Senior Scientist, Verification Technologies

Oak Ridge National Laboratory•Oak Ridge, TN

4d•Onsite

About The Position

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation. We are seeking a full-time Senior Scientist specializing in Verification Technologies to lead the development of cutting-edge safeguards verification technologies for international nuclear safeguards. This role will also lead technical analyses related to nuclear nonproliferation, particularly in advanced reactor domains. This position resides in the Verification Technologies Group of the Nonproliferation Engineering Science and Technologies (NEST) Section in the Nuclear Nonproliferation Division (NND) of the National Security Sciences Directorate (NSSD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). As part of our team, you will contribute to our group’s mission to develop and implement technologies to verify that nuclear material and associated facilities are being used only for peaceful purposes, thereby strengthening global nuclear nonproliferation efforts. The Verification Technologies Group specializes in creating innovative verification technology solutions that monitor nuclear materials and facilities across a range of applications, including domestic accountancy, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards, bilateral arms control treaties, and various national security initiatives. We have a strong emphasis on the science and engineering of radiation inspection systems including radiation portal monitoring and have established recognized expertise in supporting safeguards for advanced reactors and their associated fuel cycles. Additionally, we develop innovative technologies and systems tailored for inspector use and have played a vital role in the deployment of multiple technologies utilized by the IAEA.

Requirements

PhD in nuclear engineering, physics, applied science, engineering, or a related field.
Minimum of 6 years of relevant experience in safeguards verification technology development and/or nuclear nonproliferation technical work (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
Demonstrated ability to lead the technical execution of complex R&D projects, including planning, task leadership, integration across disciplines, and delivery of results to sponsors.
Strong knowledge of international nuclear safeguards and nuclear nonproliferation principles, with experience applying them to technology development or technical analyses.
Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional research and development teams.
Demonstrated track record of technical contributions through reports, publications, presentations, prototypes, deployments, or other sponsor products and deliverables.
Strong communication skills and experience working directly with sponsors/partners to define requirements, report progress, and deliver outcomes.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in or with the advanced nuclear industry.
Exceptional leadership and communication skills for stakeholder engagement, with significant influence among senior management and clients.
Experience serving as technical lead and/or deputy project leader for multi-disciplinary R&D efforts, including coordination of contributors across organizations.
Demonstrated success contributing to proposal development and helping grow a funded research portfolio in safeguards, verification, or related national security technology areas.
Working knowledge of domestic nuclear material control and accountability, international nuclear safeguards, and arms control treaty verification practices and technologies.
Self-motivated and skilled in both independent work and collaborative team environments.
Experience mentoring and fostering the professional development of research staff.
Background in nuclear nonproliferation, counterproliferation, and/or intelligence in the context of nuclear fuel cycles.
Experience transitioning R&D to operational testing, demonstrations, or end-user evaluation environments.
Strong project management and project execution skills.
Experience collaborating with DOE/NNSA sponsors and/or DOE national laboratories, universities, industry partners, or international stakeholders.
Evidence of growing professional reputation (e.g., invited talks, technical working group participation, reviewer roles, standards/committee contributions, patents/invention disclosures), appropriate to career stage.

Responsibilities

Advance global nuclear nonproliferation efforts through innovative scientific research and technology development.
Lead and execute medium-to-large R&D projects in verification technologies, defining technical objectives, work plans, milestones, and deliverables in alignment with sponsor needs and ORNL strategy.
Serve as a technical lead for the development, prototyping, testing, and transition of safeguards verification technologies (e.g., radiation detection/measurement, inspector-use systems, data/analysis methods) from concept through demonstration.
Perform and lead technical analyses supporting nuclear nonproliferation and safeguards, including applications to advanced reactors and their associated fuel cycles.
Contribute to and lead proposal development, including white papers, cost/schedule inputs, and sponsor engagement to grow and sustain our verification technologies R&D portfolio.
Provide technical direction and coordination across multidisciplinary teams to integrate capabilities and deliver high-quality results on schedule and within budget.
Communicate results effectively through sponsor briefings, technical reports, peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and participation in relevant technical working groups and professional communities.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across ORNL to leverage scientific capabilities relevant to verification technologies.
Build and maintain productive relationships with internal collaborators and external partners (e.g., sponsors, other national labs, universities, industry, and end users such as inspectorates) to support project execution and future work.
Apply sound judgment to solve complex, non-routine technical problems, identify risks, and recommend mitigation strategies to ensure successful project outcomes.
Mentor early-career staff and provide formal leadership in project execution and technical guidance.
Maintain a strong safety culture and uphold ORNL’s core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service.
Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.