System Engineer

Location: Livermore, CA, us

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 multiple openings for a System Engineer to support the Warhead Modernization Programs within the Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I) group. Your primary focus will be to provide support for a set of high-level technical Systems Engineering activities, working with a group of systems engineering professionals, to provide project integration and management of requirements, mapping of designs, functions, failure mechanisms, risks, assessments, and verifications to requirements. In this role, you will partner closely with design and test engineers as an integrated member of the design team to develop technical understanding of subsystem behavior, supporting the maturation of system requirements, participating in system-level design architecture and analysis, and contributing to test planning to verify requirements and qualify hardware, ensuring system-level requirements, interfaces, and verification approaches are technically sound and fully aligned with implementation. These positions are in the Defense Technologies Engineering Division (DTED), supporting the Weapon Technologies and Engineering (WTE) Program, within the Strategic Deterrence (SD) Directorate.

Depending on your assignment, these positions 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.

These positions 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.

In this role you will 

• Support the SE&I group in project systems engineering, development, execution, expertise, and systems analytic methods that support product qualification and system certification.
• Define, track, and complete work objectives on time and within budget in collaboration with team. Monitor performance required to meet programmatic milestones and deliverables.
• Partner closely with design and test engineers to develop a deep technical understanding of subsystem behavior, ensuring system level requirements, interfaces, and verification approaches are technically sound and fully aligned with implementation.
• Support component specific technical requirements development including but not limited to performance requirements identification, interface requirements management, and traceability to verification activities. Participate in test planning to verify requirements and qualify hardware.
• Assist with system-level design architecture and analysis that combines component parts and subsystems into a complete functional system.
• Promote the systems engineering discipline and participate in hiring activities to support WTE and SD programs.
• Help ensure that program risks and requirements are communicated in an effective and timely manner to Leadership.
• Perform WTE and SD special assignments and represent the Programs and DTED at meetings, briefings, and committee activities both internal and external to the Laboratory.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the SES.2 level

• May represent the organization by providing input on technical issues for specific projects and assist in influencing technical decisions made by management, based on SE&I activities.
• May provide guidance and/or informal mentoring to less-experienced team members.

Qualifications

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field, or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Fundamental knowledge of systems engineering practices for requirements, designs, functions, failure mechanisms, risks, assessments, and/or verifications.
• Fundamental knowledge of systems engineering tools and techniques, product realization processes, project work planning, scheduling, cost estimating, analyzing and managing budgets, and/or project controls reporting.
• Ability to promote and maintain productive relationships across directorates, with other laboratories, and with personnel from external entities.
• Sufficient communication, facilitation, and collaboration skills, necessary to present and explain technical information.
• Experience working independently and responsively to changing priorities and ability to meet deadlines.

Additional qualifications at the SES.2 level

• Experience with systems engineering practices for requirements, designs, functions, failure mechanisms, risks, assessments, and verifications.
• Experience with systems engineering tools and techniques, product realization processes, project work planning, scheduling, cost estimating, analyzing and managing budgets, and project controls reporting.
• Proficient verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively collaborate in a team environment, with proven ability to present and explain technical information, concepts, and ideas in a clear and coherent manner.

Qualifications We Desire

• Master's degree in Engineering or related field and relevant experience.
• Experience with product development processes including requirements management, design prototyping, product testing, business planning, pilot production, and manufacturing.
• Working knowledge of quality engineering and/or quality assurance and control.
• Experience in definition/specification releases, configuration management, and Product Lifecycle Management systems.
• Broad knowledge of Laboratory policies and practices and applicable NNSA orders.

Pay Range

$121,830 - $185,544 Annually

$121,830 - $154,500 Annually for the SES.1 level

$146,340 - $185,544 Annually for the SES.2 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; pay will not be below any applicable local minimum wage. 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-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)
• 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.

Pre-Placement Medical Exam

A job related pre-placement medical examination may be required.

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.