Target and Laser Interaction Sphere (TaLIS) Integration Lead

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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.

We are seeking a detail-oriented and technically adept Integration Lead to join the Target and Laser Interaction Sphere (TaLIS) expert group within the National Ignition Facility and Photon Sciences (NIF&PS) Directorate. In this pivotal role, you will provide both technical integration and coordination for the safe, effective, and integrated operation of the NIF Target Chamber and laser-target interaction region. You will collaborate closely with a diverse group of physicists, engineers, software developers, designers, and technicians to ensure that targets, diagnostics, and laser configurations are compatible with facility requirements and NIF standards for safety, cleanliness, and operational excellence. This position is part of the Laser Systems Engineering & Operations (LSEO) Division within the Engineering Directorate and offers the opportunity to work at the forefront of large-scale, high-impact scientific research.

This position is part of the Laser Systems Engineering & Operations (LSEO) Division within the Engineering Directorate.

This position requires full-time on-site presence due to the nature of the work.

In this role, you will

• Lead teams, programs, or functions with a technical focus, work independently with minimal direction, use advanced knowledge and team leadership experience, take significant responsibility, and exercise judgment within established policies to monitor workflow, allocate resources, ensure timely completion of projects, and achieve objectives while managing organizational impact.
• Establish project objectives and strategies for the TaLIS expert group and review and integrating experimental configurations for targets, diagnostics, and laser beams, ensuring compliance with Target Chamber geometry, facility limits, and operational requirements.
• Oversee TaLIS technical input and documentation throughout the NIF experimental lifecycle, including experiment definition, scheduling, planning, review, and setup phases, and guide stakeholders to execute the process in accordance with sponsor funding and integration expectations.
• Lead technical reviews and approvals of new or modified experimental configurations, ensuring solutions meet evolving program and facility requirements.
• Manage TaLIS action items, technical issues, and risk assessments across experimental campaigns, ensuring timely resolution, proper documentation, and clear communication of status and impacts.
• Maintain operational records, configuration verification data, and knowledge repositories for TaLIS, including experiment review packages, lookup tables, and lessons learned, and ensure quality standards for documentation and configuration traceability.
• Collaborate with physicists, engineers, and subject matter experts to resolve technical integration issues, including alignment of targets and diagnostics with laser configuration and Target Chamber constraints.
• Provide clear status and readiness reporting for TaLIS scope on experiments, including communication of facility limits, escalation of risks or non-conformances, and preparation of summary materials for management and experiment leads.
• Uphold rigorous engineering discipline by supporting compliance with NIF safety basis, facility procedures, and engineering change control, and by promoting traceability and quality assurance for TaLIS-relevant hardware, configurations, and operations.
• Develop and maintain supporting documentation such as integration checklists, configuration verification procedures, and guidance for experiment teams on TaLIS interfaces and constraints.
• Troubleshoot complex integration issues and resolve problems with support from subject matter experts, including off-shift support for critical operations as needed.
• Champion a culture of safety, ensuring all activities are performed in accordance with the highest standards of personnel and facility safety, as well as relevant ES&H, security, and business policies.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, or a closely related technical field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Demonstrated understanding of engineering processes, procedures, and quality standards in complex technical environments, preferably involving experimental or operational facilities.
• Advanced experience in technical integration, operations, or experimental programs, preferably in large-scale scientific or research facilities.
• Advanced knowledge and significant experience with systems engineering, technical coordination, and configuration management, including use of computer-based tools for documentation, data acquisition, and configuration verification.
• Advanced experience in analyzing and synthesizing complex technical data to inform decision-making, resolve integration issues, and manage multiple experiments or projects while setting priorities effectively.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and advanced documentation practices, including maintaining records, tracking action items, and managing review artifacts.
• Advanced verbal and written communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills, enabling effective collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, preparation of technical presentations, and the ability to provide clear integration advice to management and experiment leads.
• Demonstrated experience with project management, engineering documentation, and configuration management tools used to coordinate experimental scope and track technical decisions.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment within established policies, and manage multiple technical priorities in a fast-paced experimental environment.

Qualifications We Desire

• Master's degree or PhD in engineering, physics, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent advanced knowledge.
• Background in laser systems, high energy density physics, fusion energy research, or vacuum/target chamber operations.
• Experience in laser-target interaction experiments or related diagnostic and alignment integration, including geometric interference analysis or configuration verification for complex experimental setups.
• Familiarity with NIF, DOE, or national laboratory safety and quality assurance protocols, including experience with risk assessment, technical review processes, and engineering change control in experimental science environments.

Pay Range

$189,660 - $240,528 Annually

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.

#LI-Onsite

Position Information

This is a Career Indefinite position, open to Lab employees and external candidates.

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.

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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.

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