Senior System Safety Engineer

About the role

The Operational Systems Directorate (OSD) leads PNNL’s 10-year, $1.2 billion campus construction portfolio—the single largest construction and modernization effort in the Laboratory’s history. OSD oversees operations and facility services, maintenance, and infrastructure planning, stewarding more than $250 million in annual budget authority; managing more than 2.5 million square feet of facility space across two campuses; overseeing approximately 200 regulatory program areas; and executing a multi-million-dollar facility and infrastructure project portfolio.

The Environment, Health, Safety and Security (EHS&S) Division’s mission is to minimize risks, assure compliance with regulatory standards, and promote a culture of safety, health, and environmental stewardship. Core functions include risk assessment, safety training, environmental stewardship, health monitoring, emergency preparedness, and implementing security measures.

We are seeking an experienced System Safety Engineer to join the Worker Safety and Health Program’s Safety Engineering team. This full-time, onsite role supports a dynamic research and engineering environment with systems that have the potential for significant safety and mission impacts to staff and facilities. The position provides technical leadership in identifying, evaluating, and collaborating on complex and high-hazard operations across research, laboratory, facility, and project activities.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership in identifying, evaluating, and collaborating on complex and high-hazard operations across research, laboratory, facility, and project activities.
• Work closely with engineers, scientists, operations personnel, project teams, and safety professionals to identify and analyze hazards in complex systems to ensure safety and regulatory compliance throughout the entire project lifecycle.
• Conduct hazards analysis of complex research systems involving multiple hazards that are novel, unique, or uncommon.
• Adapt hazard analysis methodologies based on Center for Chemical Process Safety methods such as What-if, HAZOP, and FMEA to the research environment to analyze potential causes and consequences of events such as fires; explosions; uncontrolled releases of toxic, radioactive, or flammable chemicals; and major spills of hazardous materials.
• Participate in the Process Safety Board to identify PNNL projects requiring a process safety approach in support of their safe, compliant, and efficient performance and operation.
• Provide direct technical assistance in identifying, evaluating, and controlling workplace and research hazards.
• Produce thorough, high-quality reviews, assessments, analysis, and hazard assessments.
• Provide implementation methods for requirements.
• Interface effectively with staff and management at all levels, as well as external stakeholders including DOE-PNSO.
• Champion a strong safety culture through active participation, mentorship, and effective communication.
• Enable cutting-edge research in a safe and responsible manner.

Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment

This is a full-time, onsite role that may require work in laboratories, industrial facilities, construction areas, electrical rooms, and other operational environments. The position may require wearing personal protective equipment, entering controlled or high-hazard areas, climbing ladders or stairs, and working around energized or potentially energized equipment in accordance with established safety procedures.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship
• Ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance. A security clearance background investigation includes review of employment, education, financial, and criminal history, as well as interviews with personal references, neighbors, and co-workers to determine trustworthiness, reliability, and loyalty to the United States; examination of foreign connections, drug and alcohol use, foreign influence, and overall conduct.
• Background Investigation: Applicants selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter in accordance with 10 CFR 710, Appendix B.
• Drug Testing: All Security Clearance positions are Testing Designated Positions, which means that the applicant selected for hire is subject to pre-employment drug testing, and post-employment random drug testing. Applicants must be able to demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the requisite Questionnaire for National Security Positions (QNSP).

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualifications:
  • BS/BA and 7+ years of relevant experience
  • OR MS/MA and 5+ years of relevant experience
  • OR PhD with 3+ years of relevant experience
• Preferred Qualifications:
  • Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, nuclear engineering, or a related field; equivalent education and experience may be considered.
  • Experience in a research laboratory, industrial, utility, manufacturing, construction, or other high-hazard environment.
  • Proven ability to analyze complex (e.g., chemical, nuclear) processing systems using process and instrumentation diagrams, operating procedures, product information, and parts lists.
  • Process safety board experience.
  • Experience with hazard and accident analysis processes.
  • Expertise in conducting qualitative and quantitative hazard analyses, risk assessments, and evaluating activities to mitigate safety hazards.
  • Knowledge of contractor assurance activities including self-assessments, program assessments, metrics, and in-field performance observations.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate with diverse stakeholders and present complex information.
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking abilities.
  • Ability to work effectively in a team environment and foster a culture of open communication and collaboration.