Chemist/Chemical Engineer

Naval Nuclear Laboratory•West Mifflin, PA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Working at the Naval Nuclear Laboratory we foster pride in belonging to an organization whose culture is made up of these core values: Trust, Empowerment, and Collaboration. Our company promotes a positive culture while ensuring the safety and reliability of our nation's naval nuclear reactors, and training the Sailors who operate those reactors in the U.S. Navy's submarines and aircraft carrier Fleets. Looking for a lifetime career? Apply today! The Radiochemistry group of Nuclear Test Engineering provides high-quality radiochemical analysis as part of the continuous demonstration of the NNL's dedication to environmental excellence. As such, Radiochemistry supports the Bettis Environmental Monitoring Program, Bettis D&D efforts and several other organizations within NNL. The candidate will be part of a team responsible for procuring, maintaining, calibrating and upgrading analytical equipment including Gamma Spectrometers, Gross Alpha/Beta Counters, Alpha Spectrometers and Liquid Scintillation Counters. Other responsibilities include interpreting spectroscopy data, developing various methodologies and operating procedures, performing data validation, preparing and reviewing reports, performing radioactivity estimates, evaluating quality assurance checks, owning service contracts and supporting Bettis Emergency and casualty response. The candidate should be familiar with basic chemical and lab techniques and opportunities exist to develop data acquisition, data transfer, data reporting software & methods to improve analytical procedures and laboratory efficiency. The candidate should be willing to succeed while complying with environmental, safety and radiological regulatory requirements. The candidate should demonstrate the ability to work independently and in a group setting, the ability to demonstrate clear and effective communication skills both verbal and written, possess good organizational skills and have experience with improving processes. The candidate will be interfacing with Compliance organizations, Facilities organizations, Nuclear Engineering organizations, and Test Sponsors to determine sample loads, sample counting priorities, discuss data results and determine if further analyses are necessary for a given project. The individual should be able to work with vendors to upgrade existing capabilities, investigate new technologies, and implement software / network changes.

Requirements

Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in a related technical, engineering or science field and a minimum of 9 years of relevant experience; or Masters degree from an accredited college or university in a related technical, engineering or science field and a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience; or Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in a related technical, engineering, science field and a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience; or Currently a Principal Reactor Training Engineer, Refueling Engineer, or Field (RPCO) Engineer at the Company.
Familiarity with basic chemical and lab techniques.
Ability to work independently and in a group setting.
Ability to demonstrate clear and effective communication skills both verbal and written.
Good organizational skills.
Experience with improving processes.
Must be a U.S. citizen.
Applicants selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter.
Must be able to pass a drug test.

Nice To Haves

Four or more years experience working in a chemistry laboratory setting.
An understanding of Statistical Process Control (quality assurance, control charts, statistics).
A background in spectroscopy or equivalent work experience with analytical instrumentation and data analysis software.
Knowledge of data acquisition software and networking.
Environmental (RCRA, TSCA, etc.) and Radiological characterization background.
Project Management knowledge and experience.

Responsibilities

Procuring, maintaining, calibrating and upgrading analytical equipment including Gamma Spectrometers, Gross Alpha/Beta Counters, Alpha Spectrometers and Liquid Scintillation Counters.
Interpreting spectroscopy data.
Developing various methodologies and operating procedures.
Performing data validation.
Preparing and reviewing reports.
Performing radioactivity estimates.
Evaluating quality assurance checks.
Owning service contracts.
Supporting Bettis Emergency and casualty response.
Developing data acquisition, data transfer, data reporting software & methods to improve analytical procedures and laboratory efficiency.
Complying with environmental, safety and radiological regulatory requirements.
Working with vendors to upgrade existing capabilities, investigate new technologies, and implement software / network changes.
Interfacing with Compliance organizations, Facilities organizations, Nuclear Engineering organizations, and Test Sponsors to determine sample loads, sample counting priorities, discuss data results and determine if further analyses are necessary for a given project.