Plutonium Pyrochemist – Staff Scientist

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<div class="isg-job-description“>Company Description

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.

Job Description

We have an opening for a Plutonium Pyrochemist to support plutonium chemistry and materials science activities within the Superblock Program. This position will be filled at either the SES.1 or SES.2 level, depending on qualifications and experience. You will work onsite as a fissile material handler, performing hands-on processing and recovery of plutonium using advanced pyrochemical techniques. The role involves operating and maintaining specialized equipment, performing process operations in gloveboxes, and supporting work planning and control activities for new or modified operations.

This position is in the Chemistry of Nuclear Materials Group within the Materials Science Division and supports the Superblock Program within Strategic Deterrence.

You Will

• Become qualified as a Fissile Material Handler and perform work in gloveboxes and contamination enclosures while strictly adhering to safety and security requirements.
• Execute Direct Oxide Reduction (DOR), Electrorefining (ER), Process Salt Cleanup, Metal Alloying, and Salt Production operations under prescribed procedures.
• Operate, maintain, and oversee repair of process equipment, including: resistance and induction furnaces, vacuum systems, electrical power supplies.
• Support nuclear materials inventory management.
• Assist in the development and continuous improvement of operating procedures for plutonium pyrochemical processes and equipment.
• Support operations through the work planning and control process, including hazard identification, control implementation, and post-job feedback.
• Contribute to the fulfillment of technical project and program objectives and function as a dependable member of a multidisciplinary team.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities ,at theSES.2 Level

• Conduct moderately complex to complex pyrochemical separations and processing, applying fundamental understanding of nuclear materials.
• Drive continuous improvement of existing pyrochemical recovery processes and procedures; apply lessons learned to future batches.
• Independently develop and refine methods for plutonium synthesis, alloying, and sample preparation.
• Provide technical guidance to team members and contribute to the development of innovative approaches and solutions.
• Prepare and deliver written analyses, verbal briefings, and technical presentations capturing and communicating scientific advancements.

Qualifications

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship.
• B.S. in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, or a closely related engineering or science field, or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Ability to become a fissile material handler, including willingness to work with radioactive materials in gloveboxes, contamination enclosures, or respirators.
• Demonstrated understanding of fundamental concepts of chemistry and/or materials processing and the ability to apply this knowledge to hands-on laboratory work.
• Detail-oriented nature required to work deliberately in a highly regulated nuclear facility while complying with numerous safety, security, and quality requirements.
• Demonstrated mechanical aptitude or experience with laboratory/industrial equipment, including setup, operation, basic troubleshooting, and maintenance.
• Ability to balance workload according to program priorities, solve practical problems, and complete tasks on time with minimal oversight once trained.
• Sufficient verbal, written, and interpersonal skills to document work, provide status updates, and collaborate effectively with a multidisciplinary team.

Additional job qualifications, at the SES.2 level

• M.S. in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, or a closely related field, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience with high temperature metallurgical, electrochemical, and other pyrochemical processing techniques.
• Experience working in a highly regulated laboratory environment.
• Broad understanding of nuclear materials processing and contamination control.
• Demonstrated ability to independently develop and improve laboratory procedures.

Pay Range

$121,830 -$185,544Annually

$121,830 – $154,500 Annually for the SES.1 level

$146,340 – $185,544Annually for the SES.2 level

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.

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Position Information

This is a Flexible Term appointment, which is for a definite period not to exceed six years.If final candidate is a Career Indefinite employee, Career Indefinite status may be maintained (should funding allow).

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.

How to identify fake job advertisements

Please be aware of recruitment scams where people or entities are misusing the name of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to post fake job advertisements. LLNL never extends an offer without a personal interview and will never charge a fee for joining our company. All current job openings are displayed on the Career Page under “Find Your Job” of our website. If you have encountered a job posting or have been approached with a job offer that you suspect may be fraudulent, we strongly recommend you do not respond.

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.

CaliforniaPrivacy Notice

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants privacy rights to all California residents. The law also entitlesjob applicants, employees, and non-employee workers to be notified of what personal information LLNL collects and for what purpose. The Employee Privacy Notice can be accessed here.

LLNL is an affirmative action/ equal opportunity employer. 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, protected veteran status, age, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law.