Controls Engineering and Maintenance Leader

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.

We are seeking a dynamic and accomplished leader to join our team as Controls Engineering and Maintenance Leader within the National Ignition Facility and Photon Sciences (NIF&PS) Directorate. In this pivotal role you will guide the Controls Engineering & Maintenance group in operations, system upgrades, reliability engineering, and lifecycle sustainment planning. In this role you will apply your technical expertise and strategic vision to strengthen the foundation of a premier scientific facility.

As the CEM lead, you will provide strategic and technical leadership to a multi-disciplinary team responsible for designing, upgrading and commissioning specialized controls systems at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). You will work closely with CEM teams and collaborate with other programs across the NIF&PS directorate to ensure effective planning, execution, and continuous improvement of engineering and maintenance activities. In this role you will drive long term sustainment of critical systems, lead facility upgrades to meet evolving mission needs and oversee resource allocation and technical direction to maintain and enhance the groups operational excellence. This position is part of the Laser Systems Engineering & Operations (LSEO) Division within the Engineering Directorate.

This position requires full-time on-site presence due to the nature of the work.

You will

• Lead teams, programs, or functions with a technical focus, operate under consultative direction with substantial authority, use subject matter expertise and significant team leadership experience, and exercise judgment within established policies to monitor workflow, allocate resources, ensure timely completion of projects, independently determine strategies, and achieve objectives while managing organizational impact and pursuing actions to achieve long-term goals.
• Monitor the integrity and configuration of instrumentation, detection and alarm systems to anticipate the need for maintenance, repair, or replacement of components due to aging and degradation. Prepare assessments of system logs and problem reports and brief senior management on the results.
• Develop and implement solutions and approaches to highly complex upgrades and issues in support of commissioning, facility operations and maintenance using sound engineering judgment, in-depth analysis, ingenuity, and creativity while ensuring compatibility with existing architectures.
• Plan and direct control system changes from concept through detailed design, fabrication, testing, and field implementation, coordinating work across fabrication technicians, electrical technicians, electrical designers, controls engineers, and PLC based safety system engineers.
• Prepare and review advanced instrumentation, and safety system designs, drawings, and other documents to describe and provide solutions for highly complex design requirements and engineering problems, while ensuring compliance with technical criteria, schedules, and deliverables.
• Support 24/7 facility operations for assigned systems, including rapid response to emergent issues, and leadership of after-hours troubleshooting, repair, and recovery activities to minimize operational downtime and impact to mission.
• Represent the organization through influencing and contributing strategic technical advice, and providing subject matter expertise in the analysis, sustainment, design, and maintenance of highly complex systems and components.
• Lead multi-disciplinary teams in developing new ideas, modifying approaches, and providing highly advanced technical analysis and engineering solutions to successfully maintain the operability of assigned systems, including troubleshooting, repair, modification, and operation.
• Provide highly advanced technical guidance and mentorship for early career engineers to facilitate knowledge transfer, foster a collaborative environment, and support their professional growth within the team.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Bachelor's degree in electrical, electronics, or instrumentation and controls engineering or related technical field or equivalent combination of education and related technical experience.
• Expert-level knowledge of instrumentation, detection, or alarm engineering standards and practices.
• Subject matter experience with and advanced level knowledge and skills in the design, modification, and evaluation of control systems for buildings and facilities.
• Expert-levelknowledge of and demonstrated proficiency and experience in developing or reviewing calculations, specifications, drawings, and sketches; determining design criteria for modifications, renovations, and upgrades on small projects and on occasional larger projects.
• Expert verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively interact and collaborate in a team environment, including the ability to identify, develop and effectively communicate recommendations to facility and senior management regarding facility and safety equipment modifications.
• Demonstrated proficiency and experience effectively developing work process documents and safety documentation.
• Demonstrated experience working in a multi-disciplinary team environment which includes scientists, engineers, and technicians with demonstrated ability to effectively manage, oversee, and deliver multiple projects on budget and schedule, often with multiple parallel tasks that require the resolution of conflicting work requirements and prioritization of tasks toward predetermined long-range targets.
• Significant experience with and demonstrated ability to successfully lead and motivate a team in achieving project objectives which include solving highly complex problems, defining and verifying requirements and resources, and applying project management expertise.
• Expert communication, facilitation, and collaboration, interpersonal, and negotiation skills necessary to effectively present, explain, provide strategic technical advice, build consensus, and influence senior management, external sponsors, regulators, reviewers, and stakeholders.

Qualifications We Desire

• Master's degree in electrical, electronics, or instrumentation and controls engineering or related technical field.
• Professional Engineering Registration in Electrical or Controls Engineering in California or reciprocity from another state within twelve months.
• Significant experience working with electrical systems, as well as significant experience with control systems.
• Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., AutoCAD, Creo).

Pay Range

$227,430 - $288,396 Annually

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe 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.

#LI-Onsite

Position Information

This is a Career Indefinite position, open to Lab employees and external candidates.

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2026Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• FlexibleBenefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Our values - visithttps://www.llnl.gov/inclusion/our-values

Security Clearance

This position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance.If you are selected, wewill initiate a Federal background investigation to determine if youmeet 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 useand/or possession ofmobile devices in Limited Areas. Depending on your job duties, you may be required to work in a Limited Area whereyou are not permitted to have a personal and/or laboratory mobile devicein your possession. This includes, but not limited to cell phones, tablets, fitness devices, wireless headphones, and other Bluetooth/wireless enabled devices.

Ifyou useamedical device, whichpairs with a mobile device,you must still follow the rules concerningthe mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas. Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities requireseparate 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.

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To learn more about recruitment scams:https://www.llnl.gov/sites/www/files/2023-05/LLNL-Job-Fraud-Statement-Updated-4.26.23.pdf

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

Our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates applying and interviewing at the Laboratory. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please use our online form to submit a request.

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