Scientific Associate / Senior Scientific Associate

LLNL•Livermore, CA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

We have an opening for a Scientific Associate/Sr. Scientific Associate in support of the National Ignition Facility (NIF) Integrated Safety Team. This position provides advanced technical support to NIF operations involving the calibration, testing, maintenance, troubleshooting, and application of radiation detection, chemical, and radiochemical analytical systems while following ES&H and Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) requirements. This role works closely with NIF Radiological Operations management, Radiological Control Technicians, the Radiation Calibration Laboratory, Industrial Hygiene Instrumentation Laboratory, and other LLNL stakeholders. The position is within the Analytical Services & Instrumentation Division of the Technical Services Department of the Environment, Safety & Health (ES&H) Directorate. This position requires full-time on-site presence due to the nature of the work. You will: Additional job responsibilities at the 302.2 level Lead analytical method development for relevant Programmatic needs. Provide back-up management of the Hazardous Material Management Area as needed. Provide leadership and supervision to staff as directed by the NIF Technician Supervisors including performance review, mentoring, and training. Support NIF sealed radioactive source inventories and act as NIF Source Ordering and Accountability Records System (SOARS) lead.

Requirements

Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance (U.S. citizenship required).
Bachelor’s degree in a scientific or technical field, or equivalent combination of education and related experience.
Experience operating, calibrating, maintaining, and troubleshooting radiological, chemical, and analytical instrumentation.
Experience analyzing complex technical data and maintaining QA/QC and calibration records.
Working knowledge of radiation fundamentals and experience handling radioactive materials and sources.
Familiarity with ES&H, QA/QC, and regulatory standards applicable to analytical and radiological operations.
Strong organizational, analytical, written, and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work independently with judgment and discretion in a high-hazard operational environment.
Ability to become medically qualified to wear respiratory and personal protective equipment.
Ability to obtain Radiological Controls Technician qualification.
Highly advanced technical expertise in one or more scientific or analytical disciplines ( e.g ., radiation detection, radiation safety, radiochemistry, spectroscopy, etc.).
Ability to develop and apply analytical methods relevant to NIF laboratory needs or specialized techniques for unique or complex applications.
Experience providing supervision, technical leadership, mentoring, or training to other technical staff.
Experience leading or independently executing highly complex technical projects with significant safety or programmatic impact.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting high-hazard or classified Department of Energy (DOE) research environments with work control processes, such as NIF.
Advanced experience with radiation detection systems, laboratory instrumentation, and calibration equipment.
Experience with SOARS, sealed source accountability, or hazardous/radioactive material inventories.
Experience as a DOE or NIF Radiological Controls Technician.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with scientists and high-level technical personnel to plan, execute, and interpret technical experiments, data, and processes.
Analyze and interpret complex analytical data, report results, identify problems, and develop approaches to resolve technical issues.
Operate, calibrate, maintain, and troubleshoot analytical and detection instrumentation, including liquid scintillation counters, gamma and alpha spectroscopy systems, beryllium fluorometers, continuous air monitors, and portable radiological and industrial hygiene instruments.
Follow established QA/QC programs, identify non-conformances, recommend improvements, and maintain complete, accurate, compliant records in accordance with regulatory, LLNL, and NIF and Photon Science Directorate requirements.
Document analytical and radiological results in systems such as Survey Information Management System, STAR, and/or other required databases; write or revise technical documentation, procedures, and work instructions to improve safety, quality, and operational effectiveness.
Work independently with minimal direction, exercising judgment and discretion with moderate to high programmatic or safety impact, and serve as a technical liaison with facility clients, internal ES&H partners, and technical organizations.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Lead analytical method development for relevant Programmatic needs.
Provide back-up management of the Hazardous Material Management Area as needed.
Provide leadership and supervision to staff as directed by the NIF Technician Supervisors including performance review, mentoring, and training.
Support NIF sealed radioactive source inventories and act as NIF Source Ordering and Accountability Records System (SOARS) lead.