Engineering Technician V - NIF Facility Operations and Maintenance (NWS 00903)

Location: Livermore, CA
Title: Engineering Technician V - NIF Facility Operations and Maintenance (NWS 00903)

North Wind Services (NWS) is a high performing, low risk company with a successful history of contributing to their client's missions. NWS executes and manages a wide range of technical services such as environmental investigation and restoration, construction, demolition, radioactive and hazardous waste management, public communication/involvement, information management, health and safety, industrial hygiene, and emergency response/HAZMAT services.

North Wind Services is actively seeking individuals who can contribute to national security within the science, technology, and engineering fields as part of our supplemental labor team at vital federal research and development installations supporting the Department of Energy. Qualified applicants must be a US citizen, at least 18 years of age, and able to meet pre-employment requirements including any required physicals, drug screen, and/or background investigation to satisfy clearance requirements from the Department of Energy.

Successful candidates will be employees of NWS supporting the missions of their federal client, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in Livermore, CA. Pay, benefits, Human Resources, and employment management functions are all provided by NWS. As an NWS employee working at LLNL, within the client's environment, you will complete day-to-day tasks, with direction from technical personnel directly employed by LLNL.

This position supports the National Ignition Facility (NIF) which is the world's largest and most energetic laser facility ever built. NIF is also the most precise and reproducible laser as well as the largest optical instrument. The giant laser has nearly 40,000 optics, which precisely guide, reflect, amplify, and focus 192 laser beams onto a fusion target about the size of a pencil eraser. 

The Engineering Department has an opening in the Laser Systems Engineering Operations Division for an Engineering Technician V to perform installation, maintenance, operation, and modification to the complex NIF Facility and Utility Systems. With general supervision, the successful candidate will work in the Facility and Infrastructure Systems (FInS) Work Center and report directly to the FInS Field Supervisor. The successful candidate will have a strong background in operating and maintaining NIF facility support systems and technical equipment. The successful candidate must have demonstrated exceptional high ability in supporting previous large complex mechanical distribution systems and associated equipment.

NIF is a 24/7 operational facility, and operators typically work on a 3/12-4/12 schedule to support operations, with the last two hours of each shift being overtime. The dayshift work hours are from 06:30-19:30 and the owl shift hours are from 18:30-07:30. Dayshifts work either Sunday-Tuesday and every other Wednesday, or Thursday to Saturday and every other Wednesday. Owl shifts work either Sunday to Tuesday and every other Saturday night or Wednesday to Friday and every other Saturday night. 12-hour shifts are not guaranteed and may change in the future.

Essential Duties
- Operate all the facility support systems to enable successful shot operations, such as process
utility, specialty air systems, vacuum systems, cooling systems, pressurized gas systems, and others.
- Perform physical installation of typical or non-typical equipment according to layouts of mechanical apparatus in accordance with national, state and local safety codes and practices.
- Assure that the as-built configuration of the NIF Facility and utility systems are consistent with configuration drawing/diagrams.
- Plan mechanical inspections, corrective maintenance, preventative maintenance repairs, installation projects, including inspecting systems for conformance to design and applicable codes.
- Review existing system management processes to verify safety and performance of the building and utility systems in the NIF facility are properly maintained.
- Participate in NIF quarterly outages for utility and facility maintenance.
- Operate typical and non-typical test equipment such as voltmeters, ohmmeters, current meters, meggers, motorized wire pulling equipment, and utilize other various power tools, equipment, and hand tools to troubleshoot, install and perform maintenance.
- Work from detailed drawings and verbal or written instruction.
- Provide good customer service in a timely manner.
- Prepare standard logs and reports on facility and utility systems.
- Responsible and accountable for performing tasks in accordance with ES&H regulations and procedures fulfilling all Integrated Safety, Security and Property Management responsibilities as appropriate.

Marginal Duties
- Computer use, including control system computers and maintenance tablets.

Essential Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
- A.A in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering Technology or related field or equivalent combination of education or experience as it relates to facility/utility systems.
- Experience working on a Graphic User Interface (GUI) & manipulating system.
- Demonstrated physical hands-on experience as it relates to facilities installation, operations, maintenance, and repair.
- Knowledge of analytical tools for simulating facility and utility systems.
- Proficient in the use of all tools used for installation, testing and the repair of facility and utility systems, including facility/utility specialty air systems.
- Experience anticipating, identifying, and resolving facility and utility problems.
- Experience and knowledge with LOTO (Lockout/Tagout) processes
- Ability to work from detailed drawings and blueprints.
- Excellent customer service and communication skills and the ability to work independently or as a team member, working and interacting well with internal and external customers.
- Experience working in a multi-disciplinary, dynamic environment under tight time constraints.
- Medically qualified to wear respiratory and protective equipment.
-Ability to work scheduled as well as emergency overtime work.
-Ability to work in confined spaces and perform physical requirements of job including frequent twisting and pulling.

Desired Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
-Basic computing skills.
-Knowledge of Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS)
-Knowledge of National Electrical Code (NEC) and local, state and deferral electrical codes.

Special Requirements
Pre-Placement Medical Exam : A job-related pre-placement medical examination may be required.
Pre-employment drug test: External applicants selected for this position will be required to pass a post offer, pre-employment drug test.
Anticipated Government Clearance Level: Q (position will be cleared to this level). Applicants who are selected will be subject to a federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or matters. In addition, all L or Q cleared employees are subject to random drug testing. Q-level clearance requires U.S. citizenship. If you hold multiple citizenships (U.S. and another country), you may be required to renounce your non-U.S. citizenship before a DOE L or Q clearance will be processed/granted.

North Wind offers a competitive pay and benefits package to include health, life, and disability insurance benefits, 401(k) with company match, generous paid leave, and tuition reimbursement for eligible employees. As a company, we are committed to employee wellness, professional development, and work-life balance. We value safety, reliability, and commitment to our people. For more information about benefits or hiring philosophy, visit the North Wind Career Opportunities Page.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The nature of those accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis. If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, or are limited in the ability or unable to access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact our Helpline Show phone number or use the Request for Reasonable Accommodation ( form to get assistance.

North Wind is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic data, religion, or other legally protected status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

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 NW collects and for what purpose. The Employee Privacy Notice can be accessed here: (