Senior Scientist

Mission Support and Test Services, LLC (MSTS) manages and operates the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).  Our MISSION is to help ensure the security of the United States and its allies by providing high-hazard experimentation and incident response capabilities through operations, engineering, education, field, and integration services and by acting as environmental stewards to the Site’s Cold War legacy.  Our VISION is to be the user site of choice for large-scale, high-hazard, national security experimentation, with premier facilities and capabilities below ground, on the ground, and in the air. (See NNSS.gov for our unique capabilities.) Our 2,750+ professional, craft, and support employees are called upon to innovate, collaborate, and deliver on some of the more difficult nuclear security challenges facing the world today.   

• MSTS offers our full-time employees highly competitive salaries and benefits packages including medical, dental, and vision; both a pension and a 401k; paid time off and 96 hours of paid holidays; relocation (if located more than 75 miles from work location); tuition assistance and reimbursement; and more.  
• MSTS is a limited liability company consisting of Honeywell International Inc. (Honeywell), Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (Jacobs), and HII Nuclear Inc.

• Bachelor’s degree in calculus-based technical (STEM) field plus at least 5 years relevant experience. Skill building experience must demonstrate either deeper technical specialization or additional cross-disciplinary knowledge. Graduate research experience may be recognized.
• Experience with the use and operations of synchrotron beamlines highly desired
• Must possess experience in X-ray optics, X-ray beamline diagnostics and systems, high vacuum systems and motion controls, and LabVIEW and or EPICS control software. 
• Candidate should be self-motivated and able to complete assigned tasks with minimal supervision to achieve NMT goals. 
• The applicant should have strong time-management skills, be well organized, and maintain safe work habits. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and a willingness to work with professionals in diverse technical areas and levels. 
• Must have experience working with X-ray physicists and researchers. 
• Must possess planning/organizing skills and be capable of employing independent judgment and knowledge to ensure that requirements are completed efficiently and on time. 
• Ability to effectively deal with pressures of deadlines and multiple tasks.
• Experience leading a team environment that includes scientists, engineers, technicians, and designers and places an emphasis on continuous improvement
• Must be able to execute work in a disciplined manner to demonstrate compliance with laws, codes, orders, and MSTS policies and procedures.
• The primary work location will be at the Livermore Operations Site but frequently deployed to the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Light Source (SSRL).
• Some travel may be required.
• Work schedule will be 5/8s Monday through Friday.  
• The beamline scientist’s work schedule is a standard forty hour work week; however, shift hours may change during any given week to assure continuity during critical times including potential on-call support after normal work hours daily and on weekends when the beamlines are operational.  Candidate must thrive in a collaborative and teaming environment and provide necessary technical support for a variety of scientific users that possess a wide spectrum of expertise in using synchrotron beamlines.
• Pre-placement physical examination, which includes a drug screen, is required. MSTS maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.

MSTS is required by DOE directive to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants offered employment with MSTS are also subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment. In addition, Applicants for employment must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship, at least 18 years of age. Reference DOE Order 472.2, “Personnel Security”. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Department of Energy Q Clearance (position will be cleared to this level). Reviews and tests for the absence of any illegal drug as defined in 10 CFR Part 707.4, “Workplace Substance Abuse Programs at DOE Sites,” will be conducted.  Applicant selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation, required to participate in subsequent reinvestigations, and must meet the eligibility requirements for access to classified matter. Successful completion of a counterintelligence evaluation, which may include a counterintelligence-scope polygraph examination, may also be required. Reference 10 CFR Part 709, “Counterintelligence Evaluation Program.”

MSTS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. MSTS is a background screening, drug-free workplace.

Annual salary range for this position is: $101,524.80 - $152,297.60.

Starting salary is determined based on the position market value, the individual candidate education and experience and internal equity. 

The successful candidate will be a member of a team of scientists and engineers in a dynamic research environment in the Science and Advanced Technology group at MSTS's Livermore Operations and will be frequently deployed to the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Light Source (SSRL), where MSTS maintains and operates two beamlines for NNSA.

Key Responsibilities

• Devise imaginative, thorough, and practical solutions requiring evaluation of standards and processes. Solutions may be unique.
• Perform technical and professional level tasks such as providing routine maintenance and ensuring operational readiness of beamline(s)
• Support and train all experimenters/users in beamline operations, end station use, safety, etc., in conformance with NNSS and SSRL guidelines.
• Jointly with the NMT, craft and update beamline documentation, training materials, electronic information, and status summaries suitable for frequent online publication, regular beamline activity reports to share with NMT, and supporting documentation for DOE review.
• Evaluate user experiments and help develop sound work plans for execution at the beamlines.
• Provide logistics support and configure beamlines for user experiments and support beamline operations during experiments as needed. 
• Provide beamline improvements and support to upgrades, especially to take advantage of shutdown periods scheduled by SSRL for facility maintenance and upgrades.
• Evaluate new technologies and processes within the field and develop or modify current practices and procedures for implementation at the beamlines.
• Evaluate and develop necessary work plans for implementation of current or new operations in support of NNSS mission. 
• Support work activities by attending planning meetings, workshops, etc.
• Participate in and foster a work environment that is based upon openness, trust, communication, teamwork, empowerment, innovation, and satisfaction.
• Comply with established ES&H regulations and procedures and perform duties in a way that will not cause personal danger, endanger other individuals, or violate environmental regulations.