Development Chief Scientist

Consolidated Nuclear Security•Oak Ridge, TN

9h•Onsite

About The Position

The Development Chief Scientist serves as the technical leader for CNS, leading research and development initiatives that advance manufacturing, quality, and surveillance activities in support of the mission. The role aligns technical strategy with stakeholders to develop the Technology Roadmap and works with the Plant Directed Research and Development office to review proposals and shape research direction. The Chief Scientist drives acceleration of technical maturation at Y-12 and organizes technology roadmaps and maturation plans that support program milestones, coordinating with NNSA entities to secure agreement and collaboration. The role serves as a technical liaison between CNS and NNSA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and as a strategic and technical liaison to the Design Agencies. It provides a conduit for information between Y-12 and NNSA Headquarters, supports innovative collaboration, and facilitates accurate communications and real-time awareness of emerging issues and decision-maker perspectives. The Chief Scientist helps resolve issues and participates in high-level meetings on critical topics, including Critical Decision milestones, significant deliverables, life extension and surveillance programs, dismantlement, capability maintenance, and operational risk reduction. The position includes travel and communications with members of the Nuclear Enterprise, including Navy, KCNSC, SRS, Y-12, PX, LANL, LLNL, AWE, and Washington, D.C. The Chief Scientist interprets, prepares, reviews, and summarizes reports and data; leads teams and committees; participates in working groups and planning meetings; communicates accomplishments and needs for high-level reporting; and serves as a mentor and internal technical consultant. The role leads technology maturation and product or technology realization teams, directly or through appropriate mentoring and leadership, and organizes solutions to emerging problems.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Engineering or Physical Science (Chemistry, Physics, or related) from an EAC/ABET-accredited U.S. program or designated equivalent, and 12 years of relevant experience; or a master's degree in Engineering or Physical Science and 10 years of relevant experience; or a Ph.D. in Engineering or Physical Science and 7 years of relevant experience.
Deep technical background focused on improving the NNSA production mission through technology maturation and acceleration.
Ability to coordinate significantly with NNSA entities to achieve agreement and collaboration on technology maturation.
Ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Energy Q clearance; U.S. citizenship is required for security clearance applicants.
May be required to enter Material Access Areas and participate in the Human Reliability Program, including successful completion of a DOE counterintelligence evaluation and potentially a counterintelligence-scope polygraph examination.
May be designated under 10 C.F.R. Part 709 and required to complete a DOE counterintelligence evaluation, potentially including a counterintelligence-scope polygraph examination.
Successful candidates must pass a pre-placement physical, drug screening, and background investigation; employees may be subject to random drug testing.

Nice To Haves

Ph.D. in Engineering or the Physical Sciences and 15 or more years of nuclear manufacturing research and development experience in the Nuclear Weapons Complex with a related Design or Production agency.
Excellent communications and interpersonal skills.
Comfort working in a high-visibility environment requiring autonomy, flexibility, and responsiveness to customer needs.
Proven record of successful customer and executive leadership interaction.

Responsibilities

Lead CNS research and development initiatives supporting manufacturing, quality, and surveillance activities.
Align technical strategic vision with stakeholders and develop the Technology Roadmap.
Work with the Plant Directed Research and Development office to review proposals and shape research direction.
Drive acceleration of technical maturation at Y-12.
Serve as a technical liaison between CNS and NNSA Headquarters and as a strategic and technical liaison to the Design Agencies.
Facilitate communication, real-time situational awareness, collaboration, and resolution of emerging issues.
Participate in high-level meetings concerning Critical Decision milestones, significant deliverables, life extension and surveillance programs, dismantlement, capability maintenance, and operational risk reduction.
Travel to and communicate with members of the Nuclear Enterprise, including Navy, KCNSC, SRS, Y-12, PX, LANL, LLNL, AWE, and Washington, D.C.
Interpret, prepare, review, and summarize reports and data, including production statistics, budgets, anomalous units, and reports.
Lead teams and committees and participate in working groups and planning meetings.
Communicate significant accomplishments and needs to support high-level reporting.
Serve as a mentor and internal technical consultant.
Lead technology maturation teams and guide and coordinate major Development projects through appropriate liaisons.
Lead product realization and technology realization teams, directly or through mentoring and leadership.
Organize and write technology roadmaps and technology maturation plans that support program milestones.
Organize solutions to emerging problems.