Control Systems Hardware Lead

LLNL•Livermore, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a Lead Control Systems Hardware Engineer to join the team at the National Ignition Facility (NIF), home of the world’s largest and most energetic laser system. In this role, you will lead the Controls Hardware team that enables NIF’s cutting-edge scientific missions and day-to-day operations. Reporting to the Controls Engineering and Maintenance (CEM) group lead within the NIF Control Systems (NFCS) section, you will play a central role in both the technical direction and practical execution of control hardware engineering at NIF. With over 60,000 control points deployed across a wide range of hardware platforms, NIF’s performance depends on rigorous, reliable, and innovative control solutions. In this role, you will operate in a unique engineering environment where large scale control systems and nationally significant scientific missions come together, and your leadership will directly support NIF’s ability to operate safely and efficiently. This position requires full-time on-site presence due to the nature of the work. In this role, you will Lead teams, programs, or functions with a technical focus, work independently with minimal direction, use advanced knowledge and team leadership experience, take significant responsibility, and exercise judgment within established policies to monitor workflow, allocate resources, ensure timely completion of projects, and achieve objectives while managing organizational impact.

Requirements

Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering discipline related to electronics, electrical engineering, control systems, or a related technical field, or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
Advanced level knowledge of and significant experience in the design of complex control systems hardware architectures, including one or multiple of the following areas: Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) based control systems. Industrial analog and digital circuit design for incorporation into controls/instrumentation hardware, including design of embedded hardware such as microcontrollers, FPGAs, etc. Design and specification of industrial computer systems such as VME, VPX, and PC/104.
Demonstrated experience reading, interpreting, and generating design documents including drawings, procedures, statements of work and test plans.
Advanced experience reviewing and providing consultative feedback for design documents generated by others.
Advanced experience supporting control systems throughout the full engineering lifecycle, including design, assembly, integration, testing, and maintenance.
Significant experience defining scope from often not well defined and/or rapidly changing requirements, including demonstrated ability and flexibility in reprioritizing and changing programmatic direction depending on emergent needs.
Demonstrated experience leading project execution and directing the work of others, including technicians and engineers.
Advanced experience mentoring junior engineers and developing frameworks or standards for control systems hardware and/or software.
Demonstrated experience leading and managing a team of technical staff, including training, coaching, career and performance management.
Advanced verbal and written communication skills to effectively communicate technical information and enable close collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams, including project team members, control systems leadership, and other stakeholders across the organization.

Responsibilities

Lead a team of approximately ten control systems hardware engineers and technicians tasked with maintaining, upgrading, and developing control systems hardware throughout the NIF.
Serve as the final review authority for control systems hardware designs deployed in the NIF, ensuring design quality, adherence to standards, and proper depth of documentation.
Partner with CEM Team Leads and the CEM Group Lead to develop and optimize processes for work intake, project estimation, resource management, and knowledge retention.
Provide expert level control system hardware solutions for complex NIF subsystems and serve as a mentor for other control systems hardware engineers in the group in a consultative capacity.
Serve as the primary technical contact for control systems hardware across the NIF, setting technical strategy for projects supporting control system maintenance and upgrades.
Lead formal and informal design reviews and team efforts, providing guidance and technical direction in developing complex control systems hardware.