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Process Chemist
Physical Life Sciences | tracy, CA | 05/12/2023
Job Code: SES.1 Science & Engineering MTS 1 / SES.2 Science & Engineering MTS 2
Organization: Physical and Life Sciences
Position Type: Flexible Term or Career Indefinite
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)
Medical Exam: Not applicable
Company Description
Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!
Are you interested in joining some of the brightest talent in the world to strengthen the United States’ security? Come join Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) where our employees apply their expertise to create solutions for BIG ideas that make our world a better place.
We are committed to a diverse and equitable workforce with an inclusive culture that values and celebrates the diversity of our people, talents, ideas, experiences, and perspectives. This is essential to innovation and creativity for continued success of the Laboratory’s mission.
Pay Range
$103,290.00 - $132,612.00 Annually for the SES.1 level
$123,960.00 - $159,168.00 Annually for the SES.2 level
Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. Many factors are taken into consideration when setting starting pay including education, experience, the external labor market, and internal equity.
Job Description
We have multiple openings for a Process Chemist to work in the areas of explosives synthesis, formulations, manufacturing and processing. You will collaborate with principal investigators and scientific and technical staff in explosives research and programmatic/experimental activities for surveillance and aging studies, physical and chemical characterization, and detonation science to address programmatic and research and development needs in energetic materials. This position is in the Energetic Materials Group of the Materials Science Division in the Physical and Life Sciences (PLS) Directorate.
In this role you will:
- Collaborate with scientists, engineers and technical personnel to provide scientific support to various programmatic tasks and explosives research efforts with emphasis on chemistry, manufacturing, and processing of high explosives and special explosives parts.
- Perform operations with chemistry processing systems including grinding, sieving, melt casting, vacuum casting, injection molding, mixing, slurry coating, pressing and synthesis, and fulfill duties such as room responsibilities for work cells and bays.
- Contribute to aging and compatibility work by preparing assemblies containing explosives, polymers, and metals, performing gas-extraction, recording results, and communicating with colleagues and supervisors.
- Acquire, analyze, interpret data, and report results on projects involving processing of explosives.
- Provide solutions to fundamental problems of limited complexity related to processing of explosives.
- Conduct, coordinate, and document procedures and peer reviews.
- Perform work as an LLNL Explosives Handler, and routinely work hands-on with energetic materials of all types.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
In Addition, at the SES.2 Level:
- Provide chemistry knowledge to resolve technical and programmatic issues.
- Perform independent technical tasks to provide solutions for a diverse range of moderate to complex issues.
- Select methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria to obtain results based on analysis of multiple, largely identifiable factors.
Qualifications
- Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. Citizenship.
- Bachelor’s (BS) degree in Chemistry, Materials Science or Environmental Technology, or the equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
- Fundamental knowledge and understanding of chemistry and materials science and demonstrated mechanical aptitude.
- Ability to work effectively with an experimental team under conflicting and rigorous deadlines.
- Skill in design and performance of experiments, including knowledge of safety rules and procedures. Experience handling and knowledge of chemicals in laboratory settings.
- Willingness to routinely work with explosives and obtaining and maintaining required qualification as an Explosives Handler.
- Sufficient verbal and written communication skills to collaborate effectively in a team environment and present and explain technical information.
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. on a regular basis in a safe and controlled manner, climb a ladder, and wear a respirator as needed.
In Addition, at the SES.2 Level:
- Master’s degree in Chemistry, Materials Science or Environmental Technology, or the equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
- Comprehensive knowledge of chemistry and material science.
- Proficient verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively collaborate in a team environment and present and explain technical information.
Qualifications we desire:
- Experience with explosive formulation and processing, including grinding, sieving, melt casting, vacuum casting, injection molding, and formulation and pressing of plastic bonded explosives.
- Experience with fabrication of large explosive parts.
- Knowledge of LLNL programs in energetic materials or LLNL ES&H rules and regulations.
Additional Information
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
Position Information
This is a Career Indefinite or At Will appointment. Lab employees and external candidates may be considered for this position.
Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?
- Flexible Benefits Package
- 401(k)
- Relocation Assistance
- Education Reimbursement Program
- Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
- Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accountability (IDEA) - visit https://www.llnl.gov/diversity
- Our core beliefs - visit https://www.llnl.gov/diversity/our-values
- Employee engagement - visit https://www.llnl.gov/diversity/employee-engagement
Site 300
Site 300 is an experimental test site operated by LLNL. Situated on 7,000 acres in rural foothills approximately six miles southwest of downtown Tracy and 15 miles southeast of Livermore, Site 300 hosts approximately 200 employees with expertise in such fields as engineering, chemistry, biology, and environmental restoration. Employees assigned to work at Site 300 may be exposed to the organism that causes San Joaquin Valley Fever (coccidioidomycosis).
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.
Beware of Fraudulent Job Postings. LLNL’s hiring practices:
- Never requires job applicants to pay an application/training fee or submit personal documents like bank account details, passport number, Social Security number, tax forms or credit card information as part of the application process.
- For interviews and to be granted access to a Federal facility, a LLNL employee will contact you directly to collect visa, passport number, and/or Social Security number. To vet the authenticity of the employee please have them provide you their name and phone number and verify at people.llnl.gov.
- Involves at least one interview (virtual or in-person) and never interviews job applicants through chat platforms such as Google Hangouts, or via correspondence through text and instant messaging systems.
- Only sends email communications to job applicants from domain “@llnl.gov” or via their applicant tracking system, [email protected]. Occasionally LLNL uses third-party vendors that will contact you about job opportunities. If a recruiter contacts you to apply, you will always be directed to our career page to apply through our career site.
- Encourages all applicants to visit LLNL’s careers page at www.llnl.gov/join-our-team/careers if they saw the job posting on another site prior to applying to ensure the job posting is accurate and valid.
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.
We invite you to review the Equal Employment Opportunity posters which include EEO is the Law and Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision.
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.
