Target and Laser Interaction Sphere (TaLIS) Integration Lead
Role details
Job location
Tech stack
Job description
Security Clearance: Anticipated DOE Q clearance (requires U.S. citizenship and a federal background investigation) Drug Test: Required for external applicant(s) selected for this position (includes testing for use of marijuana), * Lead teams, programs, or functions with a technical focus, work independently with minimal direction, use advanced knowledge and team leadership experience, take significant responsibility, and exercise judgment within established policies to monitor workflow, allocate resources, ensure timely completion of projects, and achieve objectives while managing organizational impact.
- Establish project objectives and strategies for the TaLIS expert group and review and integrating experimental configurations for targets, diagnostics, and laser beams, ensuring compliance with Target Chamber geometry, facility limits, and operational requirements.
- Oversee TaLIS technical input and documentation throughout the NIF experimental lifecycle, including experiment definition, scheduling, planning, review, and setup phases, and guide stakeholders to execute the process in accordance with sponsor funding and integration expectations.
- Lead technical reviews and approvals of new or modified experimental configurations, ensuring solutions meet evolving program and facility requirements.
- Manage TaLIS action items, technical issues, and risk assessments across experimental campaigns, ensuring timely resolution, proper documentation, and clear communication of status and impacts.
- Maintain operational records, configuration verification data, and knowledge repositories for TaLIS, including experiment review packages, lookup tables, and lessons learned, and ensure quality standards for documentation and configuration traceability.
- Collaborate with physicists, engineers, and subject matter experts to resolve technical integration issues, including alignment of targets and diagnostics with laser configuration and Target Chamber constraints.
- Provide clear status and readiness reporting for TaLIS scope on experiments, including communication of facility limits, escalation of risks or non-conformances, and preparation of summary materials for management and experiment leads.
- Uphold rigorous engineering discipline by supporting compliance with NIF safety basis, facility procedures, and engineering change control, and by promoting traceability and quality assurance for TaLIS-relevant hardware, configurations, and operations.
- Develop and maintain supporting documentation such as integration checklists, configuration verification procedures, and guidance for experiment teams on TaLIS interfaces and constraints.
- Troubleshoot complex integration issues and resolve problems with support from subject matter experts, including off-shift support for critical operations as needed.
- Champion a culture of safety, ensuring all activities are performed in accordance with the highest standards of personnel and facility safety, as well as relevant ES&H, security, and business policies.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Requirements
- Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, or a closely related technical field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
- Demonstrated understanding of engineering processes, procedures, and quality standards in complex technical environments, preferably involving experimental or operational facilities.
- Advanced experience in technical integration, operations, or experimental programs, preferably in large-scale scientific or research facilities.
- Advanced knowledge and significant experience with systems engineering, technical coordination, and configuration management, including use of computer-based tools for documentation, data acquisition, and configuration verification.
- Advanced experience in analyzing and synthesizing complex technical data to inform decision-making, resolve integration issues, and manage multiple experiments or projects while setting priorities effectively.
- Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and advanced documentation practices, including maintaining records, tracking action items, and managing review artifacts.
- Advanced verbal and written communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills, enabling effective collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, preparation of technical presentations, and the ability to provide clear integration advice to management and experiment leads.
- Demonstrated experience with project management, engineering documentation, and configuration management tools used to coordinate experimental scope and track technical decisions.
- Self-motivated with the ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment within established policies, and manage multiple technical priorities in a fast-paced experimental environment., * Master's degree or PhD in engineering, physics, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent advanced knowledge.
- Background in laser systems, high energy density physics, fusion energy research, or vacuum/target chamber operations.
- Experience in laser-target interaction experiments or related diagnostic and alignment integration, including geometric interference analysis or configuration verification for complex experimental setups.
- Familiarity with NIF, DOE, or national laboratory safety and quality assurance protocols, including experience with risk assessment, technical review processes, and engineering change control in experimental science environments.
Benefits & conditions
- 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