Associate Program Leader for Weapons Nonproliferation - Active Clearance Required

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.

We have an opening for an Associate Program Leader (APL) for Weapons Nonproliferation (WN) in the Nonproliferation Research and Development (NPRD) Program. In this role, you will support NPRD's mission to perform innovative research that develops forefront capabilities and expertise to detect foreign nuclear weapons development and testing, verify arms control and nonproliferation agreements, counter nuclear proliferation and terrorism, and respond to nuclear incidents.

The Weapons Nonproliferation program area consists of a multi-disciplinary team that utilizes expertise in nuclear weapons design, production, and testing to enable more effective detection, location, and characterization of foreign nuclear weapons production activities. This program area also involves developing U.S. capabilities for independent monitoring of foreign nuclear weapons stockpiles and related activities, such as assembly, transportation, storage, dismantlement, and delivery system integration, in support of warfighting, intelligence, and nonproliferation missions targeting vertical proliferation. In addition, this program area ensures that technical competencies relevant to foreign nuclear weapons development are sufficient for future nonproliferation challenges.

As the APL for WN, you will be responsible for staffing and mentoring, ensuring consistency and quality, and enabling delivery of technical products across the WN portfolio. You will work closely with technical leads across NPRD and play a key role in setting program strategy and direction, prioritizing resources to develop new capabilities, and reporting progress and milestones. The APL for WN will also work with relevant APLs in the Space Science and Security Program to facilitate development of technologies suitable for integration into space monitoring systems. As part of the NPRD leadership team, you will work with the Program Leader and the other APLs to enable and sustain a culture of collaboration and innovation throughout the program.

This position is within the Global Security Principal Directorate's Nuclear Threat Reduction (N) Program and will programmatically report to the Program Leader (PL) for NP. While some funding for sponsor engagement is available from Global Security for this position, most of your assignment will be funded through direct programmatic work.

This position will be filled at either the SEL.4 or SEL.5 level depending on your qualifications. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if you are selected at the higher level.

In this role you will

• Provide expert technical leadership, managerial and budgetary oversight, and quality assurance for weapons nonproliferation within the NPRD portfolio. Serve as an interface and coordinate with stakeholders both internal and external to LLNL.
• Lead and coordinate a multi-disciplinary team to apply expertise on nuclear weapons design, production, and testing and to deliver technical products for WN applications. Facilitate integration across NPRD as part of the leadership team, fostering collaboration and teamwork.
• Materially contribute as a technical expert within the WN and broader NPRD portfolio. Identify, guide, and develop new programmatic and research opportunities within the NPRD mission area. Support experimental activities through coordination with internal and external facilities.
• Maintain and ensure appropriate quality standards including reviewing, coordinating, and approving deliverables, publications, and presentations. Promote and maintain a positive image of the Laboratory and strong internal/external customer relationships by ensuring project and program objectives and commitments are met successfully.
• Provide career development support to new and existing staff, including mentoring, on a variety of topics ranging from specific technical areas to project/program management and leadership.
• Support the Program Leader (PL) and the other APLs and technical leads in the development of strategic and program plans, annual budgeting, and execution, while balancing programmatic priorities, resource availability, staffing, security, and safety.
• Serve as the primary liaison between WN and the Space Science and Security Program to facilitate development of technologies suitable for integration into space monitoring systems.
• Coordinate WN activities with other relevant activities throughout N Program, the Laboratory, and the broader Nuclear Security Enterprise, both domestically and internationally.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities at the SEL.5 level

• Develop and integrate innovative cross-cutting capabilities and advancements for weapons nonproliferation serving multiple programmatic missions.
• Influence strategic vision and implementation plans for senior management and external stakeholders to meet the broad needs of the U.S. nonproliferation mission.
• Champion new processes and cultivate relationships for personnel recruiting, training, mentoring, development, and retention. Encourage and enable integration of staff across varying programmatic areas of NPRD, N Program, and the larger GS and LLNL communities.
• Cultivate mutually beneficial partnerships with external organizations, including academic institutions, national laboratories, government agencies, and experimental facilities.

• This position requires an active DOE Q-level clearance or active Top-Secret clearance issued by another U.S. government agency at the time of hire and must have the ability to obtain and maintain SCIaccess.
• Master's degree in physical science, engineering, computer science or related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Subject matter expert knowledge and expert application in one or more areas related to design, production, and testing of nuclear weapons, including nuclear physics/engineering and/or code development.
• Extensive experience in one or more areas related to design, production, and testing of nuclear weapons, including experimental operations involving highly complex field work.
• Subject matter expert knowledge of operational applications of foreign weapons production detection to problems of national and international concern.
• Highly advanced leadership, communication, and team-building skills to develop and nurture effective relationships, work effectively with partners at other organizations and laboratories across multiple technical disciplines and program functions, lead collaborative, multi-disciplinary teams, and represent NPRD/WN activities to internal and external sponsor, stakeholders, and all levels of management.
• Substantial experience managing multiple projects of evolving and varying priority, including advanced delegation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to foster an effective environment for teams to achieve programmatic and institutional goals.
• Significant experience cultivating successful and productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Additional qualifications at the SEL.5 level

• Ph.Din physical science, engineering, computer science or related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Expert knowledge of nuclear weapons production and experience as a nuclear weapons development subject-matter expert and practitioner.
• Expert knowledge and extensive experience in detection instrumentation and characterization techniques with application to the nuclear weapons nonproliferation mission.
• Extensive experience and ability to lead assessments and analyses of foreign nuclear weapons production concerns and threats.
• Expert ability and extensive experience to develop innovative concepts and to provide leadership, management, technical vision, and strategic planning for weapons nonproliferation activities.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and enable opportunities for integration, collaboration, and program development with the internal LLNL Science and Technology community, as well as the broad external Science and Technology community in support of the nonproliferation mission.
• Expert-level leadership and communication skills to provide guidance and support for senior management decisions and planning processes.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience engaging in work at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), with a strong understanding of site policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of current NPRD experimental activities at the NNSS.
• Familiarity with LLNL's mission, values, and operational procedures.

Pay Range

$227,430 - $346,140 Annually

$227,430 - $288,396 Annually for the SEL.4 level

$272,970 - $346,140 Annually for the SEL.5 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.

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

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 an active Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance or active Top Secret clearance issued by another U.S. government agency at time of hire. Also, you must have the ability to obtain and maintain Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access. Please note that your current active Q or Top Secret clearance with DOE or another agency does not guarantee DOE SCI access approval; if you are denied access, you may be subject to reinvestigation of your existing Q or Top Secret Clearance.

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.

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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.

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