Career Areas
Are you ready to start picturing yourself at LLNL? We offer a variety of jobs in all areas across our campus. Whether you're a nuclear physicist or a skilled machinist, we have a home for you.
But first, what does it mean when you see "Organization: Physical and Life Sciences" in one of our job postings? We are comprised of different organizations that focus on a different aspect of our overall mission. As an employee, you'll be a part of one of these organizations (such as Computing, Global Security, or Weapons & Complex Integration). It's helpful to understand these organizations, since you might be drawn to the goals of one more than others. Together, these organizations contribute to our overall national security mission.
Learn more about us below.
Explore career areas
What does it mean when you see "Career Area: Craft & Skilled Labor" in one of our job postings? Each of the organizations above is comprised of people with different skill sets. As an electrician, for example, you might be part of Engineering, the Director's Office, or any of the other organizations. The same goes for many of the jobs you'll find on our job search page. When searching for a job with us, you can choose to narrow your search by career area, or a combination of career area and organization.
Explore our different career areas and find the right place for you.
Administrative
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Ensuring things run smoothly.
Our administrative team is a key part of our operations and helps teams thrive by prioritizing and anticipating needs even before they arise. Every day, they bridge organizations, promote partnerships, and strategically support different needs to ensure our mission goals are met.
Possible Roles
- Administrative specialist
- Workforce administrator
- Office administrator
Casie Zayas
Administrative Specialist
"I feel blessed to be a part of the diverse environment at LLNL, and I feel fortunate for all the opportunities this career has afforded me."
With the work/life ratio at LLNL, I’ve been able to be very involved in my children’s lives and take time off to chaperone their field trips and school activities and take them to appointments and sporting events. Plus, due to the Lab’s flexible work schedules, I get to pick them up from school every other Friday and spend the early afternoon with them.
Business Operations
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Keeping us on track.
Our business operations team provides a broad array of essential business services, including procurements, subcontracting, supply and distribution, and creative services like design and web development. This team keeps LLNL operations running smoothly so scientists and engineers can focus on their next big discovery.
Possible Roles
- Instructional designer
- Business analyst
- Technical writer/editor
- Graphic designer
- Food service worker
- Travel coordinator
- Communications manager
- Project coordinator
Melissa Poulos
Service Operations Specialist
"I have the opportunity to work with some of the brightest minds in the world and I learn something new every day."
Each position I have held has been challenging yet rewarding and has opened up a new door in my career. LLNL pays for education assistance which has allowed me to go back to school to obtain a degree. My management is invested in my future and supports my career goals by providing me with ongoing training opportunities and career development discussions. If you are looking for an inclusive workplace where you can come to work each day knowing that regardless of the position you hold, you are supporting our nation’s security, then LLNL is the place for you.
Craft & Skilled Trades
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Helping our campus thrive.
Craft and skilled Trades jobs are critical to keeping our campus functional, from maintaining our buildings to keeping our grounds hazard-free and beautiful. Employees in these roles work with facilities maintenance and operations to ensure the buildings and infrastructure housing our scientific and technical endeavors are always safe and reliable.
Possible Roles
- Custodian
- Electrician
- High voltage electrician
- Electric utility engineer
- Painter
- Machinist
- Pipe fitter
- Welder
- Carpenter
- Sheet metal worker
- Locksmith
Jason Carroll
Machine Shop Supervisor
"Coming to work at the Laboratory was the best career decision of my life."
Going through the Machinist Apprentice program in the Material Engineering Division, I was able to get hands-on experience with many different shops, materials and techniques.
Engineering
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Improving everyday life through engineering innovations.
Our multidisciplinary teams engineer solutions to national security challenges by applying unsurpassed tools, expertise, and technology, improving the world's safety and security. We leverage partnerships with the government, universities, and industry to accelerate technology development for the benefit of everyone.
Possible Roles
- Mechanical engineer
- Electrical engineer
- Computer engineer
- Aerospace engineer
- Materials engineer
- Project control analyst
- Mechanical technologist
- Mechanical technician
- Electrical engineer
- Electrical technologist
- Electrical technician
- Systems control engineer
- Technical project/program manager
Nicholas Watkins
Electrical Engineer and Staff Scientist
"The Lab greatly encourages innovation and commercialization through many funding opportunities and relationships with external partners."
I love LLNL’s emphasis on both basic and applied sciences that not only enables you to publish and present impactful scientific discoveries, but also encourages you translate these findings into technologies that can benefit others and our nation’s security. Being surrounded by world-class scientists and engineers only makes it better!
Environment, Safety & Health
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Keeping your work environment safe.
Nothing matters more than the health and safety of our employees. Our environment, safety, and health (ES&H) teams work to prevent on-site injuries, illness, and accidents, ensuring everyone is safe on and off campus. These teams support our mission through various programs that keep work planned, controlled, and performed through a formalized, safe process.
Possible Roles
- Occupational health
- Work planning engineer
- Environmental analyst
- Analytical chemist
- Industrial safety professional
- Health and safety technician
- Instructional designer
Quang Le
Radiological Control Manager
"Few institutions can provide better opportunity to grow and to serve our country’s security at the same time."
As a health physicist, I was attracted to LLNL by its wide breadth of health physics challenges. The people and leadership skills I learned working alongside high-caliber scientists and engineers helped me grow with the company. Few institutions can provide better opportunity to grow and to serve our country’s security at the same time.
Executive
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Setting the tone for LLNL.
Our executives focus on policy-making and strategy, ensuring that we can continue to grow and thrive as an organization. People in these roles need to be able to set goals, plan for success, measure the outcome, and see their vision through to fruition.
Possible Roles
- Director
- Associate director
- Technical manager
Kimberly Budil
Principal Associate Director, Weapons and Complex Integration Directorate
"Breadth of work, incredible people, team ethos, and missions of national importance are unique."
LLNL is truly an amazing place! I come to work every day energized by the incredible people, innovative and broad research portfolio, strong team focus, and chance to contribute to missions of national importance.
Faculty
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Collaborating with the lab, giving back to universities.
Our Faculty Employment Program temporarily employs college professors and schoolteachers in collaborative research and the study of difficult scientific problems or new areas of technology in science, engineering, and administrative fields. We use collaboration to improve our science and technology, speed the transformation of applied research into national security deliverables, and move new technology out of LLNL and into the marketplace, particularly for the benefit of US industry.
Possible Roles
- Faculty sabbatical appointee
- Visiting professor
Finance & Accounting
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Tracking the numbers to enable mission success.
Our finance and accounting team provides expert financial leadership to our customers and collaborators through high-quality products and services that promote sound financial stewardship, Lab-wide efficiencies, and effective decision making in support of LLNL’s mission, values, and operations. This team analyzes complex problems in forecasting, accounting, and compliance, ensuring we manage our resources to deliver the highest possible return on value in support of our mission.
Possible Roles
- Accountant
- Financial analyst
- Accounting assistant
Veronica Garza
Financial Analyst
"A community of professionals with shared visions, combined with a stimulating and opportunistic workplace, make LLNL an inspirational place to be part of."
While employed at LLNL, you feel connected to a community of people who not only inspire you with their talent and work ethic, but also support you in your adventures on this campus to better aid our nation’s security. There is a dynamic work environment that allows you to connect with people across all the lab’s organizations, providing many opportunities both professionally and personally. It enables a setting where you can see the impacts of your contributions, love what you do, and are excited to go to work every day. I am proud to be an employee at LLNL!
Health Services
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Keeping health and wellness top of mind.
A healthy workforce is a more productive workforce, and this team is proud to provide everyday and acute healthcare services. Our team works from our on-site medical center and provides wellness checks and programs, vaccinations, ergonomic evaluations, and more to ensure all employees are thriving and healthy.
Possible Roles
- Occupational health specialist
- Occupational health nurse
- Occupational health doctor
Human Resources
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Securing and supporting a cutting-edge workforce.
Our employees are our biggest asset, and we strive to hire the best and brightest. Our human resources team recruits, develops, and retains a world-class workforce focusing on the employee experience from recruiting through retirement.
Possible Roles
- Recruiter
- HR business partner
- Benefits Specialist
- Compensation Analyst
- Workforce analyst
- Institutional trainer
Christine Hearn
Deaf Interpreting Specialist
"Our mission is awesome, but it’s our dedicated and humane people at every level who make the difference to me!"
I love that I get to apply my professional skills to a globally significant science/technology/engineering/security mission in a stimulating work environment that challenges us all to do our best for the national good, where respect for our work and each other’s creativity/contribution/health and safety are valued at every work level. My skills as a Sign Language interpreter are needed at the Lab because, in a small but significant way, they facilitate transparent communication, inclusion over and above anti-discrimination compliance, supportive collegiality, and recognition of excellence from all employees.
IT & Computing
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Leading innovation through computer science.
Our IT and computing teams are responsible for research, platforms, and services. They focus on making the nation (and world) safer by shaping the frontiers of high-performance computing (HPC), computer science, data science, cyber security, and information technology.
Possible Roles
- Software developer
- System administrator
- Computer scientist
- Machine learning researcher
- Network engineer
- Data scientist
- Computer support technician
- Full stack developer
- Cyber security researcher
- Cyber security analyst
Raul Viera-Mercado
Software Developer
"I love the people and the work-life balance."
One of the toughest but most rewarding decisions I made was to move from Puerto Rico to work at LLNL. During my time at LLNL, I have been able to be a leader and role model while working on projects related to physical security, energy, and geophysics with an excellent work-life balance. I have also been encouraged to participate in diversity and inclusion initiatives, employee resource group activities, and internal and external volunteering events. Working at LLNL has been an amazing journey, and if I had to start from scratch again, I would still choose LLNL.
Legal
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Providing legal advice, representation, and support.
The attorneys in the Office of General Counsel provide advice, representation, and support for all legal matters affecting the Laboratory. Our legal team is committed to being trusted and proactive partners to our LLNL colleagues in all programs and departments and at all levels to ensure that we collectively fulfill the Laboratory’s national security mission in a legally sound manner. Our legal team's mission is to support the Laboratory by providing strategic and pragmatic legal advice; anticipating, identifying, and mitigating risk; and serving as trusted advisors.
Possible Roles
- General counsel
- Deputy general counsel
- Assistant general counsel
- Patent counsel
- Paralegal
- Administrator
- Legal assistant
Physical & Life Sciences
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Supporting our energy and national security goals.
Our many scientists bring their knowledge, expertise, and experience to bear on challenging projects that support our nation’s security and wellbeing and advance the state of science. We are active in the broader research community, and we regularly partner with researchers in other disciplines and at other institutions around the world.
Possible Roles
- Chemist
- Materials scientist
- Biologist
- Experimental physicist
- Theoretical physicist
- Nuclear physicist
- Laser physicist
- Geologist
- Atmospheric scientist
Minta Akin
Chemist/Physicist
"I get to do all of this fun puzzle solving with great coworkers and contribute to national security at the same time."
I love puzzles and dislike being bored. At the lab, I get all the puzzles (and the resources to solve them), and I haven’t been bored yet. It’s a great combo.
Postdoctoral & Fellowship
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Pushing the boundaries of scientific research.
We offer postdoctoral appointments that allow recent PhD graduates to further their research and collaborate with our wold-class scientists. For more information, see the Postdocs page.
Possible Roles
- Postdoctoral researcher
- Lawrence fellow
- High Energy Density Science (HEDS) fellow
- Fernbach fellow
Magi Mettry
Postdoctoral Researcher
"Balance and moderation in all you do is the path to a happy and fulfilling life."
I love the balance in the LLNL work environment. This balance comes in two forms: work-life balance, and balance between different research projects. Moving here I immediately observed a healthy work environment and a great and supportive team from mentors to division leaders!
Public Affairs & Communications
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Communicating our work to the world.
Our public affairs and communications teams focus on distilling and sharing our cutting-edge innovations and complex scientific ideas, making them accessible to a wider audience and inspiring the public to get involved in our research.
Possible Roles
- Communications manager
- Public information officer
- Social media strategist
- Graphic designer
- Photographer
Brian Chavez
Graphic Design Associate
"I’m shoulder to shoulder with some of the smartest peeps in the world."
It actually may surprise you to see how many positions they offer that may fit your skill set. And don’t let that “degree” stop you. Even if you don’t have a degree, you may just have what they want in skill. Ain’t bad for a high school graduate and veteran with some college.
Security
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Keeping you and our nation safe.
Our security team ensures the uninterrupted protection of our physical assets, information, employees, and guests, allowing the Laboratory to fulfill the mission of protecting national security. Our team has extensive knowledge and experience in tactical and operational protection planning, information security, personnel security, physical security, performance assurance, and training.
Possible Roles
- Security police officer
- Classified matter and protection specialist
- Physical security specialist
- Electrician and locksmith
- Compliance and assurance specialist
- Investigator
- CCTV and call center dispatch operator
- Training and curriculum designer
Students
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Surrounding you with a culture of possibility.
Learn, grow, and explore while working here as an intern—and have fun along the way. You will have access to cutting-edge technologies that are transforming the world for the better and the opportunity to work and learn with world-class scientists and engineers. For more information, visit our Students page.
Possible Roles
- Undergraduate student intern
- Graduate student intern
- Trainee
Logan Echeveria
Summer Intern
"My passion for science grew more and more every day I was at the Lab."
I was a summer student in Materials Engineering Division during the summer of 2019. Here, I worked on a biochemical sensor project. I was able to contribute technical knowledge developed at my university in classes such as optics, signal processing, and electromagnetics. I sharpened my engineering skills by working in a laser laboratory and I was even introduced to an entirely new discipline by working part time in a bio lab.
Being a summer student at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory gave me the opportunity to explore research areas in my discipline, to network with professionals in my field, and to grow as a scholar. Outside of research, I enjoyed all of the events put on for summer students (like a BBQ and trivia) and touring the facilities on the LLNL campus.
Supply Chain
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Helping you get what you need.
Our supply chain staff work tirelessly to ensure everyone on campus has what they need when they need it. We focus on building professional partnerships with customers, suppliers, and colleagues.
Possible Roles
- Subcontracts analyst
- Cost price analyst
Alberto Rocha
Contracts Analyst
"A team is not a group of people that work together. A team is a group of people that trust each other. I am blessed to find this at LLNL."
Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress; working hard for something we love is called passion. Come to LLNL where people pull together as a team. You will love it!
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