Sr. System Engineer - Active Security Clearance Required

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

We have multiple openings for a Senior System Engineer to support the Warhead Modernization Programs. Your primary focus will be to provide support for a set of high-level technical Systems Engineering activities, working with a group of systems engineering professionals, to provide project integration and management of requirements, mapping of designs, functions, failure mechanisms, risks, assessments and verifications to requirements. In this role, you will partner closely with design and test engineers as an integrated member of the design team to develop deep technical understanding of subsystem behavior, supporting the maturation of system requirements, participating in system-level design architecture and analysis, and contributing to test planning to verify requirements and qualify hardware, ensuring system-level requirements, interfaces, and verification approaches are technically sound and fully aligned with implementation. These positions are in the Defense Technologies Engineering Division (DTED) within the Engineering Directorate, supporting the Weapon Technologies and Engineering (WTE) Program, within the Strategic Deterrence (SD) Directorate.

Depending on your assignment, these positions may offer a hybrid schedule, blending in-person and virtual presence. You may have the flexibility to work from home one or more days per week.

You will

• Conduct advanced level technical tasks and utilize project systems engineering, execution, expertise, and systems analytic methods to support a nuclear weapon modernization program and also support product qualification and system certification.
• Apply project management best practices and systems engineering frameworks to guide project execution, including defining, tracking, and completing work objectives on time and within budget. Monitor performance required and implement risk mitigation actions as needed to ensure programmatic milestones and deliverables are met.
• Lead component and subsystem specific technical requirements development activities, including but not limited to performance requirements identification, interface requirements management, and traceability to verification activities.
• Partner closely with design and test engineers to develop a deep technical understanding of subsystem behavior, ensuring system level requirements, interfaces, and verification approaches are technically sound and fully aligned with implementation. Participate in test planning to verify requirements and qualify hardware.
• Collaborate with external agencies for jointly developed deliverables.
• Lead system-level design architecture and analysis that combines component parts and subsystems into a complete functional system.
• Ensure that program risks and requirements are communicated in an effective and timely manner to Leadership.
• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for project stakeholders, perform special assignments, and represent LLNL at meetings, briefings, and committee activities both internal and external to the Laboratory.
• Lead and/or provide guidance and technical direction to multidisciplinary project teams in a growing, dynamic environment.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• This position requires an active Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance or active Top-Secret clearance issued by another U.S. government agency at the time of hire.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical field, or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Proven track record of executing technical engineering work, including developing, analyzing, or validating engineering designs in a production or research environment.
• Significant experience with product development processes including requirements management, design prototyping, product testing, business planning, pilot production, and manufacturing.
• Advanced level skills and experience with systems engineering practices for requirements, designs, functions, failure mechanisms, risks, assessments, and verifications.
• Advanced knowledge and experience in the application of systems engineering tools and techniques, product realization processes, project work planning, scheduling, cost estimating, analyzing and managing budgets, and project controls reporting.
• Demonstrated experience and ability in effectively promoting and maintaining productive relationships across directorates, with other laboratories, and with personnel from external entities.
• Ability to use independent judgement in determining systems engineering methods and techniques and in responding to changing priorities.
• Advanced communication, facilitation, and collaboration skills, with the ability to effectively present and explain technical information and provide advice to senior management and external stakeholders.

Qualifications We Desire

• Master's degree in Engineering or related field and relevant experience.
• Experience with product development processes including requirements management, design prototyping, product testing, business planning, pilot production, and manufacturing.
• Significant working knowledge of quality engineering and/or quality assurance and control.
• Experience in definition/specification releases, configuration management, and Product Lifecycle Management systems.
• Broad knowledge of Laboratory policies and practices and applicable NNSA orders.
• Advanced knowledge of nuclear warhead engineering, assessments, and design.

Pay Range

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

This is the lowest to highest salary in good faith 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-Hybrid

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

Security Clearance

This position requires an active Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance or active Top Secret clearance issued by another U.S. government agency at time of hire.


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.

Pre-Placement Medical Exam

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

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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.

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