The posting
Company Description
Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has turned bold ideas into world-changing impact advancing science and technology to strengthen U.S. security and promote global stability.
Our mission spans four critical national security areas nuclear deterrence, threat preparedness, energy security, and multi-domain defense empowering teams to take on the toughest challenges of today and tomorrow. With a culture built on innovation and operational excellence, LLNL is a place where your expertise can make a real impact.
Job Description
We have an opening for a SEM/FIB Laboratory Manager to operate, maintain, and advance scanning electron microscopy, focused ion beam, and dual-beam FIB/SEM capabilities. You will support materials characterization, sample preparation, micromachining, imaging, and analytical research for a broad user community. This position is in the MicroAnalytical Signatures Group within the Nuclear and Chemical Sciences Division.
This position requires full-time on-site presence due to the nature of the work.
This position will be filled at either level 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
- Operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and support SEM, FIB, and dual-beam FIB/SEM systems for imaging, characterization, micromachining, cross-sectioning, and sample preparation.
- Develop, validate, document, and implement safe, repeatable FIB/SEM workflows and preparation methods for complex, scarce, high-value, time-sensitive, radioactive, or radiologically controlled samples.
- Perform manipulation, recovery, and characterization, while ensuring compliant handling of radiologically controlled materials.
- Diagnose and resolve instrument, software, vacuum, detector, and sample-related issues; coordinate preventive maintenance, repairs, vendor support, service contracts, and laboratory readiness.
- Improve throughput, reproducibility, data quality, automation, traceability, and accessibility through new capabilities, image-analysis tools, scripts, and data-processing pipelines.
- Establish and maintain microscopy data-management practices, including cataloging, metadata, provenance, backups, retrieval, and long-term preservation.
- Manage laboratory operations, documentation, scheduling, inventory, user access, safety, and resource allocation.
- Train and assist users; provide technical consultation, SOPs, guides, training materials, and outreach to internal and external collaborators.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Additional job responsibilities, at the SES.3 level
- Independently lead complex SEM/FIB technical work involving ambiguous requirements, competing priorities, and multiple instrument, sample, workflow, and data-quality considerations.
- Develop and implement innovative microscopy, micromachining, imaging, and sample-preparation methods that expand laboratory capability.
- Set technical direction for major workflows, including automation, image analysis, machine learning, and microscopy data management.
- Serve as a technical authority on experiment design, sample suitability, analytical strategy, capability investments, and resolution of complex instrument or sample-related problems.
- Lead laboratory improvements and technology integration to increase throughput, reproducibility, reliability, traceability, and data quality.
- Develop advanced training, SOPs, qualification approaches, and technical guidance; mentor users, staff, students, and less-experienced personnel.
- Contribute to laboratory strategy, capability planning, technical prioritization, and organizational program objectives.
Qualifications
- Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. Citizenship.
- Bachelor’s degree in materials science, physics, engineering, chemistry, geology, or a related technical field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
- Demonstrated hands-on experience operating SEM, FIB, and/or dual-beam FIB/SEM systems.
- Ability to apply established microscopy, sample-preparation, and analytical methods to moderately complex work.
- Ability to diagnose routine to moderately complex instrument, software, vacuum, detector, and sample issues.
- Ability to communicate technical recommendations clearly and work effectively with laboratory users and technical teams.
- Ability to train users on equipment operation, laboratory safety, and established procedures.
- Willingness and ability to work with radioactive and radiologically controlled materials in accordance with approved procedures, training requirements, and safety controls.
Additional qualifications at the SES.3 level
- Significant hands-on experience operating and independently troubleshooting SEM, FIB, and/or dual-beam FIB/SEM systems.
- Advanced knowledge in a relevant microscopy or materials-characterization specialty.
- Demonstrated ability to independently develop, validate, and implement innovative FIB/SEM, micromachining, imaging, or sample-preparation methods.
- Demonstrated ability to resolve complex technical issues involving multiple instrument, sample, workflow, and data-quality factors.
- Experience establishing technical direction for laboratory workflows and advising users, collaborators, and management on complex technical approaches.
- Demonstrated experience developing training, procedures, and technical guidance for users and collaborators.
- Experience developing or integrating automation, image analysis, machine learning, and data-management capabilities into microscopy workflows.
Qualifications We Desire
- Master’s degree or higher in materials science, physics, engineering, chemistry, geology, or a related technical field.
- Experience handling delicate, particulate, valuable, contaminated, radioactive, or radiologically controlled samples.
- Experience with particle manipulation or recovery of scarce, bespoke, or high-value samples.
- Experience developing or adapting microscopy, micromachining, imaging, or sample-preparation methods.
- Experience with Python, C#, C++, image analysis, automation, databases, or large-data workflows.
- Experience coordinating laboratory maintenance, vendor service, consumables, safety documentation, and shared-user laboratory operations.
- Experience developing or applying machine-learning approaches to microscopy, image analysis, or instrument automation.
Pay Range
$146,340 - $185,544 Annually for the SES.2 level
$175,530 - $222,564 Annually for the SES.3 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.
Additional Information
#LI-Onsite
Position Information
This is a Career Indefinite position, open to Lab employees and external candidates.
Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?
- Included in 2026 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. 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.
