Laser System Engineering and Operations Group Leader

About the position

We have multiple openings for Engineering Group Leaders to lead a multi-disciplinary group of engineers responsible for supporting key operations, design, production, controls, and R&D activities in the National Ignition Facility & Photon Science Directorate (NIF&PS). The openings include administratively leading groups that support teams in the Systems Engineering, Integrated Engineering, and Systems Integration Engineering Sections. You will have a critical role in fostering successful careers, creating a positive and inclusive working environment, and providing an outstanding and diverse staff to meet program needs. In addition to the Group Leader role, you will be expected to maintain a 90%-time programmatic project role/assignment in the NIF&PS Directorate. These positions are in the Laser Systems Engineering and Operations (LSEO) Division, within the Engineering Directorate.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical and operational leadership and supervision, and administrative direction to a multi-disciplinary team of engineers.
• Lead, carry out, participate in, and/or coordinate recruiting, hiring, training, career development, and performance management activities as needed to meet programmatic staffing, employee development, and performance related and salary management needs, including providing career counseling, mentoring, and technical guidance.
• Collaborate with the NIF&PS Directorate leaders to identify and manage the work assignments for the group members, define work objectives, and advise and evaluate staff on the execution of technical work.
• Lead and participate in formal and informal design reviews; provide guidance to group members on engineering excellence using Engineering Safety notes in accordance with Engineering Design Safety Standards, industry best practices, systems engineering, and project management.
• Mentor group members in design, analysis, implementation, and integration for components and systems with implementation of the systems engineering methodology in the Integrated Product Review Board process.
• Provide technical and/or programmatic management solutions to highly unusual, complex, and/or sensitive issues where the solution path is not known ahead of time.
• Manage workforce projection working with programmatic managers to meet staff availability and training needs, using this information to help develop a vision for the group.
• Advocate for, prioritize alignment, and ensure work scope is adequately staffed and required resources are in place to support execution of programmatic work scope and to ensure milestones and deliverables are met.
• Manage many parallel tasks requiring the resolution of conflicting work requirements and the prioritization of tasks to meet pre-determined targets.
• Maintain strong communications, collaborations, and contacts, internal and external to LLNL, and ensure that program risks and requirements are communicated in an effective and timely manner to senior leadership.
• Identify and foster Science & Technology initiatives in lasers, optics, diagnostics, or other applicable research areas for NIF&PS and Engineering.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering discipline or related field or the equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Significant leadership experience working effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Significant experience with, subject matter expert knowledge of, and leadership skills in the design, analysis, and implementation in one or more of the following technical areas: hardware or systems used on precision optomechanical or electromechanical systems; design, assembly, and commissioning of systems; shot or facility operations; fabrication and process engineering of highly integrated systems; industrial safety and control systems; systems and project engineering; project management with extensive interaction with funding sponsors; and production engineering and management.
• Significant experience leading technical presentations and participating in design reviews, identifying technical needs, developing practical approaches, and delivering strategic working solutions for program customers.
• Expert communication, facilitation, and collaboration skills necessary to lead a team, to present, explain, influence, and provide advice to management, program leaders, and sponsors, and to interpret and convey Laboratory policies to employees and promote situational awareness, as well as interpersonal skills to attract, motivate, and retain high performing technical staff.
• Demonstrated ability to manage in positive ways by communicating effectively, empathizing with others, overcoming setbacks, and defusing conflict, with an aptitude for successfully mentoring and supervising others and managing sensitive personnel matters.

Nice-to-haves

• Master's degree/PhD in Mechanical, Electrical, or Optical Engineering or related field.
• Significant experience with LLNL and Engineering administrative policies, procedures, and design safety practices and standards.
• Experience in payroll supervision, preparation of performance reviews, ranking and salary management, and knowledge of Engineering Directorate policies and procedures.
• Experience in high energy and power laser systems.
• Experience in either operations or production organization.
• Experience in Ombuds program or equivalent.

Benefits

• Flexible Benefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accountability (IDEA)