W87-1 Engineering Group Leader

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 Engineering Group Leaders for the W87-1 Modification Program (Mod). You will provide professional leadership for a set of high-level technical activities and lead a group of professional and technical personnel, providing project engineering, project management, product designs, systems engineering, certification, qualification, and support to production agencies. These positions are in the Defense Technologies Engineering Division (DTED), supporting the Weapon Technologies and Engineering (WTE) Program.

Depending on your assignment, this position 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.

This position 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.

You will

• Provide supervision, guidance and training to group members, foster staff development, promote design engineering improvements, participate in hiring activities and balancing group skill sets to support WTE programs.
• Work with the Project Engineer and the Program Engineering Leads to ensure group members have assigned work that meets program needs and offers opportunities for growth. Remain cognizant of group members’ technical goals, workload balances, and progress of group projects.
• Support the Program Engineering Leads to track and complete work objectives on time and within budget in collaboration with other program groups/personnel and with other essential WTE support personnel. Monitor performance required to meet programmatic milestones and deliverables. Engage to correct deficiencies and lead corrective actions where necessary. Ensure that program risks and requirements are communicated in an effective and timely manner to senior leadership.
• Provide leadership in project engineering, project management, product designs, product realization team (PRT) processes, systems engineering, certification, qualification, engineering evaluations and support to production agencies (PAs).
• Represent WTE at meetings, briefings, and committee activities both internal and external to the Laboratory.
• Prepare and conduct performance management activities for design group personnel and contribute to the DTED performance assessment and salary management processes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the SEL.5 level

• Influence strategic technical decisions made by senior management and external customers based on nuclear weapon design expertise.
• Mentor staff across the organization, including other mentors. Advise across the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) as an expert in weapon design engineering, 6.X lifecycle processes, PAs, PRTs and product realization, certification, and qualification work.
• Serve as an organizational spokesperson on behalf of Laboratory management and/or peers in the NSE representing the Laboratory in NEP design and project engineering.

Qualifications

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field, or equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Significant experience with design engineering, product realization processes and stakeholders, certification, and qualification work.
• Subject matter expert knowledge of weapon engineering, systems, and design.
• Expertise with project management tools and techniques, including work planning, scheduling, cost estimating, analyzing, and managing scope and budgets.
• Expert communication, facilitation, negotiation, and collaboration skills, necessary to present, explain, mediate, compromise, and advise senior management and/or external sponsors. Ability to promote and maintain productive relationships across directorates, with other laboratories, and with personnel from external entities.
• Effective leadership, interpersonal, organizational, and supervisory skills to lead personnel, write performance appraisals, and actively participate in ranking and hiring activities.
• Experience working independently and responsively to changing priorities and ability to meet deadlines and keep management well informed.

Additional qualifications at the SEL.5 level

• Accomplished record of weapon design and product realization.
• Expert communication, facilitation, negotiation, and collaboration skills necessary to effectively present, explain, mediate, compromise, influence, and advise senior management and external sponsors.
• Extensive experience and expert design engineering knowledge to address advancements that may have impact beyond the Laboratory and the NSE.

Qualifications We Desire

• 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.
• Relevant experience in nuclear weapons systems engineering, design, realization, and qualification
• Master’s degree or PhD in Engineering or related field.
• Broad knowledge of Laboratory policies and practices and applicable NNSA orders.

Pay Range

$227,430 - $346,140 Annually

$227,430 - $288,396 Annually for the SEL.4 level
$272,970 - $346,140 Annually for the SEL.5 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 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.

Pre-Placement Medical Exam

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

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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

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Organization: EngineeringCategory: EngineeringJob Code 2: SEL.5 Science & Engineering TSL 5Employee Referral Bonus: Not applicableJob Code 1: SEL.4 Science & Engineering TSL 4Pre-Employment Drug Test: Required for external applicant(s) selected for this position (includes testing for use of marijuana)Pre-Placement Medical Exam: A job-related pre-placement medical examination may be requiredSecurity Clearance: Anticipated DOE Q clearance (requires U.S. citizenship and a federal background investigation)Position Type: Career Indefinite