Group Leader Science & Technology (Technical Manager I/Ii)

Mission Support and Test Services, LLC (MSTS) manages and operates the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).  Our MISSION is to help ensure the security of the United States and its allies by providing high-hazard experimentation and incident response capabilities through operations, engineering, education, field, and integration services and by acting as environmental stewards to the Site’s Cold War legacy.  Our VISION is to be the user site of choice for large-scale, high-hazard, national security experimentation, with premier facilities and capabilities below ground, on the ground, and in the air. (See NNSS.gov for our unique capabilities.) Our 2,750+ professional, craft, and support employees are called upon to innovate, collaborate, and deliver on some of the more difficult nuclear security challenges facing the world today.  In this environment, the best ideas need to be voiced and every opinion matters.  As such, MSTS places great value on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and is committed to a diverse and equitable workforce, with an inclusive culture that values and celebrates the diversity of our people, talents, ideas, and perspectives.

• MSTS offers our full-time employees highly competitive salaries and benefits packages including medical, dental, and vision; both a pension and a 401k; paid time off and 96 hours of paid holidays; relocation (if located more than 75 miles from work location); tuition assistance and reimbursement; and more.  
• MSTS is a limited liability company consisting of Honeywell International Inc. (Honeywell), Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (Jacobs), and HII Nuclear Inc.

NNSS COVID-19 attestation requirements: https://www.nnss.gov/pages/nfo/WorkingForMSTS.html

The Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate is seeking highly motivated individuals with strong scientific and technical background to lead groups of 8-12 staff members within the Physical Sciences (PSD), Engineering Technologies (ETD), and Computing and Data Science (CDSD) Divisions. S&T is an organization of approximately 110 scientists and engineers. S&T supports the NNSS’ stockpile and global security missions.

In this role, you will report to one of the three Division Managers within S&T and be part of the management team for PSD, ETD, or CDSD. You will be responsible for fostering core capabilities necessary for the long-term health of the NNSS scientific requirements to accomplish current and future NNSA and SPP/SIPP programs. Due to the matrixed model of the S&T Directorate you will work with the Stockpile Experimentation and Operations (SEO) program and the Global Securities (GS) program elements as well as with the S&T Thrust Area Leads. You will also be responsible for a diverse workforce to deliver on our current commitments and innovate to tackle future national security threats. The NNSS is committed to an excellent and diverse workforce and an equitable and inclusive work culture that values and celebrates the diversity of our people, talents, ideas, experiences, and perspectives. This is essential to enable the innovation and creativity we need to ensure the success of the NNSS and continued delivery on our missions.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Manager I Level:

• Provide scientific and technical leadership, and manage personnel resources of the Group, integrating the scientific and programmatic needs of the S&T Directorate and the supported SEO and GS programs.
• Manage a group of approximately 10 scientists and engineers to achieve organization objectives and goals, performing personnel administration activities including performance reviews, performance management, appraisals, and ranking.
• Serve as a member of the Division Management Team in implementing, and monitoring the S&T Directorate's strategic plans. Work closely with the Division Leader to manage workforce changes and assignments and to improve Division business processes.
• Lead personnel in analyzing and solving unique problems. Promote collaboration to achieve mission execution.
• Participate in the recruiting, hiring and development of scientific talent, outstanding innovators, and world-class researchers in support of current and projected programmatic needs.
• Implement the Division’s affirmative action, outreach, mentoring, and employee development efforts within the Group. Foster an environment that promotes diversity, equal opportunity, teamwork, and a professional work environment.
• Collaborate with the Division Leader to integrate and maintain scientific standards and processes consistent with the needs of the sponsors and with the S&T Directorate.
• Participate in developing, executing, and communicating the vision and strategic plan for the Division. Implement R&D initiatives which will require working closely with the Division Leader and S&T Management Team.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the Technical Manager II Level:

• Establish and manage a clear, sustainable framework to ensure the delivery of high-quality scientific support to all internal and external sponsors for the near- and long-term.
• Establish direction and provide oversight of strategic R&D initiatives which will require working closely with the Science and Technology Thrust Area Leads as well as with the Site-Directed Research and Development (SDRD) Program manager.
• Guide special teams that are cross functional in engineering, technical and scientific boundaries. Coordinates collaboration with partners external to MSTS.
• Champion and lead special projects for the Division.

Technical Manager I Level: 

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) required for Civil, Mechanical and Electrical engineering degrees.
• Or, Calculus-based STEM bachelor’s degree;
• Or Professional Engineer license.
• Plus a minimum of 11 years of related and progressively responsible experience.
• Advanced degree in a relevant technical field.
• Deep knowledge and hands-on experience in scientific aspects of experimental design, advanced diagnostic and analysis techniques, and research and development within the NNSS.
• Excellent interpersonal skills in order to resolve the demands of many constituencies with diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, organizational, and collaboration skills to effectively interact with, negotiate with, influence, and advise people representing a wide variety of expertise and level of responsibility at the NNSS and other government agencies and industry.
• Experience leading technical initiatives in scientific disciplines.
• Demonstrated effective people management experience, including project or program planning, budget, and staffing.
• Experience working independently, as well as in a team, with minimal direction in a driven environment.
• Broad applied knowledge and expertise in leadership, supervision, personnel management, resource planning and control skills, and significant organizational, technical experience preferred.
• This position requires 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.
• Work location for this position is flexible: North Las Vegas, Nevada; at the Nevada National Security Site (65 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada); in Los Alamos and Albuquerque, New Mexico; Livermore and Santa Barbara, California; and at the Remote Sensing Laboratories at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada or Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.
• Work schedule for this position will be 4/10’s, Monday – Thursday (subject to change).
• Pre-placement physical examination, which includes a drug screen, is required. MSTS maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.

Additional qualifications, at the Technical Manager II Level:

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) required for Civil, Mechanical and Electrical engineering degrees.
• Or, Calculus-based STEM bachelor’s degree;
• Or Professional Engineer license.
• Plus a minimum of 14 years of related and progressively responsible experience.
• Advanced degree in a relevant technical field.
• Leadership skills and success in managing a large, diverse organization comprised of scientific and engineering work.
• Broad applied knowledge and expertise in leadership, supervision, personnel management, resource planning and control skills, and significant organizational, technical experience.
• Experience with customer service requiring excellent interpersonal skills in order to resolve the demands of many constituencies with diverse backgrounds.
• Experience leading technical initiatives in scientific disciplines.
• Demonstrated effective people management experience, including project or program planning, budget, and staffing.
• Experience working independently, as well as in a team, with minimal direction in a driven environment.
• Experience implementing and managing an integrated safety management program.
• Experience interpreting and implementing organizational policies, procedures, and practices.
• This position requires 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.
• Work location for this position is flexible: North Las Vegas, Nevada; at the Nevada National Security Site (65 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada); in Los Alamos and Albuquerque, New Mexico; Livermore and Santa Barbara, California; and at the Remote Sensing Laboratories at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada or Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.
• Work schedule for this position will be 4/10’s, Monday – Thursday (subject to change).
• Pre-placement physical examination, which includes a drug screen, is required. MSTS maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.

MSTS is required by DOE directive to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants offered employment with MSTS are also subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment. In addition, Applicants for employment must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship, at least 18 years of age. Reference DOE Order 472.2, “Personnel Security”. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Department of Energy Q Clearance (position will be cleared to this level). Reviews and tests for the absence of any illegal drug as defined in 10 CFR Part 707.4, “Workplace Substance Abuse Programs at DOE Sites,” will be conducted.  Applicant selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation, required to participate in subsequent reinvestigations, and must meet the eligibility requirements for access to classified matter. Successful completion of a counterintelligence evaluation, which may include a counterintelligence-scope polygraph examination, may also be required. Reference 10 CFR Part 709, “Counterintelligence Evaluation Program.”

MSTS is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. MSTS is a background screening, drug-free workplace.

Annual salary range for this position is $123,156.80 - $238,164.46.

Starting salary is determined based on the position market value, the individual candidate education and experience and internal equity.