Pulsed Power Electrical Engineer - Laser and Experimental Systems

LLNL•Livermore, CA

10d•Onsite

About The Position

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is seeking experienced Pulsed Power Engineers to support the National Ignition Facility and Photon Science (NIF&PS) / Light Matter and Fusion (LMF) portfolio of projects. This includes NIF operations and sustainment, the NIF Enhanced Yield Capability (EYC) Project, high energy density science, and national security applications. NIF utilizes the world's largest capacitor bank (over 300 MJ) to power its high-energy pulsed laser system. The EYC project will upgrade NIF to 2.6 MJ of optical energy by integrating new pulsed power systems, flash lamps, and laser amplifier capabilities, while ensuring the continued reliable operation of existing NIF pulsed power hardware. This is a hands-on role focused on the design, qualification, deployment, and enhancement of high-energy pulsed power hardware within a unique facility. Responsibilities include developing pulsed power and power electronics upgrades, qualifying prototype and replacement components for NIF, supporting the fabrication and installation of new EYC power conditioning hardware, and utilizing operational data to improve reliability, maintainability, and shot readiness. The role also involves providing engineering expertise to operations and maintenance staff supporting a 24/7 mission facility, where practical design must account for real-world schedules, safety requirements, and equipment aging. These positions are within the Laser Systems Engineering and Operations (LSEO) Division, Engineering Directorate, and require full-time on-site presence. Positions will be filled at either the SES.2 or SES.3 level based on assessed knowledge and experience. Additional responsibilities will be assigned at the higher level.

Requirements

Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related technical field, or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
Comprehensive knowledge of, and practical experience with high-voltage/pulsed power systems, power electronics, controls, diagnostics, or closely related hardware systems.
Comprehensive knowledge in one or more of the following areas: pulsed power, power modulation/switching, capacitor energy storage, grounding, shielding in harsh EMI environments, diagnostics, instrumentation systems, trigger systems, controls, or high-speed/high-power electronics.
Experience designing, building, testing, qualifying, troubleshooting, or operating electrical hardware beyond academic laboratory work, such as pulsed power systems, power converters, capacitor discharge systems, RF/microwave power systems, laser electronics, accelerator hardware, industrial controls, or high-reliability test equipment.
Experience developing and executing test plans, acceptance criteria, qualification tests, or failure investigations for high-voltage, high-energy, or mission-critical electrical hardware.
Experience using engineering analysis and test data to solve moderately complex to complex hardware problems involving multiple factors such as circuit behavior, component limits, thermal performance, EMI/RFI, grounding, shielding, timing, controls, diagnostics, or human/system interfaces.
Comprehensive knowledge and skills performing moderately complex computational modeling, simulation, analysis, or data reduction using tools such as SPICE, MATLAB, Python, COMSOL, or similar.
Experience with laboratory instrumentation and safe test practices for energized electrical systems, including oscilloscopes, probes, meters, current monitors, spectrum analyzers, power supplies, loads, signal sources, optical diagnostics, or data acquisition systems.
Experience working effectively in a multidisciplinary environment managing multiple tasks, projects, and priorities while balancing technical performance, safety requirements, schedule, reliability, and facility availability.
Proficient verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively collaborate in a team environment, including the ability to prepare technical reports, deliver presentations, and explain technical information and recommendations.
Advanced knowledge in one or more relevant areas such as pulsed power, high-voltage power conversion, capacitor energy storage, diagnostics, trigger systems, controls, grounding and shielding, EMI/RFI, flashlamp systems, or high-speed/high-power electronics (SES.3 level).
Significant experience designing, building, testing, qualifying, troubleshooting, or operating complex high-voltage, pulsed power, power electronics, RF/microwave, laser, accelerator, or industrial electrical systems (SES.3 level).
Ability to lead independent technical work, guide the completion of complex projects, and provide solutions that require in-depth analysis of tangible and intangible factors (SES.3 level).
Experience serving as a technical contact, leading or contributing to design reviews, qualification reviews, or failure investigations, and providing guidance to engineers, technicians, vendors, integrators, or multidisciplinary teams (SES.3 level).
Advanced verbal and written communication skills necessary to collaborate across organizations, present and explain complex technical information, and provide advice to management (SES.3 level).

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in electrical engineering, applied physics, or a related field, or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
Experience qualifying prototype or first-of-kind high-voltage/pulsed power hardware intended to replace obsolete components, including developing test plans and acceptance criteria for qualification on an operating facility such as NIF.
Familiarity with electrical and optical diagnostic techniques used to characterize high-energy pulsed power loads such as flashlamps.
Understanding plasma physics fundamentals, particularly as they relate to flashlamp discharge behavior, gas breakdown, and light emission mechanisms.
Experience working with fabrication partners, integrators, or component vendors, to define technical specifications, verify build compliance, and support qualification of new hardware.
Experience with preventive and corrective maintenance, equipment reliability, failure modes and effects analysis, trend analysis, spare parts strategy, life-cycle sustainment, or reliability-centered maintenance.
Experience creating or improving test procedures, maintenance procedures, operating instructions, configuration-controlled drawings, hazard analyses, or technical training materials.
Experience with low-inductance layout, PCB design, cabling, grounding, shielding, fault protection, controls integration, LabVIEW, PLCs, embedded controllers, or custom data acquisition systems.

Responsibilities

Develop pulsed power and power electronics hardware for NIF laser systems, including upgrades and prototype components for EYC and replacement of obsolete hardware.
Provide engineering and upgrade solutions to ensure safe, reliable operation, maintenance, and sustained performance of the 2 MJ pulsed power bank for the flashlamp testing facility.
Support fabrication, testing, installation, and qualification of new NIF Power Conditioning Modules for EYC by collaborating with integrators, designers, technicians, and vendors.
Define and execute test plans, acceptance criteria, and qualification approaches for high-energy and high-voltage pulsed power components before deployment on NIF.
Develop test plans and support qualifications of the redesigned Power Conditioning embedded controller.
Develop electrical and optical diagnostics for pulsed power loads (e.g., flashlamps) to characterize performance, degradation, and failure modes.
Support redesign, qualification, inspection, and vendor qualification for high-energy NIF flashlamps and related components.
Support and troubleshoot NIF pulsed power systems, including flashlamp power supplies, PEPC systems, pulsed power controls, trigger systems, interlocks, diagnostics, and associated test equipment.
Analyze and model/simulate the electrical performance of system components under dynamic electrical loads and/or harsh electromagnetic interference conditions.
Develop, maintain, and present system reliability and performance metrics to inform design improvements, sustainment plans, and investment decisions.
Document technical designs, test plans, acceptance criteria, qualification results, maintenance guidance, hazard analyses, and formal reports.
Participate in design reviews, safety reviews, readiness reviews, and technical peer reviews; present technical results and recommendations clearly.
Support NIF's operational mission through planned engineering work, maintenance windows, recovery activities, and occasional off-shift or on-call response.
Uphold and adhere to the highest standards of personnel safety, facility safety, configuration management, conduct of operations, security, and quality.
Function independently with minimal direction, applying advanced knowledge and judgment to establish objectives, prioritize tasks, allocate resources, and guide project completion (SES.3 level).
Serve as a primary technical contact for assigned pulsed power systems, EYC upgrade hardware, qualification activities, or NIF sustainment tasks (SES.3 level).
Lead and participate in multi-disciplinary design reviews, qualification reviews, failure reviews, and technical investigations (SES.3 level).
Guide qualification strategy for prototype or first-of-kind pulsed power hardware, new Power Conditioning Module hardware, embedded controller upgrades, flashlamp-related components, or obsolete-component replacements (SES.3 level).
Provide technical direction to engineers, technicians, designers, vendors, integrators, and external contractors (SES.3 level).
Develop and lead training or inspection approaches for specialized pulsed power hardware (SES.3 level).
Mentor junior engineers and contribute to the development and implementation of best practices (SES.3 level).