Group Leader - Magnetic Fusion Energy Tokamak Research

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We are dedicated to fostering a culture that values individuals, talents, partnerships, ideas, experiences, and different perspectives, recognizing their importance to the continued success of the Laboratory's mission.

Pay Range

$218,700 - $277,344 Annually for the SEL.4 level

$262,410 - $332,772 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. 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.

We have an opening for a Group Leader (GL) to provide technical and administrative leadership for a group of Physical Life Science (PLS) scientists in the Magnetic Fusion Energy Tokamak Research group. You will have management responsibility for coordinating with internal stakeholders to define and implement the intellectual, programmatic, and supervisory functions necessary to ensure the successful execution of the group's research and development strategy. In addition, you will oversee interactions with a broad range of internal and external sponsors and partners, particularly DOE Office of Fusion Energy Sciences. This position requires you to have funding to cover the majority of your own time through programmatic and other direct funding sources. This position is in the Fusion Energy Sciences Section in the Physics Division with the primary work site being in San Diego, CA.

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

This position will be filled at eitherlevel 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

• Provide leadership and direction in managing and coordinating the activities of a diverse group of Principal Investigators and Individual Contributors. Interact with DIII-D National Fusion Facility leadership and other leadership in the Office of Fusion Sciences Tokamak Research.
• Coordinate with Physics Division and Program management to ensure group members are available and actively participating in programmatic assignments and needs.
• Identify opportunities to apply existing and proposed Group capabilities to new science and national security missions and develop new scientific programs and research proposals for internal and external sponsors and funding agencies.
• Foster collaborative interactions, both internally and externally, that advance the strategic goals of the Group and the Fusion Energy Science section.
• Mentor group members to promote professional development, including staff and performance management activities.
• Perform succession planning to ensure continuing coverage for key Group deliverables and responsibilities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the SEL.5 level

• Participate on national and international committees representing the plasma physics, controlled fusion, and LLNL research interests, for example, committees authoring panel reports solicited by DOE for purposes of strategic planning, federal advisory committees, program committees for conferences, User Boards for fusion facilities, and management roles on Magnetic Fusion devices including DIII-D.
• Interact with senior program management both internal and external to the Laboratory to realize both LLNL and DOE Office of Fuslon Energy Science goals for fusion energy and plasma sciences.

• Ph.D. degree in Plasma Physics or related field, or the equivalent combination of education and significant related experience.
• Significant experience with plasma science, particularly tokamak research.
• Significant experience in one or more of the following areas: experimental, diagnostic, or computational expertise in plasma physics and magnetic confinement concepts.
• Demonstrated ability to delegate effectively and to lead, motivate, and build multidisciplinary teams of scientists and/or computer scientists and engineers to meet programmatic and institutional goals.
• Significant experience developing and fulfilling novel research proposals for LDRD, Programmatic and/or external funding.Experience with interactions with DOE Office of Fusion Energy Science.
• Expert collaboration skills with the proven ability to motivatepersonnel to achieve project objectives.
• Expert verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively present, explain, and advise senior management and external sponsors, including preparing and presenting proposals and reporting results. Experience with presentations at international conferences summarizing a major area of Tokamak research.
• Experience with the physics research program on the DIII-D National Fusion Facility at General Atomics, including program and project leadership and the User Board.
• Experience in planning, executing, and leading the data analysis of magnetic fusion experiments, particularly DIII-D and other tokamaks.

Additional qualifications at the SEL.5 level

• Nationally recognized expert in one or more areas of basic and applied plasma physics, magnetic fusion research, and development of novel magnetic fusion diagnostics.
• Demonstrated ability to lead the application and/or development of principles and technologies related to understanding plasmas, controlled fusion, and tokamak physics.
• Expert level communication, facilitation, and collaboration skills necessary to effectively present, explain, influence, and advise senior management and/or external sponsors.
• Extensive experience guiding and providing strategic direction for projects.

Qualifications We Desire

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Experience interacting with DIII-D National Fusion Facility leadership and other leadership in the Office of Fusion Sciences Tokamak Research.

#LI-Onsite

Position Information

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

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2025 Best 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

None required.However, if your assignment is longer than 179 days cumulatively within a calendar year, you must go through the Personal Identity Verification process. This process includes completing an online background investigation form and receiving approval of the background check. (This process does not apply to foreign nationals.)

National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)

The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Section 3112, generally prohibits citizens of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea without dual US citizenship or legal permanent residence from accessing specific non-public areas of national security or nuclear weapons facilities. The restrictions of NDAA Section 3112 apply to this position. To be qualified for this position, Candidates must be eligible to access the Laboratory in compliance with Section 3112.

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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