Laser System Engineering and Operations Group Leader

LLNL•Livermore, CA

13h•Onsite

About The Position

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World! Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has turned bold ideas into world-changing impact advancing science and technology to strengthen U.S. security and promote global stability. Our mission spans four critical national security areas nuclear deterrence, threat preparedness, energy security, and multi-domain defense empowering teams to take on the toughest challenges of today and tomorrow. With a culture built on innovation and operational excellence, LLNL is a place where your expertise can make a real impact. We have multiple openings for Engineering Group Leaders to lead a multi-disciplinary group of engineers responsible for supporting key operations, design, and R&D activities in the National Ignition Facility & Photon Science Directorate (NIF&PS). The openings include administratively leading groups that support teams in the Systems Engineering, Integrated Engineering, and Systems Integration Engineering Sections. You will have a critical role in fostering successful careers, creating a positive and inclusive working environment, and providing an outstanding staff to meet program needs. In addition to serving as Group Leader, you will also be expected to fulfill a programmatic project role within the NIF&PS Directorate. These positions are in the Laser Systems Engineering and Operations (LSEO) Division, within the Engineering Directorate. These positions will be filled at either level based on knowledge and related experience as assessed by the hiring team. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if hired at the higher level. In this role, you will Lead teams, programs, or functions with a technical focus, operate under consultative direction with substantial authority, use subject matter expertise and significant team leadership experience, and exercise judgment within established policies to monitor workflow, allocate resources, ensure timely completion of projects, independently determine strategies, and achieve objectives while managing organizational impact and pursuing actions to achieve long-term goals.

Requirements

Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering discipline or related field or the equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Significant technical and operational leadership experience working effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment , including leading technical staff, coordinating across functions and disciplines, and fostering a collaborative, high performance culture focused on delivering highly complex program objectives.
Significant experience with, subject matter expert knowledge of, and leadership skills in the design, analysis, and implementation in one or more of the following technical areas: hardware or systems used on precision optomechanical or electromechanical systems; design, assembly, and commissioning of systems; shot or facility operations; fabrication and process engineering of highly integrated systems; systems and project engineering; and project management with extensive interaction with funding sponsors.
Significant experience leading technical presentations and participating in design reviews, identifying technical needs, developing practical approaches, and delivering strategic working solutions for program customers.
Expert communication, facilitation, and collaboration skills necessary to lead a team, to present, explain, influence, and provide advice to management, program leaders, and sponsors, and to interpret and convey Laboratory policies to employees and promote situational awareness, as well as interpersonal skills to attract, motivate, and retain high performing technical staff.
Demonstrated ability to lead and manage in a positive, professional manner by communicating effectively, empathizing with others, overcoming setbacks, and proactively defusing conflict, with an aptitude for mentoring and supervising staff and managing sensitive personnel matters with discretion and integrity.
Extensive experience leading highly complex personnel management issues, innovative workforce development activities, incident investigation teams, and policy initiatives at the Institutional or national level.
Demonstrated subject matter expertise and extensive leadership experience in advancing state-of-art technologies related to one or more of precision clean systems, optomechanical or electromechanical systems, project management, optical engineering, or precision alignment.
Extensive experience and expert ability to champion, lead, and develop innovative cutting-edge principles, theories, concepts, and technologies.
Extensive experience translating abstract, high-level requirements into specific technical development strategies, and outlining project plans, tasks, and milestones.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or PhD in Mechanical, Electrical, or Optical Engineering or related field.
Significant experience with LLNL and Engineering administrative policies, procedures, and design safety practices and standards.
Experience in payroll supervision, preparation of performance reviews, ranking and salary management, and knowledge of Engineering Directorate policies and procedures.
Experience in high energy and power laser systems.
Experience in Ombuds program or equivalent.

Responsibilities

Provide technical and operational leadership and supervision, and administrative direction to a multi-disciplinary team of engineers.
Lead and coordinate recruiting, hiring, training, career development, and performance management activities to meet programmatic staffing, employee development, and performance related and salary management needs, including providing career counseling, mentoring, and technical guidance.
Collaborate with the NIF&PS Directorate leaders to identify and manage the work assignments for the group members, define work objectives, and advise and evaluate staff on the execution of technical work.
Lead and participate in formal and informal design reviews; provide guidance to group members on engineering excellence using Engineering Safety notes in accordance with Engineering Design Safety Standards, industry best practices, systems engineering, and project management.
Mentor group members in design, analysis, implementation, and integration for components and systems with implementation of the systems engineering methodology in the Integrated Product Review Board process.
Manage workforce projection working with programmatic managers to meet staff availability and training needs, using this information to help develop a vision for the group.
Advocate for and prioritize alignment of work scope, ensuring it is adequately staffed and resourced to support successful execution and achievement of milestones and deliverables while managing multiple parallel tasks, resolving conflicting work requirements and setting priorities to meet defined targets.
Maintain strong communications, collaborations, and contacts, internal and external to LLNL, and ensure that program risks and requirements are communicated in an effective and timely manner to senior leadership.
Identify and foster Science & Technology initiatives in lasers, optics, diagnostics, or other applicable research areas for NIF&PS and Engineering.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Provide technical and/or programmatic management solutions to highly unusual, complex, and/or sensitive issues where the solution path is not known ahead of time.
Determine, build, and deliver strategic planning efforts and succession planning on long range goals, working with Division Leader, Deputy Division Leader, Associate Division Leader, Section Leader, and peer Group Leaders on refinement and successful execution of those goals.
Influence strategic technical decisions made by senior management and external customers based on technical expertise.
Serve as an organizational spokesperson and senior technical expert for Laboratory management and/or as an external advisor for customers and sponsors.