involving Solid State Pulsed Power (highly desired).
Extensive experience on large projects and/or complex science facilities, with a history of providing engineering solutions in support of these complex facilities, with some emphasis on accelerator engineering.
Experience analyzing, designing, and/or building systems associated with particle accelerators, such as cathode structure, beam transport magnets, vacuum systems, support structures, precision alignment, fluids & gasses, precision machine design, and heat transfer management.
Experience with mechanical engineering analysis software such as ANSYS, PATRAN.
Experience planning and directing the work of designer/drafters and technicians.
Demonstrated experience successfully leading technical projects or teams.
Demonstrate effective decision-making skills, including knowledge of how and when to escalate issues to higher levels. Analyze the risks and future impact of decisions. Use cost benefit analysis in decision-making. Ability to follow written and verbal instructions, work independently, and work as part of a team.
Ability to execute work in a disciplined manner to demonstrate compliance with laws, codes, orders, policies and procedures.
The primary work location will be at the Losee Road facility in North Las Vegas, Nevada with a secondary work location at the Nevada National Security Site (located 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada).)
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 matter 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 assigned and subsequent termination of employment. In addition, Applicants for employment must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship, at least 18 years of age. Reference DOE Order 472.2 (https://www.directives.doe.gov/directives-documents/400-series/0472.2-BOrder-chg1-pgchg) , "Personnel Security". If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.
Department of Energy Q Clearance (position will be cleared to this level). Reviews and tests for the absence of any illegal drug as defined in 10 CFR Part 707.4 (http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=14b1c770db022992d237769fbe9fc519&mc=true&node=se10.4.707\14&rgn=div8) , "Workplace Substance Abuse Programs at DOE Sites," will be conducted. Applicant selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation, required to participate in subsequent reinvestigations, and must meet the eligibility requirements for access to classified matter. Successful completion of a counterintelligence evaluation, which may include a counterintelligence-scope polygraph examination, may also be required. Reference 10 CFR Part 709 (http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title10/10cfr709\main_02.tpl) , "Counterintelligence Evaluation Program."
MSTS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. MSTS is a background screening, drug-free workplace.
Annual salary range for this position is: $200,470.40 - $320,756.80
Starting salary is determined based on the position market value, the individual candidate education and experience and internal equity.
