Principal Scientist

Job Description

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.
  
  

Responsibilities

The Radiological Control Department is looking for an individual with a strong attention to detail to work as a Principal Scientist with extensive experience in the field of health physics. This Scientist will have the ability to balance responsibilities with multiple organizations. In this role as Scientist, you will have assignments that directly support MSTS and assignments that directly support the Joint Laboratory Operations Nevada (JLON).

Key Responsibilities

• Develop methods and techniques for acquiring, analyzing, and processing radiological data.
• Prepare a variety of technical and non-technical reports, including procedures and plans.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) orders, and corporate requirements.
• Consult with supervisors and departmental representatives on radiological control matters to ensure work procedures are incompliance with the Tennant Organization’s (MSTS, LLNL or LANL) core processes, and governmental requirements.
• Serve as point of contact for assigned projects between Tennant Organizations (MSTS, LLNL and LANL).
• Perform radiological engineering analyses and calculations using industry available software.
• Encourage development and publishing in industry-standard journals.
• Apply knowledge and ingenuity to implement cutting edge, pioneering solutions in the technical arena.
• Attend staff meetings, and planning and scheduling meetings relevant to radiological controls and engineering issues.
• Conduct management assessments.
• Draft work packages and proposed test plans, review packages and plans to ensure necessary requirements are incorporated into work control.
• Serve as Technical Lead for major projects and startups.
• Serve as an expert advisor to other personnel and management on difficult and critical technical issues.
• Complete special projects to meet internal and external customer expectations.
• Perform other duties assigned by Management.
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in calculus-based (STEM) field, plus at 9 years' relevant experience. Skill building experience must demonstrate either deeper technical specialization or additional cross-disciplinary knowledge. Graduate research experience may be recognized.
• Professional certification (Certified Health Physicist) is preferred. Willingness to achieve professional certification (if not already certified) is desired.
• Demonstrated experience with operational health physics and engineering controls for purposes of mitigating radiological hazards is necessary.
• Must possess effective oral and written communications skills and demonstrated ability to write technical reports.
• Must possess planning/organizational skills and initiative.
• Must be able to employ independent judgment and apply professional knowledge to ensure that assignments are completed efficiently, accurately, and on time.
• Must possess interpersonal communication skills to deal with contacts in an effective, positive, and professional manner.
• Must possess mathematical skill and ability to understand complex data, terminology, procedures, laws, and regulations.
• Must have experience in software programs such as Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Work location is at the NNSS in Mercury, Nevada (65 miles northwest of Las Vegas), and forward Areas of the NNSS.
• Schedule is designated as 4/10s (Mon-Thur). May be requested to perform on-call duty and must be able to work nonstandard hours.
• Pre-placement physical examination, which includes 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: $119,246.40 - $181,854.40.

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