What You Will Do

The International Threat Reduction Group (NEN-3) is seeking a nuclear security detection engineer to join our mission-focused team. Our diverse workforce enjoys a shared work environment focused on creative problem solving, where everyone’s opinions and ideas are considered. NEN-3 applies expertise in nuclear and other radioactive materials and commodities detection, packaging, international training and consultation, modeling, and simulation to reduce nuclear proliferation and enhance global security in a changing threat environment.

The successful candidate will support the Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence (NSDD) Implementation and Sustainability programs. A key component of this job is daily collaboration with colleagues from NSDD headquarters, other national laboratories, foreign governments and international organizations in support of programmatic efforts to implement and sustain counter nuclear smuggling systems needed to strengthen capabilities to disrupt, detect, and investigate the smuggling of nuclear and other radioactive materials. Travel is required both domestically and internationally and is often to less than desirable locations where conditions may be considerably less comfortable than those typically found in fully developed nations.

In addition, there will be opportunities to learn and develop skills that support other areas within NEN-3. The group has ongoing work in nuclear materials management, strategic trade controls, and software development addressing global security problems. Duties will include all or a combination of, but are not limited to the following:

• Lead evaluation of law enforcement and border protection agency capacity and capability to integrate counter nuclear smuggling assets and systems into their agency’s operational mission space.
• Conduct security and risk assessments in foreign countries to incorporate counter nuclear smuggling systems and assets into existing agency operations.
• Provide technical expertise to sponsor pertaining to security assessments and deployment of counter nuclear smuggling systems and assets with law enforcement and border protection agencies.
• Deployment and field testing of counter nuclear smuggling systems and assets and other contraband detection technology.
• Development of other technical solutions to counter nuclear smuggling challenges, including concept of operations, technical procedures or integrating other types of detectors and sensors with counter nuclear smuggling detection systems and assets.
• Implementation of counter nuclear smuggling systems and assets, nuclear security detection
• architecture design, equipment acceptance testing, performing maintenance on radiation detection equipment, and developing technical solutions for operational and maintenance challenges.
• Collaboration with technical colleagues from other national laboratories, foreign governments, or
• international institutions such as the IAEA as part of the programmatic efforts to strengthen capabilities to disrupt, detect, and investigate the smuggling of nuclear and other radioactive materials.
• Managing and leading the development, execution and close out of NSDD tabletop exercises (TTX) and field training exercises (FTX) within the approved scope, schedule and budget.
• Serving as a facilitator and evaluator for NSDD TTX and FTX operations in foreign countries.
• Training operators and maintenance personnel, working with foreign government personnel to integrate systems into their organizations, and managing maintenance contracts as part of a larger effort supporting sustainability and implementation of deployed radiation detection systems.
• Developing training plans; this may include working with agencies in foreign countries to develop training plans for nuclear security detection efforts.
• Interfacing with NNSA sponsors to report on project status and negotiate work scope and deliverables.
• Development of new and innovative concepts and approaches to address specific problems in NSDD.
• Mentoring of junior staff

• Demonstrated experience conducting border security inspection operations with civilian and/or military organizations.
• Demonstrated experience working with less than fully developed nations and U.S. embassies in those nations to build capacity and capability to detect and limit contraband smuggling.
• Demonstrated experience conducting operational training with U.S and/or foreign government civilian and/or military personnel on operations and/or equipment use.
• Demonstrated experience developing policy and/or regulations pertaining to security operations to detect and limit the smuggling of contraband.
• Demonstrated experience conducting security and risk assessments focused on detecting and limiting smuggling of contraband.
• Demonstrated experience conducting regulatory or criminal violation investigations including the collection of evidence.
• Demonstrated experience managing scope, schedule, budget, and contracting.
• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills, including oral and written communication skills.

Desired Qualifications:

• Active DOE Q clearance.
• Demonstrated experience working with law enforcement or security organizations to develop joint action plans.
• Familiarity with Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and high yield Explosives (CBRNE) operations.
• Demonstrated experience operating radiation detection equipment in the field to detect nuclear or other radioactive material out of regulatory control.
• Demonstrated experience serving as a port facility security officer or ship security officer.
• Ability to understand and update/create technical procedures related to testing, operation and maintenance of radiation detection equipment.
• Demonstrated experience providing leadership and tactical planning for the execution of TTX/FTX operations with foreign government civilian and/or military personnel and applying operational knowledge and experience to achieve technical and operational TTX/FTX objectives

Work Location:The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.

Position commitment:  Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position in order to be eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the time required, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. The position commitment for this position is 1 year. 

Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People’s Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea, and the Russian Federation, who are not Lawful Permanent Residents (“green card” holders) are prohibited from accessing facilities that support the mission, functions, and operations of national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, which includes Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Where You Will Work

• PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network
• Dental and vision insurance
• Free basic life and disability insurance
• Paid childbirth and parental leave
• Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
• Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
• Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)
• Onsite gyms and wellness programs
• Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)

Clearance:  Q (Position will be cleared to this level).  Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government, and must meet eligibility requirements* for access to classified matter. This position requires a Q clearance. and obtaining such clearance requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Dependent upon the position, additional authorization to access classified information may be required, which may or may not be available to dual citizens.  Receipt of a Q clearance and additional access authorization ultimately is a decision of the Federal Government and not of Triad.

*Eligibility requirements:  To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order 472.2 for additional information.