Principal Scientist

Job Title

Principal Scientist

Job Description

Mission Support and Test Services, LLC (MSTS) manages and operates the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Our MISSION is to help ensure the security of the United States and its allies by providing high-hazard experimentation and incident response capabilities through operations, engineering, education, field, and integration services and by acting as environmental stewards to the Site's Cold War legacy. Our VISION is to be the user site of choice for large-scale, high-hazard, national security experimentation, with premier facilities and capabilities below ground, on the ground, and in the air. (See NNSS.gov for our unique capabilities.) Our 2,750+ professional, craft, and support employees are called upon to innovate, collaborate, and deliver on some of the more difficult nuclear security challenges facing the world today.

Responsibilities

The Stockpile Experimentation and Operations, Technology and Operations (SEO T&O) Directorate is seeking a highly motivated individual with a strong work ethic and willingness to learn to join the Radiography and Imaging Systems Team within the Dynamic Instruments Section of SEO T&O. Dynamic Instruments is comprised of approximately 35 scientists, engineers, and technicians, and is the core for innovative diagnostic design, simulation, fabrication, characterization, and fielding in support of the NNSS' stockpile stewardship mission.

The Radiography and Imaging Systems Team is specifically responsible for providing novel optical designs based on scientific requirements, diagnostic development for both visible and radiographic imaging and beam line diagnostics and participating in fielding efforts for stockpile stewardship experiments and other applications across the NNSA complex.

We are looking for a Principal Scientist to collaborate on the design, development, characterization, and fielding of diagnostic and scientific systems that will be deployed at the Multi Pulse Test Line at Los Alamos National Laboratory and other beam line facilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Responsible for operating diagnostic equipment such optical imaging equipment such as cameras and lens systems, oscilloscopes, lasers, function generators, delay generators, fiber optic inspection and cleaning equipment, etc.
• Develop solutions for a range of complex problems and issues related to beamline diagnostic development.
• Oversee and conduct research, data compilation, and data analysis.
• Oversee and contribute to the research and development of new beam line diagnostics or upgrading current diagnostics.
• Serve as a discipline specific subject matter expert to other scientists, engineers, and management, both internal to the NNSS and with external collaborators.
• Coordinate work efforts through interaction with peers, project leaders, supervisors/managers, both internal to the NNSS and external collaborators.
• Define and develop technical proposals.
• Participate in fielding optical and electrical diagnostics at large facilities.
• Foster a work environment that supports open communication and trust.
• Represent the NNSS at conferences, workshops, and meetings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in calculus-based (STEM) field, plus 9 years' relevant experience. Skill building experience must demonstrate either deeper technical specialization or additional cross-disciplinary knowledge. Graduate research experience may be recognized.
• Experience developing and fielding plasma diagnostics and dynamic experiments.
• Executes work in a disciplined manner to demonstrate compliance with laws, codes, orders, and MSTS policies and procedures.
• Must be willing and able to travel as required by the job.
• The primary work location will be at Los Alamos Operations, located in Los Alamos, New Mexico.
• Work schedule will be 4/10s Monday through Thursday (subject to change).
• Pre-placement physical examination, which includes a drug screen, is required. MSTS maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing.
• Must possess a valid driver's license.

MSTS is required by DOE directive to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants offered employment with MSTS are also subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment. In addition, Applicants for employment must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship, at least 18 years of age. Reference DOE Order 472.2, "Personnel Security". If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Department of Energy Q Clearance (position will be cleared to this level). Reviews and tests for the absence of any illegal drug as defined in 10 CFR Part 707.4, "Workplace Substance Abuse Programs at DOE Sites," will be conducted. Applicant selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation, required to participate in subsequent reinvestigations, and must meet the eligibility requirements for access to classified matter. Successful completion of a counterintelligence evaluation, which may include a counterintelligence-scope polygraph examination, may also be required. Reference 10 CFR Part 709, "Counterintelligence Evaluation Program."

MSTS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. MSTS is a background screening, drug-free workplace

Annual salary range for this position is: $121,867.20 - $185,848.00.

Starting salary is determined based on the position market value, the individual candidate education and experience and internal equity.

Job Info

• Job Identification 12027
• Job Category Sciences
• Posting Date 07/01/2026, 09:25 PM
• Job Schedule Full time
• Locations 2900 East Rd, Los Alamos, NM, 87544, US