Principal Associate Director (PAD) for National Ignition Facility & Photon Science (NIF&PS)

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 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

$492,030 - $631,836

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.

We have an opening for the Principal Associate Director (PAD) for the National Ignition Facility & Photon Science (NIF&PS). In this key leadership position you are a member of the Laboratory’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and are responsible for sustaining and enhancing the broad range of NIF&PS technical capabilities and infrastructure to support the current and long-range missions of the Laboratory. You will develop and articulate the strategy for the Principal Directorate consistent with the overall Laboratory strategic vision. You will also develop and maintain close partnerships and collaborations with other national laboratories, academia, and industry as well as a range of government agencies including DOE/NNSA and DoD. The NIF&PS PAD is a leader in the inertial confinement fusion (ICF), high energy density (HED) science, and laser science communities. The PAD for NIF&PS has the prime responsibility for operating the NIF safely and securely for its multiple mission customers.

LLNL is one of the nation's premier national laboratories applying leading edge science and technology (S&T) to a broad range of national missions with a core responsibility to ensuring the safety, security, and reliability of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile. LLNL is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) operated by Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration.

The Laboratory's mission is to perform leading edge scientific research and develop technological innovations to ensure the safety, security and reliability of the nation's nuclear stockpile; support chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) threat reduction; improve national and international security; strengthen energy and environmental security; assure U.S. leadership in strategic areas of S&T; and enhance the economic competitiveness of the nation. This mission is enabled by the Laboratory's outstanding scientific and engineering capabilities. Today LLNL has a multidisciplinary workforce of approximately 9000 and an annual budget in excess of $3 billion.

The PAD/NIF&PS serves as a member of the Laboratory's SLT and reports directly to the Laboratory Director.

You will

• Develop and implement strategies for the sustainment and advancement of the NIF and its capabilities, ensuring the successful execution of the experimental program in support of the facility’s users.
• Provide the leadership to strategically position LLNL as the leader in Advanced Laser Science and Technology and Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE). 
• Partner with the Strategic Deterrence (SD) PAD and Physics and Life Sciences (PLS) PAD to establish LLNL leadership in ICF and High Energy Density (HED) science in support of Stockpile Stewardship.
• Oversee the development of advanced laser systems, related optical and target systems, control systems and system engineering capability for research and other mission applications.
• Develop and maintain close partnerships with DOE/NNSA, DoD, and other agencies, academia, and industry.
• Develop and maintain existing and prospective international collaborations in laser science and technology and ICF.
• Execute the NIF Facility Use Plan, including optimizing the facility diagnostics, lasers, targets, optics, and other technologies and systems for users needs consistent with available resources and priorities, and ensuring that all NIF activities are conducted in a safe, secure manner consistent with good stewardship of NIF and its supporting infrastructure in collaboration with the NIF Director.
• Partner with the SLT to create and advance strategies to achieve institutional goals.
• Oversee the NIF&PS directorate budget consistent with Laboratory and DOE fiscal policies and practices.
• Manage Directorate personnel, ensuring an effective system for recruiting and hiring a high-quality scientific staff and training and developing existing staff.
• Provide oversight and personal commitment to safety, security, environmental stewardship, good business practices, compliance, and equal opportunity.

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q/SCI-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
•  Ph.D. in a scientific or engineering discipline, or the equivalent combination of education and related experience in engineering or physical sciences.
• Extensive senior-level leadership and management experience over a large-scale, mission-oriented research and development organization.
• Broad knowledge of the DOE/NNSA Laboratory enterprise.
• Extensive experience working with senior government program leaders and officials.
• Recognized ability to sustain productive relationships with DOE/NNSA, other laboratories, University of California, academia, DOD, other government agencies, industrial, and international partners.
• Broad knowledge of national security policy issues.
• Extensive experience with the technical elements of laser and optics technologies and diagnostics, ICF, HED science, and other relevant applications.
• Extensive experience and comprehensive knowledge of strategic planning for highly technical organizations.
• Exceptional leadership skills, both in setting technical directions and motivating people, as well as demonstrated success in managing scientific programs, projects, or organizations and promoting creative contributions to solving complex scientific problems.
• Recognized track record in program development and sponsor engagement.
• Ability to manage technical priorities and balance the need to deliver program milestones while maintaining world-class capabilities in science and engineering.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills necessary to explain, present, direct, negotiate, influence and coordinate technical or programmatic activities.
• Extensive experience and comprehensive knowledge of managerial and financial practices and the ability to effectively balance complex technical, budgetary, and personnel priorities to achieve desired results.
• Experience ensuring standards of safety, security, environment stewardship, and quality assurance are established and appropriately followed.

Qualifications We Desire

• Established contacts with the relevant academic, national laboratory, and government communities.

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

Position Information

This is an At Will, Career Indefinite position, open to Laboratory employees and external candidates. This key personnel position requires a commitment from you to serve at least two years in this position.

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2025 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Flexible Benefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Our values - visit https://www.llnl.gov/inclusion/our-values

Security Clearance

This position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance.  Also, you must have the ability to obtain and maintain Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access.  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.

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.