Detector Engineering Manager (Manager I)

Mission Support and Test Services, LLC (MSTS) manages and operates the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).  Our MISSION is to help ensure the security of the United States and its allies by providing high-hazard experimentation and incident response capabilities through operations, engineering, education, field, and integration services and by acting as environmental stewards to the Site’s Cold War legacy.  Our VISION is to be the user site of choice for large-scale, high-hazard, national security experimentation, with premier facilities and capabilities below ground, on the ground, and in the air. (See NNSS.gov for our unique capabilities.) Our 2,750+ professional, craft, and support employees are called upon to innovate, collaborate, and deliver on some of the more difficult nuclear security challenges facing the world today.  In this environment, the best ideas need to be voiced and every opinion matters.  As such, MSTS places great value on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and is committed to a diverse and equitable workforce, with an inclusive culture that values and celebrates the diversity of our people, talents, ideas, and perspectives.

• MSTS offers our full-time employees highly competitive salaries and benefits packages including medical, dental, and vision; both a pension and a 401k; paid time off and 96 hours of paid holidays; relocation (if located more than 75 miles from work location); tuition assistance and reimbursement; and more.  
• MSTS is a limited liability company consisting of Honeywell International Inc. (Honeywell), Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (Jacobs), and HII Nuclear Inc.

The Stockpile Experimentation and Operations, Technology and Operations (SEO T&O) Directorate is seeking a highly motivated individual with a strong scientific background and excellent technical skill to lead the Detector Engineering section within the Material Studies and Diagnostic Research (MSDR) organization. MSDR is comprised of approximately 35 scientists, engineers, and technicians, and is the core for innovative diagnostic design, simulation, fabrication, characterization, and fielding in support of the NNSS’ stockpile stewardship mission. The Detector Engineering section is specifically responsible for designing and realizing current mode radiation detector, camera, and recording systems fielded on stockpile stewardship experiments and other applications across the NNSA complex.

In this role, you will report to the MSDR manager and be part of the MSDR leadership team. You will be responsible for fostering the core capabilities to meet the needs of the current and future NNSA stockpile stewardship program. You will work to ensure that our diverse workforce delivers on our current commitments and innovates to tackle future national security challenges. The NNSS is committed to promoting a culture of equity, inclusion, and excellence that values and celebrates the diversity of our people, talents, experiences, and perspectives. This is essential to enable the innovation and creativity which ensures the success of the NNSS and continued delivery on our mission.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Provide first-line supervision of the Detector Engineering section, first and foremost ensuring the safety of all staff and security.
• Fill the role of Job Supervisor for all relevant activity level work documents for the Detector Engineering section.
• Promote the Engineering Design and Configuration Management Process within the Detector Engineering section.
• Provide scientific and technical leadership and manage personnel resources of the Detector Engineering section.
• Manage a group of approximately 10 scientists and engineers to achieve organization objectives and goals, perform personnel administration activities including performance reviews, performance management, appraisals, and ranking.
• Serve as a member of the MSDR leadership team by implementing and monitoring the MSDR organization’s strategic plans. Work closely with the MSDR manager to manage workforce changes, assignments, and to improve MSDR business processes.
• Participate in the development, execution, and communication of the vision and strategic plan for the MSDR organization.
• Lead personnel in analyzing and solving unique problems through collaboration to achieve mission execution.
• Ensure balance of labor resources by working closely with SEO T&O management.
• Participate in the recruitment, hiring and development of scientific talent, outstanding innovators, and world-class researchers in support of current and projected programmatic needs.
• Implement the organization’s affirmative action, outreach, mentoring, and employee development efforts within the Detector Engineering section. Foster a professional environment that promotes diversity, equal opportunity, and teamwork.
• Collaborate with the MSDR manager to integrate and maintain scientific standards and processes that align with the needs of the directorate.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent training and experience, plus a minimum of 11 years of related and progressively responsible experience.

• Calculus-based STEM Bachelor's degree in science or engineering from ABET accreditation.

• Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering is preferred.
• Subject matter expert in sub-field of Electrical Engineering (printed circuit board, radiofrequency systems, or field programmable gate array design, code development, etc.).
• Working knowledge and experience with the Engineering Design Process and Configuration Management within the NNSS.
• Working knowledge and experience with SEO T&O project management.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to resolve the demands of many constituencies with diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, facilitation, organizational, and collaboration skills to effectively interact with, negotiate with, influence, and advise people representing a wide variety of expertise and level of responsibility at the NNSS and other government agencies and industries.
• Experience leading technical initiatives in scientific disciplines.
• Demonstrate effective people management experience, including project or program planning, budgeting, and staffing.
• Experience working independently, as well as in a team, in a driven environment with minimal direction.
• Broad applied knowledge and expertise in leadership, supervision, personnel management, resource planning and control, and significant organizational and technical experience preferred.
• Work location for this position is flexible: North Las Vegas, Nevada; Los Alamos, New Mexico. Some remote work may be allowed at the discretion of the MSDR manager.
• Pre-placement physical examination, including a drug screen, is required. MSTS maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.

MSTS is required by DOE directive to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants offered employment with MSTS are also subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment. In addition, Applicants for employment must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship, at least 18 years of age. Reference DOE Order 472.2, “Personnel Security”. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Department of Energy Q Clearance (position will be cleared to this level). Reviews and tests for the absence of any illegal drug as defined in 10 CFR Part 707.4, “Workplace Substance Abuse Programs at DOE Sites,” will be conducted.  Applicant selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation, required to participate in subsequent reinvestigations, and must meet the eligibility requirements for access to classified matter. Successful completion of a counterintelligence evaluation, which may include a counterintelligence-scope polygraph examination, may also be required. Reference 10 CFR Part 709, “Counterintelligence Evaluation Program.”

MSTS is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. MSTS is a background screening, drug-free workplace.

Annual salary range for this position is: $121,326.40 - $194,126.40.

Starting salary is determined based on the position market value, the individual candidate education and experience and internal equity.