Senior Scientist - Physicist

Mission Support & Test Services, LLC (MSTS) • Livermore, CA

2d • $101,525 - $152,298 • Onsite

About The Position

MSTS is seeking a Senior Scientist / Physicist for the High Energy Density Experiments (HEDE) Team at its Livermore Operations site. The role leads the design, development, calibration, characterization, and operational fielding of advanced diagnostics across infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-ray, and neutron regimes. Instruments are developed from conceptual physics requirements through benchtop testing and deployment in support of subcritical dynamic experiments and stockpile stewardship campaigns. The work involves close technical collaboration with principal investigators at major user facilities, primarily the Nevada National Security Site, the National Ignition Facility at LLNL, and the Omega Laser Facility.

The position applies physics, spectroscopy, metrology, and crystallography to specialized detector development and calibration; integrates mechanical and electrical design practices; and supports diagnostic operation during laboratory and field experiments. The scientist processes and analyzes shot data, quantifies uncertainty, interprets physical results, and prepares technical reports, test plans, manuscripts, and proposals. The role also coordinates with facility operations and shot directors and contributes to disciplined, safe, communicative work practices.

The position requires a qualifying STEM education and relevant experience, including demonstrated research or operational expertise aligned with diagnostics and dynamic experimentation. The successful applicant must be able to travel occasionally to designated facilities, obtain on-site access at LLNL, hold a valid driver's license, and obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance. A pre-placement physical examination and drug screen are required. The annual salary range is $101,524.80–$152,297.60; starting salary depends on market value, education, experience, and internal equity.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a calculus-based technical STEM field and at least 5 years of relevant experience, with skill-building experience demonstrating deeper technical specialization or additional cross-disciplinary knowledge; graduate research experience may be recognized; or a master’s degree in an applicable STEM discipline and at least 3 years of progressive, relevant experience; or a Ph.D. in an applicable STEM discipline with doctoral or postdoctoral research directly aligned with dynamic experimentation, laser-plasma physics, high-energy-density science, or optical/nuclear diagnostics.
• Experience setting up and operating research and development instrumentation in a laboratory setting.
• Ability to build teaming relationships with technical and other company organizations.
• Ability to execute work in a disciplined manner and demonstrate compliance with laws, codes, orders, and MSTS policies and procedures.
• Ability to interpret codes and standards applicable to the position.
• Programming-platform exposure, strong technical writing and communication skills, and familiarity with PCs and application software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work in hazardous environments involving high-voltage systems, visible and ultraviolet lasers, large-scale pulsed-power machines, and vacuum and pressurized systems.
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions, work independently, and work as part of a team.
• Direct operational experience designing, fielding, or analyzing data from diagnostic instruments at NIF, the Omega Laser Facility, Z Machine, or underground testing environments.
• Advanced domain expertise in X-ray imaging, neutron imaging, high-speed streak or framing cameras, or time-resolved optical spectroscopy.
• Must be willing to travel occasionally to the North Las Vegas Facility, NNSS in Mercury, Nevada, and Los Alamos, New Mexico.
• Must be able to obtain physical, on-site access at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance; the posting states this requires U.S. citizenship and being at least 18 years of age.
• Must undergo a pre-placement physical examination that includes a drug screen; the employer also conducts pre-employment drug testing and background review.
• Selected applicant is subject to a federal background investigation and subsequent reinvestigations and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter; a counterintelligence evaluation, which may include a polygraph examination, may also be required.

Nice To Haves

• Ph.D. in Physics, Applied Physics, Optics, or Nuclear Engineering is highly preferred.
• Knowledge of Chicago, COMSOL, MATLAB, LabVIEW, Python, or AI-related software.
• Knowledge of spectroscopy, crystallography, metrology, atomic physics, and nuclear physics.
• High-voltage pulsed-power experience.
• Knowledge of mechanical and electrical design.
• Experience writing successful technical proposals and serving as a Principal Investigator.

Responsibilities

• Develop imaginative, thorough, and practical solutions, evaluating relevant standards and processes.
• Design, model, and specify diagnostics spanning infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-ray, and neutron regimes.
• Use tools such as Chicago, COMSOL, MATLAB, Python, and machine-learning frameworks for diagnostic work.
• Apply atomic and nuclear physics, spectroscopy, metrology, and crystallography to develop and calibrate specialized detectors.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert on diagnostic physics, analytical methods, and instrumentation for collaborators and leadership.
• Apply mechanical and electrical design best practices to instrument integration, bench testing, and hardware assembly.
• Draft and maintain standard operating procedures, automated control routines such as LabVIEW, and safety documentation for laboratory and field setups.
• Field, align, and operate diagnostics during shot cycles at Livermore Operations and partner facilities, including NNSS, NIF, LANL, and SNL.
• Troubleshoot electromechanical, optical, and physics-related issues during testing and shot execution.
• Process, calibrate, and analyze raw shot data, including uncertainty quantification and physical interpretation.
• Write technical reports, test plans, journal manuscripts, and SDRD proposals.
• Coordinate schedules, deliverables, and field interfaces with shot directors and facility operations.
• Maintain safe, disciplined, and communicative laboratory and field work practices.
• Develop processes, procedures, and work instructions.
• 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