Scientist 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.
  
  
  

Do you want to be a part of a national security mission that conducts research and development on some of the most powerful machines in the world? Mission Support and Test Services, LLC (MSTS) is seeking a full-time Scientist I to work as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide diagnostic fielding and development support in a national laboratory environment. Performance of job duties requires skills from a variety of science and engineering disciplines including electrical, mechanical, and software engineering.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to solutions of problems and issues with limited scope and basic complexity, using a well-defined set of technologies; generally in support of more senior scientists. Solutions use established basic standards, practices and procedures as well as technical knowledge to address problems and complete tasks.
• Focus is on applying academic knowledge to the work environment and developing good work/team habits.
• Define specifications for procurements and initiates purchase requests.
• Follow established technical procedures and instructions.
• Assist in compiling and summarizing scientific data. Utilizes technology solutions for both experimental and operational needs.
• Prepare reports. Contributes to proposals.
• Work closely with scientists, engineers, and technical staff at the Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, to field a variety of x-ray imaging and spectroscopic diagnostics. The focus is on fielding, characterizing, maintenance, and development of fast time-gated microchannel plate (MCP) based x-ray detectors. This will require flexibility with regards to schedule and an understanding that work schedule will be driven by fielding demands.
• Contribute to developing a rigorous characterization and calibration program for these diagnostics, utilizing various pulsed and continuous wave X-ray sources.
• The working environment will include high voltage systems, visible and UV lasers, large scale pulsed power machines, and radiation generating devices.
• Must possess strong technical writing skills to prepare and keep timely records to document activities associated with the development and fielding of diagnostic systems. The duties include providing regular status updates on project progress.
• Perform other duties assigned by Management.
• Bachelor’s degree in a calculus-based (STEM) field.Skill building experience must demonstrate either deeper technical specialization or additional cross-disciplinary knowledge. Graduate research experience may be recognized.
• Ability to interpret codes and standards within the discipline in which they were hired.
• Experience with setting up and operating Research & Development (R&D) instrumentation in a laboratory setting.
• Hands on knowledge of electronic instrumentation including high-speed digitizers, digital oscilloscopes, digital delay/pulse generators, high voltage instrumentation and other R&D laboratory instrumentation is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with vacuum technology is a plus.
• Other required skills include exposure to National Instruments (NI) LabVIEW and other programming platforms, good technical writing and communication skills, and familiarity with PCs and PC application software such as MS Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Desire to learn and innovate.
• Must be a team player.
• Some travel will be required.
• A desire and ability to develop solutions to moderately complex science and engineering problems independently after minimal guidance.
• Fielding of diagnostics may be occasionally physically demanding must be able to lift and carry equipment weighing approximately 30 lbs. for short distances.
• The primary work location will be at the Sandia Operations (SO) located in Albuquerque, NM.
• Work schedule for this position will be 4/10’s, Monday – Thursday (subject to change).
• Must be willing and able to perform occasional work during non-standard hours, take on-call duty, and some travel.
• 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 $64,688.00 - $97,032.00.

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