Senior Nuclear Engineer - NDSE

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.

• MSTS offers our full-time employees highly competitive salaries and benefits packages including medical, dental, and vision; both a pension and a 401k; paid time off and 96 hours of paid holidays; relocation (if located more than 75 miles from work location); tuition assistance and reimbursement; and more.

• MSTS is a limited liability company consisting of Honeywell International Inc. (Honeywell), Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (Jacobs), and HII Nuclear Inc.

Responsiblities

The Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) is seeking outstanding candidates for a Nuclear Engineer position supporting the Neutron Diagnosed Subcritical Experiment (NDSE) project to design, develop, operate, and maintain dense plasma focus (DPF) neutron generating pulsed power machines in North Las Vegas, Area 11, and primarily the Principal Underground Laboratory for Subcritical Experiments (PULSE) facility to interrogate and diagnose explosively driven physics packages as part of a series of subcritical experiments (SCEs) in the interest of ensuring the safety, security, and reliability of our nation’s nuclear weapon stockpile.

In this role, the candidate will be expected to apply nuclear and electrical engineering concepts and techniques to support the Z-pinch Experiment Underground System (ZEUS) and all its associated subsystems and diagnostics systems, while also collaborating closely with other pulsed power testbed teams such as Cygnus and Scorpius to develop and employ common engineering documentation and fielding methodologies across multiple experiment testbeds where applicable.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with multiple internal and external organizations to field and characterize the DPF machine in Area 11 in preparation for installation and operation at the PULSE facility.

• Work as part of a team of engineers, physicists, and technologists from the weapons labs and the NNSS to install and operate ZEUS and possibly Scorpius, along with associated pulsed power diagnostics systems and detector systems on SCEs at the PULSE facility.

• Collaborate with a team which includes scientists, engineers, technicians, postdocs and students from the NNSS, Sandia National Laboratory (SNL), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) to ensure readiness of all phases of ZEUS operations at PULSE, from testing and characterization in NLV and Area 11, to delivery, installation, operations, and maintenance as a primary diagnostic system for SCEs at PULSE.

• Will initially work under the supervision of more experienced personnel but will eventually provide technical direction for testing and characterization of pulsed power neutron generator systems and machine diagnostics systems for the DPF machines fielded in North Las Vegas, Area 11, and at PULSE.

• Supports and develops electrical systems for prompt and delayed radiation detection equipment.

• Supports and develops timing and triggering systems in support of ZEUS and SCE experiments.

• Development of system documentation and testing procedures

• Development of system integration drawings

• Perform data analysis and document results.

• Contributes to strategies, reports, and technical proposals.

• Serves as an internal subject matter expert and is recognized by their colleagues as such.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) required for Mechanical and Electrical engineering degrees; or, Calculus-based STEM bachelor’s degree in engineering; or Professional Engineer license; Plus at least 5 years’ relevant experience.

• BS degree in calculus-based STEM engineering with an MS in Nuclear Engineering preferred.

• Competency in Monte Carlo (MCNP/SCALE/GEANT) radiation transport codes

• Competency with Neutron Activation and Gamma Activation Analysis techniques

• Familiarization with gamma spectroscopy (HPGe) and counting mode (Multi-Channel Scalar) hardware and software.

• Knowledge of a scientific-based programming language (C, Python, Fortran)

• Knowledge of neutron detection techniques (He-3, Bubble, activation, etc.)

• Experience with pulsed power systems is preferred.

• Knowledge of how codes and standards of other disciplines affect their discipline.

• Skill building experience must demonstrate either deeper technical specialization or additional cross-disciplinary knowledge; graduate research experience may be recognized

• Proficient with testing, evaluating, and fielding electronic components, diagnostics and measurement systems, such as delay generators, high bandwidth digitizers, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), power transmission lines, and capacitor systems including associated charging and triggering circuits

• Experience configuring, commissioning, and testing embedded-systems

• Experience adhering to design processes and configuration management.

• Effective analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills to develop creative solutions to complex problems and time management, organization, and planning skills with experience prioritizing concurrent technical tasks.

• Must be able to execute work in a disciplined manner to demonstrate compliance with laws, codes, orders, and NNSS policies and procedures.

• Proficient verbal and written communication and social skills necessary to work effectively within a large technical team, consisting of electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, chemical engineers, plasma physicists, and electro-mechanical technicians

• Must be able to collaborate well in a multi-institutional environment with all levels of staff and management.

• The primary work location will be at the U1a complex at the Nevada National Security Site (located 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada), with occasional work taking place at the North Las Vegas facility.

• Frequent travel to the NNSS forward areas is required (approximately 30 miles beyond the Mercury gate)

• Some travel to New Mexico and California to support weapons laboratories may be required.

• Work schedule for this position will be 4/10’s, Monday – Thursday (subject to change). Travel, as needed, to support experiments, workshops and other collaborative activities.

• 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: $99,340.80 to $149,011.20.

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