Company Description
Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!
Are you interested in joining some of the brightest talent in the world to strengthen the United States’ security? Come join Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) where our employees apply their expertise to create solutions for BIG ideas that make our world a better place.
We are committed to a diverse and equitable workforce with an inclusive culture that values and celebrates the diversity of our people, talents, ideas, experiences, and perspectives. This is important for continued success of the Laboratory’s mission.
Pay Range
$104,220- $129,384 Annually for the 337.1 level
$126,120- $156,576 Annually for the 339.2 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.
Job Description
We have multiple openings for Scientific Associates/Sr. Scientific Associates to install, test, repair, maintain, and/or modify basic to moderately complex mechanical systems on a range of laboratory (and related) equipment in support of various programs at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. You will have close interactions with various disciplines and crafts in the Environment, Safety and Health, Engineering, Physical Life Science, and Operations and Business Directorates as well as scientists, engineers, and technical staff throughout the Laboratory. Your duties may include the ongoing support and operation of high performance scientific equipment. You may be required to work in areas with hazardous materials including, but not limited to, beryllium, radioactive, toxic, or high explosives materials. This position is in the Materials Characterization Group within the Materials Science Division (MSD).
This position requires full-time on-site presence due to the nature of the work.
This position will be filled at either level 337.1 or 339.2 based on knowledge and related experience as assessed by the hiring team. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if hired at the higher level.
You will
Apply innovative technical and scientific expertise to the design, fabrication, installation, maintenance, and/or modification of mechanical systems in the MSD and across the LLNL in general to support cutting-edge scientific research.
Select appropriate work methods in collaboration with the Mechanical Technician Team Lead and stakeholders from the scientific staff for use in environments that routinely present chemical hazards including beryllium, radioactive material, lead, asbestos, and nanomaterials, as well as explosive hazards, biomaterial hazards, and electrical hazards
Use hand and powered tools commonly implemented for mechanical assembly/disassembly, and the repair and operation of advanced scientific instruments
Develop/design system enhancements to increase reliability and maintainability, or to facilitate increasing scope requirements.
Maintain work planning and control documentation for work conducted on Materials Science Division equipment and systems.
Perform lock out/tag out to isolate components and de-energize equipment.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Additional job responsibilities, at the 339.2 level
Collaborate with technical and scientific staff, including subject matter experts, to install, maintain, and upgrade experimental setups, and to provide ongoing support for experiments that use these setups.
Use advanced electrical and mechanical skills to solve complex to highly complex technical problems and make decisions of high consequence associated with the installation, decontamination and decommissioning, and/or ongoing maintenance and use of scientific equipment.
Co-ordinate and lead small groups of technical employees (incl. electrical, mechanical workers, other crafts, and/or external vendors) to complete projects involving the design, development, installation, and maintenance of Materials Science Division capabilities multiple
Author, review, and approve related technical/engineering documentation, as well as routinely present this material to superiors while leading or participating in design reviews.
Qualifications
Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering, or related field or the equivalent combination of education and prior relevant experience.
Understanding of the function, modification, and operation of technologies, processes, and laboratory equipment/systems for Materials Science Division research capabilities.
Experience with Work Planning and Control procedures.
Ability to evaluate complex to highly complex systems and apply best practice scientific and engineering solutions in both facility operations and experimental lab environments.
Experience providing technical direction and the ability to mentor others with advanced technical skills.
Experience using respiratory protection and familiarity with radioactive waste (LLW, TRU).
Familiarity with high vacuum, pressure, and inert environment systems
Significant experience working effectively in a dynamic and multidisciplinary environment, which includes working with scientists, engineers, technicians, and designers.
Advanced verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively collaborate in a team environment and present and explain technical information.
Ability to operate common motor vehicles, and the potential to operate powered industrial trucks.
Additional qualifications at the 339.2 level
Extensive experience making frequent, independent decisions to define project approaches, to establish or modify guidelines, techniques, and procedures, to choose appropriate work methods and possibly to set priorities.
Experience in authoring, reviewing, and approving technical/engineering documentation, as well as leading or participating in design reviews.
Demonstrated experience in the use of technical and scientific knowledge to provide and implement novel mechanical solutions to enable one-of-a-kind experiments.
Qualifications We Desire
Familiarity with radioactive waste (LLW, TRU).
Additional Information

LI-Onsite

Position Information
This is a Career Indefinite or At Will appointment. Lab employees and external candidates may be considered for this position.
Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?
Included in 2024 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
Flexible Benefits Package
401(k)
Relocation Assistance
Education Reimbursement Program
Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accountability (IDEA) - visit https://www.llnl.gov/diversity
Our core beliefs - visit https://www.llnl.gov/diversity/our-values
Employee engagement - visit https://www.llnl.gov/diversity/employee-engagement
Security Clearance
This position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance. If you are selected, we will initiate a Federal background investigation to determine if you meet 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 use and/or possession of mobile devices in Limited Areas. Depending on your job duties, you may be required to work in a Limited Area where you are not permitted to have a personal and/or laboratory mobile device in your possession. This includes, but not limited to cell phones, tablets, fitness devices, wireless headphones, and other Bluetooth/wireless enabled devices.
If you use a medical device, which pairs with a mobile device, you must still follow the rules concerning the mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas. Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities require separate 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.
We invite you to review the Equal Employment Opportunity posters which include EEO is the Law and Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision.
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.
California Privacy Notice
The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants privacy rights to all California residents. The law also entitles job 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

Please refer the Job description for details