Control Systems Engineer

LLNL•Livermore, CA

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is seeking a Control Systems Engineer to support research and development (R&D) activities and major equipment installations in a DOE Hazard Category 2 and 3 nuclear facility. The role involves providing engineering solutions for the development, implementation, commissioning, and maintenance of control systems that support facility, process, utility, safety, and production operations. You will contribute to the design and deployment of new control systems and system upgrades aimed at improving operational capability, reliability, maintainability, and safety. This position offers the opportunity to support significant R&D projects by applying expertise and creating innovative solutions. Depending on assignment, this position may offer a hybrid schedule, blending in-person and virtual presence, with potential flexibility to work from home one or more days per week. The position will be filled at either the SES.2 or SES.3 level based on assessed knowledge and experience.

Requirements

Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship.
Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer science, a controls-related engineering discipline, or a related technical field, or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
Comprehensive knowledge of hardware and software solutions for industrial, research, facility, and process control systems.
Broad experience developing data acquisition, instrumentation, automation, and control systems, including sensors, actuators, PLCs, SCADA/HMI systems, and LabVIEW applications.
Experience developing control software for data processing, calibration, equipment control, automation sequences, interlocks, and test or production applications.
Broad experience supporting control systems throughout the engineering lifecycle, from design and integration through commissioning, operation, and maintenance.
Experience applying documentation standards to drawings, procedures, requirements, statements of work, test plans, and technical reports.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience collaborating in multidisciplinary teams of scientists, engineers, technicians, designers, facility personnel, and operations staff.
Previous experience developing control system requirements, test plans, complex hardware or software solutions for process, facility, or industrial control systems (SES.3 level).
Advanced communication, facilitation, and collaboration, interpersonal, and negotiation skills necessary to effectively present, explain, provide strategic technical advice, build consensus, and influence senior management, external sponsors, regulators, reviewers, and stakeholders (SES.3 level).
Demonstrated ability to lead independent work and multidisciplinary project teams (SES.3 level).
Significant experience troubleshooting complex control systems in an operating environment and identifying root causes (SES.3 level).
Experience mentoring engineers and technicians and providing technical guidance to project teams (SES.3 level).

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Controls Engineering, or a related technical field.
Experience supporting industrial, manufacturing, production, research, or nuclear facility environments.
Experience with process automation, facility controls, utilities, equipment integration, or production systems.
Experience modernizing legacy control systems and migrating obsolete hardware or software platforms.
Experience applying Failure Modes and Effects Analysis or other risk-based engineering methods.
Understanding of systems engineering concepts, including requirements management, interfaces, verification, validation, and configuration management.
Experience with industrial communication protocols, distributed control systems, PLCs, SCADA platforms, HMIs, or supervisory data systems.

Responsibilities

Provide hardware and software solutions for control systems supporting facility and process operations, including utility systems, safety systems, machine protection systems, process equipment, material handling systems, instrumentation, data acquisition, and facility monitoring and control systems.
Support the design, documentation, deployment, integration, testing, commissioning, and maintenance of control systems.
Collaborate with scientists, engineers, technicians, designers, facility personnel, operations teams, and project leaders to develop and maintain effective control solutions.
Provide technical input on control system requirements, architectures, and designs through formal and informal design reviews.
Contribute to software and hardware design, implementation, testing, and deployment in accordance with configuration management and quality requirements.
Develop and implement improvements to control system architectures, processes, standards, and frameworks.
Collaborate with system managers, project teams, and software testers to develop and execute commissioning and acceptance test procedures.
Support control systems operations by troubleshooting issues, identifying root causes, and implementing corrective actions.
Support planned work, system upgrades, and equipment modifications that affect moderately complex control systems.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Independently, with minimal direction, establish objectives, prioritize parallel tasks, allocate resources, and develop innovative methods and technologies to support projects (SES.3 level).
Provide control system solutions to complex problems through in-depth analysis and independent judgment (SES.3 level).
Lead complex troubleshooting activities by analyzing system behavior, diagnosing root causes, evaluating corrective actions, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to restore reliable operation (SES.3 level).
Conduct Failure Modes and Effects Analysis and other risk-based evaluations to identify system vulnerabilities and guide control system and process improvements (SES.3 level).
Provide technical leadership and oversight for control system design, production, integration, commissioning, testing, and maintenance activities (SES.3 level).
Mentor junior staff and guide work performed by engineers, technicians, and project team members (SES.3 level).
Lead project teams in the development, integration, and deployment of control system solutions (SES.3 level).
Coordinate with vendors and external organizations, as appropriate, to define requirements, resolve technical issues, and deliver project objectives (SES.3 level).