Senior Principal Scientist

Mission Support & Test Services, LLC (MSTS) • Los Alamos, NM

21h • $147,805 - $229,091 • Onsite

About The Position

Mission Support and Test Services, LLC (MSTS) is seeking a Senior Principal Scientist to join the Radiography and Imaging Systems Team within the Dynamic Instruments Section of the Stockpile Experimentation and Operations, Technology and Operations Directorate. Dynamic Instruments includes approximately 40 scientists, engineers, and technicians and supports the NNSS stockpile stewardship mission through diagnostic design, simulation, fabrication, characterization, and fielding. The Radiography and Imaging Systems Team develops optical designs based on scientific requirements, visible and radiographic imaging diagnostics, and beamline diagnostics, and participates in fielding efforts for stockpile stewardship experiments and other applications across the NNSA complex.

The scientist will collaborate with a project lead on the design, development, characterization, and fielding of diagnostic and scientific systems for deployment at the Multi Pulse Test Line at Los Alamos National Laboratory and other beamline facilities. The position is based primarily at Los Alamos Operations in Los Alamos, New Mexico, and requires travel as needed.

The role requires a bachelor's degree in a calculus-based STEM field and at least 14 years of relevant experience, or a Ph.D. in a calculus-based STEM field and at least 9 years of relevant experience. The selected applicant must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship and being at least 18 years old. Pre-employment screening, including a drug test and background review, is required. The annual salary range is $147,804.80–$229,091.20; starting salary depends on the position's market value, the candidate's education and experience, and internal equity.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a calculus-based technical (STEM) field plus at least 14 years of relevant experience, or a Ph.D. in a calculus-based technical (STEM) field plus at least 9 years of relevant experience; graduate research experience may be recognized.
• Skill-building experience that demonstrates either deeper technical specialization or additional cross-disciplinary knowledge.
• Familiarity with developing and fielding plasma diagnostics and dynamic experiments.
• Ability to create new scientific knowledge and technological solutions across disparate disciplines.
• National recognition for full command of advanced scientific theories, principles, and policy, and for published work.
• Expertise in the entrepreneurial and business aspects of science and technology.
• Ability to develop plans for solving the most difficult problems.
• Ability to execute work in a disciplined manner and demonstrate compliance with laws, codes, orders, and MSTS policies and procedures.
• Willingness and ability to travel as required by the job.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance; this requires U.S. citizenship and being at least 18 years of age.
• Successful completion of required pre-employment drug testing and background review; the position may also require a counterintelligence evaluation, which may include a polygraph examination.

Responsibilities

• Devise comprehensive solutions to beamline diagnostic development, including cross-disciplinary approaches and applications.
• Initiate and lead collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory staff to achieve local mission execution.
• Direct and operate diagnostic equipment, including optical imaging equipment such as cameras and lens systems, oscilloscopes, lasers, function generators, delay generators, and fiber-optic inspection and cleaning equipment.
• Oversee, lead, and conduct research, data compilation, and data analysis related to beamline diagnostics.
• Assist in leading the design, research, and deployment of new beamline diagnostics or upgrades to existing systems.
• Serve as a discipline-specific subject matter expert to scientists, engineers, and management, internally and with external collaborators.
• Coordinate work through interaction with peers, project leaders, supervisors, managers, and external collaborators.
• Develop initiatives for additional scopes of work and define and develop technical proposals.
• Help ensure the team meets deliverables and stays within the planned scope of work.
• Report project statuses, issues, and results to relevant management teams.
• Lead fielding of optical and electrical diagnostics at large facilities.
• Foster a work environment that supports open communication and trust.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Pension
• 401(k)
• Paid time off
• 96 hours of paid holidays
• Relocation assistance for employees located more than 75 miles from the work location
• Tuition assistance and reimbursement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior