Control Systems Engineer

LLNL•Livermore, CA

5h•$146,340 - $222,564•Onsite

About The Position

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is hiring Control Systems Engineers for the National Ignition Facility (NIF), a pulsed laser system with more than 60,000 control points. In the Laser Systems Engineering and Operations Division within the Engineering Directorate, the engineer develops, implements, and maintains control systems, contributing to new designs and system upgrades that improve performance and reliability. The position requires full-time on-site presence and may be filled at either the SES.2 or SES.3 level, based on knowledge and related experience. Additional responsibilities apply at SES.3. At SES.2, the engineer works under limited direction with moderate responsibility, providing hardware and software solutions for moderately complex control-system work. The role includes collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, participation in design reviews, work under configuration-management processes, commissioning support, and troubleshooting for NIF operations. Participation in the reactive maintenance on-call rotation may be required. At SES.3, the engineer works independently with minimal direction and takes significant responsibility for complex solutions, troubleshooting, failure analysis, system improvements, and mentoring. The engineer may also lead project teams developing and deploying control solutions.

Requirements

Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required.
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, an engineering discipline related to control systems, or a related technical field, or an equivalent combination of education and related experience.
Comprehensive knowledge and broad experience developing hardware or software solutions for control systems in industrial or research environments, with a focus on meeting stakeholder needs through project execution.
Comprehensive knowledge and broad experience in at least one of the following: data acquisition and control-system hardware or software; analog and digital instrumentation design and selection; custom circuit design; PLC application and programming; signal conditioning or processing software; automation sequences and state machines; SCADA and HMI design, development, and management; or standalone test and research control applications using graphical programming languages such as LabView.
Comprehensive understanding and broad experience applying documentation standards, including drawings, procedures, statements of work, and test plans.
Broad experience using electronic measurement and diagnostic tools such as oscilloscopes and TDRs for testing and troubleshooting.
Broad experience supporting control systems across the engineering lifecycle, including design, assembly, integration, testing, and maintenance.
Proficient verbal and written communication skills for communicating technical information and collaborating with project team members, control-systems leadership, and organizational stakeholders.
Experience working on multidisciplinary project teams with scientists, engineers, technicians, and designers.
At SES.3, advanced experience developing complex software or hardware solutions for control-system automation in collaboration with stakeholders.
At SES.3, significant experience following configuration-management processes to develop control-system requirements and design documents, test plans, and user documentation.
At SES.3, advanced communication skills, including preparing and presenting technical information, advising senior management and external stakeholders, and collaborating with staff, managers, stakeholders, and vendors at all organizational levels.
At SES.3, demonstrated ability to lead independent work and collaborate in a multidisciplinary environment.
At SES.3, significant experience troubleshooting complex control-system problems in an operations environment and identifying root causes.
At SES.3, experience mentoring team members.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
Experience in industrial production environments such as food and beverage, automotive, electronics, or pharmaceuticals.
Experience modernizing legacy control systems.
Experience and understanding of Failure Modes and Effects Analysis.
Understanding of Systems Engineering concepts.

Responsibilities

Develop, document, deploy, and maintain hardware and software solutions for NIF control systems of moderate complexity, including utility, safety, machine protection, laser alignment and diagnostics, and optics processing systems.
Collaborate with scientists, engineers, technicians, designers, and operations teams to develop control systems.
Provide technical input on control-system requirements and designs during formal and informal design reviews.
Contribute to software and hardware design, implementation, and deployment while following configuration-management processes.
Propose improvements to control-system architectures, processes, and frameworks.
Collaborate with system managers and software testers to develop and execute commissioning test procedures.
Support NIF operations by troubleshooting facility issues, identifying root causes, and supporting planned work affecting moderately complex control systems.
Participate in the reactive maintenance on-call rotation as needed.
At SES.3, independently address complex control-system problems, analyze system behavior, identify root causes, evaluate corrective actions, and help resolve issues while maintaining reliability and performance.
At SES.3, conduct Failure Modes and Effects Analysis research and analyze system vulnerabilities to inform control-system architecture and design improvements.
At SES.3, mentor junior staff and provide oversight and guidance for subsystem production and commissioning activities.
At SES.3, potentially lead project teams developing and deploying control solutions.
Perform other duties as assigned.