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Laser and Alignment Systems Associate Section Manager for Operat

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Posted today
DoE Q or L
$227,430 - $288,396
Unspecified
Livermore, CA (On-Site/Office)

Company Description

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.

Job Description

Are you ready to play a pivotal role in supporting the world's most advanced laser facility? We are seeking a dynamic Associate Section Manager for Operations, Lasers & Alignment Systems Engineering (LASE), to join the National Ignition Facility & Photon Science (NIF&PS) Directorate. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the team that achieved fusion ignition in December 2022, a historic moment in science that opened new physics regimes and set the stage for future fusion energy possibilities. In this critical position, you will lead a multidisciplinary team responsible for the operation and maintenance of laser sources, diagnostics, target and beam alignment, and pulsed power systems. You will manage operational execution, integration, and continuous improvement of LASE activities across NIF sections, ensuring seamless support for NIF's shot schedule and mission. This position is in the Laser Systems Engineering & Operations (LSEO) Division within the Engineering Directorate.

This position requires full-time on-site presence due to the nature of the work.

In this role, you will
  • Lead teams, programs, or functions with a technical focus, operate under consultative direction with substantial authority, use subject matter expertise and significant team leadership experience, and exercise judgment within established policies to monitor workflow, allocate resources, ensure timely completion of projects, independently determine strategies, and achieve objectives while managing organizational impact and pursuing actions to achieve long-term goals.
  • Oversee the management and execution of the LASE Operations & Integration team scope, identifying, planning and executing courses of action essential to obtaining desired outcomes, and managing internal sponsor.
  • Lead a team of work center supervisors and technicians providing 24/7 operational support for the operations and maintenance of the NIF laser system, including laser sources & diagnostics, target and beam alignment, and pulsed power.
  • Manage highly complex operational interfaces between key internal stakeholders responsible for NIF shots, Laser System Operators, and Pulsed Power Operators to ensure seamless completion of critical path activities to support NIF's shot schedule.
  • Represent LASE interests in working group interactions with other associate section managers for operations, including participation in the improvement of the Safety Security Quality And Efficiency (SSQE).
  • Identify and coordinate with the appropriate organizations the support from work teams and resources required for each phase of LASE activities, including personnel, equipment, and facility needs, while ensuring that LASE scope is clearly understood, appropriately represented, and effectively prioritized.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for LASE Operations, representing LASE at planning and coordination meetings, ensuring that LASE scope and priorities are communicated and understood, and escalating gaps in planning and execution as needed.
  • Facilitate stakeholder engagement through regular meetings with section managers, planners, system managers, work center supervisors, and appropriate project teams to clarify roles, processes, integration needs, and priorities for LASE, and solicit feedback for continuous improvement.
  • Oversee the management and development of the operations training program including development of highly advanced methods and metrics to track progress towards strategic goals.
  • Ability to support a team that is responsible for 24/7 facility operations of Lasers & Alignment Systems Engineering, including fielding off-hours/at-night calls and providing onsite presence as needed to resolve highly complex technical or operational issues.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.


Qualifications

  • Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
  • Bachelor's degree in Science or Engineering or related technical field, or the equivalent combination of education and significant related experience and ability to lead independent work.
  • Expert level knowledge in science or engineering that relates to implementation of integrated, highly complex, and large-scale systems.
  • Expert level experience in management of operations for large and highly complex technical systems operated by multidisciplinary teams, including 24/7 operations, complex work control, and configuration management.
  • Significant experience managing and executing integrated safety management processes and applying SSQE principles in an operational environment.
  • Expert interpersonal skills, including the ability to manage personnel conflicts and maintain high morale in a demanding and dynamic environment.
  • Demonstrated experience leading a team and/or group effectively in a fast-paced, high pressure, complex, multidisciplinary team environment, working across organizational boundaries.
  • Demonstrated leadership skills for successfully leading and managing multidisciplinary technical teams.
  • Expert level verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively collaborate and lead in a team environment, present and explain technical information, and provide advice to management, personnel, and stakeholders.

Qualifications We Desire
  • Master's degree in Science, Engineering, Physics, or related technical field.
  • In-depth knowledge of NIF&PS management and structures, and familiarity with laser systems, operations, and interfaces across NIF sections.

Pay Range

$227,430 - $288,396 Annually

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.

Additional Information

#LI-Onsite

Position Information

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

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?
  • Included in 2026 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
  • Flexible Benefits Package
  • 401(k)
  • Relocation Assistance
  • Education Reimbursement Program
  • Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
  • Our values - visit https://www.llnl.gov/inclusion/our-values

Security Clearance

This position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance. If you are selected, we will initiate a Federal background investigation to determine if you meet 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 use and/or possession of mobile devices in Limited Areas. Depending on your job duties, you may be required to work in a Limited Area where you are not permitted to have a personal and/or laboratory mobile device in your possession. This includes, but not limited to cell phones, tablets, fitness devices, wireless headphones, and other Bluetooth/wireless enabled devices.

If you use a medical device, which pairs with a mobile device, you must still follow the rules concerning the mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas. Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities require separate 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.

How to identify fake job advertisements

Please be aware of recruitment scams where people or entities are misusing the name of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to post fake job advertisements. LLNL never extends an offer without a personal interview and will never charge a fee for joining our company. All current job openings are displayed on the Career Page under "Find Your Job" of our website. If you have encountered a job posting or have been approached with a job offer that you suspect may be fraudulent, we strongly recommend you do not respond.

To learn more about recruitment scams: https://www.llnl.gov/sites/www/files/2023-05/LLNL-Job-Fraud-Statement-Updated-4.26.23.pdf

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer that is committed to providing all with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status, age, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

Reasonable Accommodation

Our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates applying and interviewing at the Laboratory. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please use our online form to submit a request.

California Privacy Notice

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants privacy rights to all California residents. The law also entitles job applicants, employees, and non-employee workers to be notified of what personal information LLNL collects and for what purpose. The Employee Privacy Notice can be accessed here .
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About Us
Since its origins, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has pushed the limits of science, technology, and research in an effort to better understand the world and protect the people in it—but we do so much more than that. To this day, we continue to innovate, collaborate, and explore, backed by the minds of thousands of talented researchers, operations staff, and creative professionals. We are a globally-recognized leader in bioengineering, high-performance computing, environmental research, nuclear science, and more. And none of this research would be possible without our employees across different fields, from skilled labor to engineering. No matter what you do here, you can help change the world. The Lab is located in the heart of the Livermore Valley in the East Bay area of California, close to major metropolitan areas like San Francisco, Oakland, and San José.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Jobs


Clearance Level
DoE Q or L