W87-1 Engineering Group Leader

We have multiple openings for Engineering Group Leaders for the W87-1 Modification Program (Mod). You will provide professional leadership for a set of high-level technical activities and lead a group of professional and technical personnel providing project engineering project management product designs systems engineering certification qualification and support to production agencies. These positions are in the Defense Technologies Engineering Division (DTED) supporting the Weapon Technologies and Engineering (WTE) Program.

Depending on your assignment this position may offer a hybrid schedule blending in-person and virtual presence. You may have the flexibility to work from home one or more days per week. 

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

• Provide supervision guidance and training to group members foster staff development promote design engineering improvements participate in hiring activities and balancing group skill sets to support WTE programs.
• Work with the Project Engineer and the Program Engineering Leads to ensure group members have assigned work that meets program needs and offers opportunities for growth. Remain cognizant of group members technical goals workload balances and progress of group projects.
• Support the Program Engineering Leads to track and complete work objectives on time and within budget in collaboration with other program groups/personnel and with other essential WTE support personnel. Monitor performance required to meet programmatic milestones and deliverables. Engage to correct deficiencies and lead corrective actions where necessary. Ensure that program risks and requirements are communicated in an effective and timely manner to senior leadership.
• Provide leadership in project engineering project management product designs product realization team (PRT) processes systems engineering certification qualification engineering evaluations and support to production agencies (PAs).
• Represent WTE at meetings briefings and committee activities both internal and external to the Laboratory.
• Prepare and conduct performance management activities for design group personnel and contribute to the DTED performance assessment and salary management processes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities at the SEL.5 level 

• Influence strategic technical decisions made by senior management and external customers based on nuclear weapon design expertise.
• Mentor staff across the organization including other mentors. Advise across the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) as an expert in weapon design engineering 6.X lifecycle processes PAs PRTs and product realization certification and qualification work.
• Serve as an organizational spokesperson on behalf of Laboratory management and/or peers in the NSE representing the Laboratory in NEP design and project engineering.

Qualifications :

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Bachelors degree in engineering or related field or equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Significant experience with design engineering product realization processes and stakeholders certification and qualification work.
• Subject matter expert knowledge of weapon engineering systems and design.
• Expertise with project management tools and techniques including work planning scheduling cost estimating analyzing and managing scope and budgets.
• Expert communication facilitation negotiation and collaboration skills necessary to present explain mediate compromise and advise senior management and/or external sponsors. Ability to promote and maintain productive relationships across directorates with other laboratories and with personnel from external entities.
• Effective leadership interpersonal organizational and supervisory skills to lead personnel write performance appraisals and actively participate in ranking and hiring activities.
• Experience working independently and responsively to changing priorities and ability to meet deadlines and keep management well informed.

Additional qualifications at the SEL.5 level 

• Accomplished record of weapon design and product realization.
• Expert communication facilitation negotiation and collaboration skills necessary to effectively present explain mediate compromise influence and advise senior management and external sponsors.
• Extensive experience and expert design engineering knowledge to address advancements that may have impact beyond the Laboratory and the NSE.

Qualifications We Desire

• An active Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance or active Top Secret clearance issued by another U.S. government agency at the time of hire.
• Relevant experience in nuclear weapons systems engineering design realization and qualification
• Masters degree or PhD in Engineering or related field.
• Broad knowledge of Laboratory policies and practices and applicable NNSA orders.

Pay Range

$227430 - $346140 Annually

$227430 - $288396 Annually for the SEL.4 level
$272970 - $346140 Annually for the SEL.5 level

This is the lowest to highest salary in good faith we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. Pay will not be below any applicable local minimum wage. An employees 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-Hybrid

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)
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  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. 

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  Remote Work :

  No

  
  

  Employment Type :

  Full-time