Laser System Engineering and Operations Group Leader

LLNL•Livermore, CA

3d•$227,430 - $346,140•Onsite

About The Position

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has multiple openings for Engineering Group Leaders in the Laser Systems Engineering and Operations (LSEO) Division within the Engineering Directorate. The role administratively leads multidisciplinary engineering groups supporting operations, design, and research and development activities in the Systems Engineering, Integrated Engineering, and Systems Integration Engineering Sections. The group leader fosters staff careers, a positive and inclusive working environment, and a strong workforce that meets program needs. The position is full-time and requires on-site presence. It may be filled at either the SEL.4 or SEL.5 level based on knowledge and related experience; higher-level responsibilities apply at SEL.5. The group leader provides technical, operational, supervisory, and administrative leadership; manages staffing, assignments, workforce projections, performance, and employee development; and guides engineering design, analysis, implementation, integration, and project execution. The position works with program and organizational leaders to align scope and resources, manage priorities and risks, communicate with stakeholders, and support strategic technical initiatives in lasers, optics, diagnostics, or applicable research areas. At SEL.5, the role also addresses unusually complex or sensitive issues, leads strategic and succession planning, influences senior technical decisions, and may serve as a senior technical expert or spokesperson. The position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of Energy Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. External applicants selected must pass a post-offer pre-employment drug test. Depending on duties, work in Limited Areas may restrict possession of personal or laboratory mobile and wireless devices.

Requirements

Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required for the clearance.
Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Significant technical and operational leadership experience in multidisciplinary teams, including leading technical staff, coordinating across functions and disciplines, and fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture focused on complex program objectives.
Significant experience, subject-matter expertise, and leadership skills in the design, analysis, and implementation of one or more of: hardware or systems for precision optomechanical or electromechanical systems; system design, assembly, and commissioning; shot or facility operations; fabrication and process engineering of highly integrated systems; systems and project engineering; or 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 to lead teams; present, explain, influence, and advise management, program leaders, and sponsors; interpret and convey Laboratory policies to employees; and promote situational awareness.
Interpersonal skills to attract, motivate, and retain high-performing technical staff.
Demonstrated ability to lead and manage professionally and positively through effective communication, empathy, resilience, and proactive conflict resolution; aptitude for mentoring and supervising staff and handling sensitive personnel matters with discretion and integrity.
At SEL.5, extensive experience leading complex personnel-management issues, innovative workforce development activities, incident investigation teams, and institutional- or national-level policy initiatives.
At SEL.5, subject-matter expertise and extensive leadership experience advancing state-of-the-art technologies in one or more of precision clean systems, optomechanical or electromechanical systems, project management, optical engineering, or precision alignment.
At SEL.5, extensive experience and expert ability to champion, lead, and develop innovative cutting-edge principles, theories, concepts, and technologies.
At SEL.5, extensive experience translating abstract, high-level requirements into technical development strategies and outlining project plans, tasks, and milestones.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Mechanical, Electrical, or Optical Engineering or a 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 an Ombuds program or equivalent.

Responsibilities

Lead teams, programs, or functions with a technical focus; monitor workflow, allocate resources, ensure timely project completion, determine strategies, and pursue objectives within established policies.
Provide technical and operational leadership, supervision, and administrative direction to a multidisciplinary engineering team.
Lead recruiting, hiring, training, career development, performance management, career counseling, mentoring, technical guidance, and salary-management activities.
Collaborate with NIF&PS / LMF leaders to assign group members, define work objectives, and advise and evaluate staff on technical work.
Lead and participate in formal and informal design reviews and guide engineering excellence using Engineering Safety notes, Engineering Design Safety Standards, industry practices, systems engineering, and project management.
Mentor staff in design, analysis, implementation, and integration of components and systems, including use of systems engineering methodology in the Integrated Product Review Board process.
Manage workforce projections with programmatic managers to address staff availability and training needs and help develop the group vision.
Advocate for and prioritize alignment of work scope, staffing, and resources; manage parallel tasks, resolve conflicting requirements, and set priorities to meet targets, milestones, and deliverables.
Maintain internal and external communications, collaborations, and contacts, and communicate program risks and requirements effectively and promptly to senior leadership.
Identify and foster Science & Technology initiatives in lasers, optics, diagnostics, or other applicable research areas for NIF&PS / LMF and Engineering.
Perform other duties as assigned.
At SEL.5, provide technical or programmatic management solutions to highly unusual, complex, or sensitive issues where the solution path is not known in advance.
At SEL.5, determine, build, and deliver strategic and succession planning for long-range goals with division, deputy, associate, and section leaders and peer group leaders.
At SEL.5, influence strategic technical decisions by senior management and external customers based on technical expertise.
At SEL.5, serve as an organizational spokesperson and senior technical expert for Laboratory management or as an external advisor to customers and sponsors.