Chief Engineer

Oak Ridge National Laboratory•Oak Ridge, TN

12d

About The Position

The Plasma Facing Components & Engineering (PFCE) Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory seeks a Chief Engineer experienced with DOE or DOD scientific experimental operating facilities. The role develops methods for consistent, efficient, and reliable system operations and plans schedules for maintenance, repairs, and upgrades for the Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (MPEX). MPEX is a linear plasma device under construction at ORNL that expands fusion reactor–relevant materials science capabilities, particularly plasma material interaction research. It is designed to deliver steady-state plasmas to targets at heat fluxes of 10 MW·m⁻² and particle fluences of 10³¹ m⁻² for up to two weeks. Its plasma source and heating systems use 13.56 MHz, 4–9 MHz, and 70 or 105 GHz sources, enabling independent control of ion and electron temperatures. The PFCE Division conducts experiment-based research and development in support of the U.S. DOE Fusion Energy Sciences Program. The Chief Engineer serves as the primary design authority for MPEX engineering policies and procedures, coordinates preventive maintenance and upgrade schedules, improves equipment reliability and availability, and works with multidisciplinary research scientists and engineers to maintain scientific productivity. The position may require occasional shift support, including call-ins and work outside normal hours. It also requires supporting a safe, efficient work environment and compliance with environment, safety, health, and quality procedures and programs. Employment at ORNL requires Real ID-compliant identification and the ability to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card, including passing a Federal Tier 1 background investigation. Employees who have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years must instead obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only risk determination until eligible for a PIV credential.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, physics, or a related field, with at least 20 years of applicable experience.
Experience with formal project management protocols for large integrated technology platforms.
Experience in broadcast, military, medical, or scientific applications.
Experience designing, specifying, and procuring system components.
Experience with electromagnetic safety considerations and FCC regulations.

Nice To Haves

Experience in control system theory and techniques.
15 years of experience in RF engineering, including high-power RF generation and system integration.
Experience in routine operation of RF systems, including high-power RF system equipment.
Experience with RF measurements and associated test equipment.
Experience making measurements using oscilloscopes, RF network analyzers, RF power meters, and other RF measurement techniques.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary design authority for MPEX engineering policies and procedures.
Coordinate preventive maintenance and upgrade schedules to align with MPEX scientific mission goals.
Develop maintenance plans to improve reliability and availability of system equipment.
Strengthen and standardize engineering discipline across teams.
Perform failure analysis of MPEX system equipment and propose reliability upgrades.
Create and maintain documentation, including operating procedures for system equipment and ancillary systems.
Work with multidisciplinary teams of research scientists and engineers in fusion energy research to maintain a high level of scientific productivity.
Provide occasional shift support for MPEX operations, including call-ins and off-normal work hours.
Ensure a safe and efficient work environment and compliance with ESH&Q procedures and programs.
Align behaviors, priorities, and interactions with ORNL’s core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service, and promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace.