This position is open for external candidates only to apply.
What You Will Do
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is seeking a visionary Chief Engineer for Nuclear Criticality Safety (NCS) Division. This is a high-impact technical leadership role reserved for individuals with a national reputation for excellence in nuclear criticality safety and nuclear facility operations.
As the Chief Engineer, you will serve as the primary technical authority on NCS for LANL, ensuring that the Laboratory's most complex nuclear operations are conducted with the strongest criticality safety safety practices applied. You will bridge the gap between groundbreaking R&D and operational excellence, shaping the national agenda for nuclear safety and technology. You will report to the NCS Division Leader but work semi-independent. The selected candidate is expected to have a large breadth of knowledge of all the disciplines and activities that are required to support a nuclear facility.
Key Responsibilities:
Visionary Leadership: Define the long-term technical roadmap for the NCS Division, identifying and developing new capabilities to meet national security challenges
Technical Authority: Serve as a national authority, influencing DOE/NNSA standards and participating in national panels (e.g. CSSG) or professional society leadership (e.g., ANS)
Project Oversight: Lead large-scale, high-impact technical projects that integrate cross-institutional teams to solve challenges presented by the nuclear deterrence complex
Strategic Policy: Navigate the intersection of nuclear safety and nuclear operations supporting national security missions, providing expert recommendations to senior Laboratory management and government leaders
Mentorship: Champion a culture of technical excellence by mentoring the next generation of NCS leaders and fostering an inclusive, safe, and compliant work environment
Peer Recognition: Maintain a prolific record of seminal technical products, including journal papers, patents, and invited presentations at the national level
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
Authority: Recognized as a pre-eminent voice in the field with "world-class" expertise and a history of paradigm-shifting contributions
National Influence: Experience building and leading multi-institutional national teams and influencing national professional standards
Intellectual Property: A significant portfolio of seminal publications, patents, or technical products that have shaped the current state of knowledge in nuclear safety
Education/Experience: This position requires a Master's degree in Nuclear Engineering or a related STEM field and 20 years of relevant experience.
This position is subject to DOE Order 426.2, Personnel Selection, Training, and Qualification Requirements for DOE Nuclear Facilities. This DOE Order establishes entry-level requirements to ensure employees in the positions can successfully perform the requirements of the job. DOE 426.2 requires a BS degree, 2 years of job related experience and 1 year of non-reactor nuclear experience for technical support personnel who perform work independently at nuclear facilities.
Desired Qualifications:
Nuclear Criticality Standards: Deep familiarity with ANSI/ANS-8 standards and DOE Standards and Orders
Safety Management Programs ( e.g. Nuclear Safety and Fire Protection): Be well-versed in other safety management programs and able to support peer organizations and understand the cross-connects between various organizations that support nuclear facilities
Modeling & Simulation: Advanced knowledge of Monte Carlo codes (e.g., MCNP) applied to complex criticality geometries
Fissile Material Operations: Advanced knowledge of chemical and metallurgical process utilized in the processing of fissile materials
Safety Culture: An exemplary champion of personal safety, security, and the "stop work" authority
Communication: Exceptional ability to translate complex technical data into actionable insights for government officials and executive leadership
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.
Work Environment: This role involves working in a dynamic operations environment. You will interact routinely with senior Laboratory management and Department of Energy (DOE) leaders. Minimal supervision is provided; you are expected to operate with significant autonomy and build teams that accomplish strategic national goals.
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.
Note to Applicants: Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China - including the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau - as well as citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and the Russian Federation, who are not Lawful Permanent Residents ("green card" holders) are prohibited from accessing facilities that support the mission, functions, and operations of national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, which includes Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Where You Will Work
Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:
PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network
Dental and vision insurance
Free basic life and disability insurance
Paid childbirth and parental leave
Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)
Onsite gyms and wellness programs
Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)
Additional Details
Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2 (https://www.energy.gov/nnsa/articles/nnsa-sd-2062-implementation-personal-identity-verification-uncleared-contractors) . Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.
Clearance: Q (Position will be cleared to this level). Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government, and must meet eligibility requirements* for access to classified matter. This position requires a Q clearance. and obtaining such clearance requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Dependent upon the position, additional authorization to access classified information may be required, which may or may not be available to dual citizens. Receipt of a Q clearance and additional access authorization ultimately is a decision of the Federal Government and not of Triad.
*Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order 472.2 (https://www.directives.doe.gov/directives-documents/400-series/0472.2-BOrder-chg2-pgchg/@@images/file) for additional information.
DOE Order 426.2: This position is subject to DOE Order 426.2, Personnel Selection, Training, and Qualification Requirements for DOE Nuclear Facilities, which establishes entry-level requirements to ensure candidates selected for specific positions can successfully perform the requirements of the job.
New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.
Regular Position: Term status Laboratory employees applying for regular-status positions are converted to regular status.
Incentive Compensation Program: Position is eligible to participate in the Triad Incentive Compensation Program. You must be in an eligible position for a minimum of 3 months, before July 1st and remain in an eligible position as of the end of the fiscal year, September 30th. The annual distribution is prorated based on the number of months in the eligible position.
Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to applyhelp@lanl.gov or call 1-505-664-6947 option 2.
