Explosives Research Experiment Lead

About the role

The Explosives Research Experiment Lead position within the Strategic Deterrence Directorate involves leading experimental activities, under general direction, involving the use of high explosives and other energetic materials. This position supports the stewardship of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, conventional weapons design, counterterrorism efforts, and commercial partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Plan, execute, diagnose, analyze and interpret explosively driven hydrodynamic experiments in collaboration with diagnostics operators, other scientists and high-level technical personnel, under limited direction and at various state-of-the-art facilities across the DOE weapons complex.
• Contribute original scientific/engineering solutions to the design of hydrodynamic experiments, applying knowledge and skills.
• Develop experimental requirements and assist with or contribute to the implementation of various components of the experiment.
• Perform, arm, fire, and diagnose experiments using highly explosive material.
• Monitor the assembly of the experimental hardware to ensure that the moderately complex assemblies meet specification.
• Perform technical quality assurance checks on experiments including performing or directing others to perform the setup, alignment, and execution of the confirmatory dry-runs to ensure that the expected data returned on the ultimate experiment will be of the highest quality possible within funding targets.
• Analyze and interpret moderately complex experimental data, document and report results, identify problems, plan projects to solve problems, and communicate lessons learned.
• Present and disseminate research results to sponsors, and document experiment and results in open and classified environments.
• Travel based on needs of projects, minimally or substantially.

Qualifications

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. Citizenship.
• Bachelor’s degree in physics, engineering, a related field, or equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of a specific area of science applicable to hydrodynamic testing.
• Experience performing hands-on experimental science in bench top and/or test facility environments and familiarity with experimentation requiring formal conduct of operations.
• Experience managing medium-sized or larger technical projects.
• Demonstrated self-motivation and initiative in addressing challenging problems, and innovative skills to identify/develop creative solutions.
• Experience working effectively in independent and in a multi-disciplinary, team-based-research environment to achieve multi-year goals.
• Interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence necessary to work effectively with a wide range of personalities in both one-on-one and team environments.
• Profound written and verbal communication skills necessary to present and explain technical information on experimental design including proficiency in standard office computing software.

Additional Qualifications

• At the SES.3 Level: Advanced knowledge of physics, engineering, mathematics, mechanical, aerospace or nuclear engineering or a related field.
• Significant experience and demonstrated ability to lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team.
• Demonstrated record of completing and/or leading top-quality research in relevant areas of physics and engineering.

Pay

$146,340 - $222,564 Annually

Schedule

This position may offer a hybrid schedule, which includes the flexibility to work from home one or more days per week, after a probationary period.