Job Description

We have multiple openings for experienced Pulsed Power Engineers to support the National Ignition Facility and Photon Science (NIF&PS) / Light Matter and Fusion (LMF) portfolio of projects, including NIF operations and sustainment, the NIF Enhanced Yield Capability (EYC) Project, high energy density science, and national security applications. NIF's laser uses the largest capacitor bank in the world, over 300 MJ, to power the world's highest energy pulsed laser system. EYC will upgrade NIF toward 2.6 MJ of optical energy by adding new pulsed power systems, flash lamps, and laser amplifier capability, while sustaining the reliable operation of existing NIF pulsed power hardware.

This is a hands-on engineering role for someone who wants to design, qualify, field, and improve high-energy pulsed power hardware in a one-of-a-kind facility. You will develop pulsed power and power electronics upgrades, qualify prototype and replacement components for use on NIF, support fabrication and installation of new EYC power conditioning hardware, and use operational data to improve reliability, maintainability, and shot readiness. You will also provide engineering expertise to operations and maintenance staff supporting a 24/7 mission facility, where good design must survive real schedules, real safety requirements, and real equipment aging. These positions are in the Laser Systems Engineering and Operations (LSEO) Division, within the Engineering Directorate.

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

These positions will be filled at either level based on knowledge and related experience as assessed by the hiring team. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if hired at the higher level.

In this role, you will

  • Work under limited direction, use comprehensive knowledge, and exercise independent judgment to determine methods and recommend improvements within established frameworks while contributing to the fulfillment of project and organizational goals.
  • Develop pulsed power and power electronics hardware for NIF laser systems, including upgrades and prototype components needed for EYC and for replacement of obsolete hardware.
  • Provide engineering and upgrade solutions to ensure the safe, reliable operation, maintenance, and sustained performance of the 2 MJ pulsed power bank supporting the flashlamp testing facility.
  • Support the fabrication, testing, installation, and qualification of new NIF Power Conditioning Modules for EYC by working with integrators, designers, technicians, and vendors to verify that hardware is built to plans, drawings, and specifications.
  • Define and execute test plans, acceptance criteria, and qualification approaches for high-energy and high-voltage pulsed power components before deployment on NIF.
  • Develop test plans and support qualifications of the redesigned Power Conditioning embedded controller being developed internally by the NIF controls team.
  • Develop electrical and optical diagnostics for pulsed power loads such as flashlamps to characterize performance, degradation, and failure modes.
  • Support redesign, qualification, inspection, and vendor qualification activities for high-energy NIF flashlamps and related components, including work associated with glass-to-metal seals and quartz tube suppliers.
  • Support and troubleshoot NIF pulsed power systems, including flashlamp power supplies, PEPC systems, pulsed power controls, trigger systems, interlocks, diagnostics, and associated test equipment.
  • Analyze and model/simulate the electrical performance of system components under dynamic electrical loads and/or harsh electromagnetic interference conditions.
  • Develop, maintain, and present system reliability and performance metrics; use those metrics to inform design improvements, sustainment plans, and investment decisions.
  • Document technical designs, test plans, acceptance criteria, qualification results, maintenance guidance, hazard analyses, and formal reports.
  • Participate in design reviews, safety reviews, readiness reviews, and technical peer reviews; present technical results and recommendations clearly to engineering, operations, and program stakeholders.
  • Support NIF's operational mission through planned engineering work, maintenance windows, recovery activities, and occasional off-shift or on-call response for critical shot campaigns.
  • Uphold and adhere to the highest standards of personnel safety, facility safety, configuration management, conduct of operations, security, and quality while working around high-energy electrical systems.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the SES.3 level

  • Function independently with minimal direction, with greater responsibility and applying advanced knowledge and judgment to establish objectives, prioritize parallel tasks, allocate resources, and guide the completion of projects that contribute to organizational goals.
  • Serve as a primary technical contact for assigned pulsed power systems, EYC upgrade hardware, qualification activities, or NIF sustainment tasks.
  • Lead and participate in multi-disciplinary design reviews, qualification reviews, failure reviews, and technical investigations to ensure that hardware, experiments/tests, and data acquisition systems are safe and technically sound.
  • Guide qualification strategy for prototype or first-of-kind pulsed power hardware, new Power Conditioning Module hardware, embedded controller upgrades, flashlamp-related components, or obsolete-component replacements.
  • Provide technical direction to engineers, technicians, designers, vendors, integrators, and external contractors fabricating, testing, or modifying custom electrical equipment.
  • Develop and lead training or inspection approaches for specialized pulsed power hardware, such as flashlamp inspection criteria or qualification methods for critical components.
  • Mentor junior engineers and contribute to the development and implementation of best practices for high-voltage design, pulsed power testing, qualification, documentation, troubleshooting, and configuration control.

Qualifications

  • Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
  • Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related technical field, or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of, and practical experience with high-voltage/pulsed power systems, power electronics, controls, diagnostics, or closely related hardware systems.
  • Comprehensive knowledge in one or more of the following areas: pulsed power, power modulation/switching, capacitor energy storage, grounding, shielding in harsh EMI environments, diagnostics, instrumentation systems, trigger systems, controls, or high-speed/high-power electronics.
  • Experience designing, building, testing, qualifying, troubleshooting, or operating electrical hardware beyond academic laboratory work, such as pulsed power systems, power converters, capacitor discharge systems, RF/microwave power systems, laser electronics, accelerator hardware, industrial controls, or high-reliability test equipment.
  • Experience developing and executing test plans, acceptance criteria, qualification tests, or failure investigations for high-voltage, high-energy, or mission-critical electrical hardware.
  • Experience using engineering analysis and test data to solve moderately complex to complex hardware problems involving multiple factors such as circuit behavior, component limits, thermal performance, EMI/RFI, grounding, shielding, timing, controls, diagnostics, or human/system interfaces.
  • Comprehensive knowledge and skills performing moderately complex computational modeling, simulation, analysis, or data reduction using tools such as SPICE, MATLAB, Python, COMSOL, or similar.
  • Experience with laboratory instrumentation and safe test practices for energized electrical systems, including oscilloscopes, probes, meters, current monitors, spectrum analyzers, power supplies, loads, signal sources, optical diagnostics, or data acquisition systems.
  • Experience working effectively in a multidisciplinary environment managing multiple tasks, projects, and priorities while balancing technical performance, safety requirements, schedule, reliability, and facility availability.
  • Proficient verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively collaborate in a team environment, including the ability to prepare technical reports, deliver presentations, and explain technical information and recommendations.

Additional qualifications at the SES.3 level

  • Advanced knowledge in one or more relevant areas such as pulsed power, high-voltage power conversion, capacitor energy storage, diagnostics, trigger systems, controls, grounding and shielding, EMI/RFI, flashlamp systems, or high-speed/high-power electronics.
  • Significant experience designing, building, testing, qualifying, troubleshooting, or operating complex high-voltage, pulsed power, power electronics, RF/microwave, laser, accelerator, or industrial electrical systems.
  • Ability to lead independent technical work, guide the completion of complex projects, and provide solutions that require in-depth analysis of tangible and intangible factors.
  • Experience serving as a technical contact, leading or contributing to design reviews, qualification reviews, or failure investigations, and providing guidance to engineers, technicians, vendors, integrators, or multidisciplinary teams.
  • Advanced verbal and written communication skills necessary to collaborate across organizations, present and explain complex technical information, and provide advice to management.

Qualifications We Desire

  • Master's degree in electrical engineering, applied physics, or a related field, or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
  • Experience qualifying prototype or first-of-kind high-voltage/pulsed power hardware intended to replace obsolete components, including developing test plans and acceptance criteria for qualification on an operating facility such as NIF.
  • Familiarity with electrical and optical diagnostic techniques used to characterize high-energy pulsed power loads such as flashlamps.
  • Understanding plasma physics fundamentals, particularly as they relate to flashlamp discharge behavior, gas breakdown, and light emission mechanisms.
  • Experience working with fabrication partners, integrators, or component vendors, to define technical specifications, verify build compliance, and support qualification of new hardware.
  • Experience with preventive and corrective maintenance, equipment reliability, failure modes and effects analysis, trend analysis, spare parts strategy, life-cycle sustainment, or reliability-centered maintenance.
  • Experience creating or improving test procedures, maintenance procedures, operating instructions, configuration-controlled drawings, hazard analyses, or technical training materials.
  • Experience with low-inductance layout, PCB design, cabling, grounding, shielding, fault protection, controls integration, LabVIEW, PLCs, embedded controllers, or custom data acquisition systems.

Pay Range

$146,340 - $222,564 Annually
$146,340 - $185,544 Annually for SES.2 Level
$175,530 - $222,564 Annually for SES.3 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.

Additional Information

Position Information

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

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

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.

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