Senior Explosives Research Experiment Lead

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has turned bold ideas into world-changing impact advancing science and technology to strengthen U.S. security and promote global stability.

Our mission spans four critical national security areas nuclear deterrence, threat preparedness, energy security, and multi-domain defense empowering teams to take on the toughest challenges of today and tomorrow. With a culture built on innovation and operational excellence, LLNL is a place where your expertise can make a real impact.

We have an opening for Explosives Research Experiment Leads. You will lead experimental activities, under limited direction, involving the use of high explosives and other energetic materials, supporting the stewardship of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, conventional weapons design, counterterrorism eorts, and commercial partnerships. This position is within the Strategic Deterrence (SD) Directorate.

This position may offer a hybrid schedule, which includes the flexibility to work from home one or more days per week, after a probationary period. The specifics of the hybrid schedule, including the exact number of days required in the office and virtual work options, may vary based on the needs of the team and the organization.

This position will be lled at either level depending on your knowledge, skills and experience as assessed by the hiring team. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if you are selected at the higher level.

In this role, you will

• Plan, execute, diagnose, analyze, and interpret explosively driven hydrodynamic experiments in collaboration with diagnostics operators, other scientists and high-level technical personnel, independently with minimal direction and at various state-of-the-art facilities across the DOE weapons complex.
• Manage and oversee multiple parallel, complex experiments at dierent stages of development and execution.
• Champion and/or lead original scientic/engineering projects to further the design of hydrodynamic experiments, applying knowledge and skills.
• Develop experimental requirements and oversee the implementation of the various components of the experiment.
• Identify, advocate and facilitate the addition of advanced diagnostics and data analysis techniques for explosively driven hydrodynamic experiments. Work with diagnostic designers to develop and integrate new capabilities.
• Perform technical quality assurance checks on these experiments including performing or directing others to perform the setup, alignment, and execution of the conrmatory dry runs to ensure that the expected data returned on the ultimate experiment will be of the highest quality possible within funding targets.
• Analyze and interpret complex experimental data, document and report results, identify problems, plan projects to solve problems, and communicate lessons learned.
• Present and disseminate research results to sponsors, and document experiment and results inopen and classied environments.
• Travel based on needs of projects (minimally or substantially).
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities at the SES.4 level

• Independently develop expertise in interrelated elds of physics, diagnostic techniques, or data analysis methods important to the design and execution of hydrodynamic experiments.
• Anticipate project shortcomings in advance and direct resources to develop eective solutions to improve eciency in key areas relevant to hydrodynamic experiments.
• Champion and/or lead projects requiring involvement of broader scientic community external to LLNL.

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Master's degree in physics, engineering, a related eld, or equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Advanced knowledge of a specic area of science applicable to hydrodynamic testing.
• Experience performing hands-on experimental science in bench top and/or test facilityenvironments and familiarity with experimentation requiring formal conduct of operations.
• Experience managing medium-sized technical projects.
• Self-motivation and initiative in addressing challenging problems, and innovative ability to identify/develop creative solutions.
• Signicant experience completing and/or leading top-quality research in relevant areas of physics and engineering.
• Ability to travel.
• Advanced interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence necessary to work eectively with a wide range of personalities in both one-on-one and team environments.
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills necessary to collaborate, present, and explain experimental design including prociency in standard oce computing software.

Additional qualications at the SES.4 level

• PhD in physics, engineering, a related eld, or equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Subject-matter expertise in one or more specic areas of science applicable to hydrodynamic testing.
• Extensive experience leading large, multi-organizational technical projects.
• Ability to lead and mentor others in part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Substantial experience presenting and disseminating highly advanced research results at scientic conferences and peer-reviewed publications, in open and classied environments, internal and external to LLNL.
• Substantial experience communicating results of work with external sponsors.

Qualications We Desire

• Experience working around explosives and/or with other high-hazard materials or eects.
• Experience using computer-aided design tools.
• Experience with one or more of the following topics: dynamic radiography, high-speed photography, Photonic Doppler Velocimetry, radiometry, pulsed power (ash lamps, re sets), system-generated EMP, grounding and shielding, modeling transmission and eects of ionizing radiation.
• Experience with scientic data analysis in mainstream programming languages or tools such as C++, Python, MATLAB, etc.
• Knowledge of the SD weapons program and/or explosive hydrodynamic experimentation.

Pay Range

$175,530 -$267,060 Annually

$175,530 - $222,564 Annually for the SES.3 level

$210,630 - $267,060 Annually for the SES.4 level

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting; pay will not be below any applicable local minimum wage. An employee's position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.

#LI-Hybrid

Position Information

This is a Career Indefinite position, open to Lab employees and external candidates.

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2026Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• FlexibleBenefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Our values - visithttps://www.llnl.gov/inclusion/our-values

Security Clearance

This position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance.If you are selected, wewill initiate a Federal background investigation to determine if youmeet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or matter. Also, all L or Q cleared employees are subject to random drug testing. Q-level clearance requires U.S. citizenship.

Pre-Employment Drug Test

External applicant(s) selected for this position must pass a post-offer, pre-employment drug test. This includes testing for use of marijuana as Federal Law applies to us as a Federal Contractor.

Wireless and Medical Devices

Per the Department of Energy (DOE), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory must meet certain restrictions with the useand/or possession ofmobile devices in Limited Areas. Depending on your job duties, you may be required to work in a Limited Area whereyou are not permitted to have a personal and/or laboratory mobile devicein your possession. This includes, but not limited to cell phones, tablets, fitness devices, wireless headphones, and other Bluetooth/wireless enabled devices.

Ifyou useamedical device, whichpairs with a mobile device,you must still follow the rules concerningthe mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas. Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities requireseparate approval. Hearing aids without wireless capabilities or wireless that has been disabled are allowed in Limited Areas, Secure Space and Transit/Buffer Space within buildings.

Pre-Placement Medical Exam

A job related pre-placement medical examination may be required.

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