Design Physicist - Security Clearance Required

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.

We are seeking exceptional Physical Scientists and Engineers with backgrounds in fields such as plasma physics, radiation transport, atomic physics, nuclear physics, physical chemistry, condensed matter physics, computational physics, or hydrodynamics. Our national-security mission encompasses aspects of computational, theoretical, and experimental physics associated with the complex processes of nuclear explosives. Under limited direction, you will be responsible for advancing our understanding and developing methodologies for important national-security challenges.

These positions are in the Design Physics Division within the Strategic Deterrence Directorate.

These positions may offer a hybrid schedule, which includes the flexibility to work from home one or more days per week, after a probationary period. The specifics of the hybrid schedule, including the exact number of days required in the office and virtual work options may vary based on the needs of the team and the organization.

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.

• Assess the complex physics interactions that take place in nuclear explosion.
• Design and provide analysis of experiments exploring the physics of nuclear explosives.
• Simulate weapons phenomena and perform weapons assessment and certification tasks using physical models in computer codes.
• Define and implement stockpile stewardship for specific weapons systems.
• Present and disseminate research results at scientific conferences and in peer-reviewed publications, in both open and classified environments, internal and external to LLNL. Responsibilities may also include interacting with external stakeholders, both at DOE/NNSA and across the broader interagency, as well as via offsite assignments.
• Develop expertise in interrelated fields of physics important to weapons assessment and certification.
• Travel minimally or substantially based on needs of projects.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Independently develop, assess and provide in depth analysis of the complex physics interactions that take place in nuclear explosion where problems may not be well defined.
• Work as technical expert on multidisciplinary team.
• Guide the analysis and lead the design of experiments exploring the physics of nuclear explosives.

Please include a personalized cover letter with your application, highlighting your qualifications and why you're interested in this position.

• $146,340 - $222,564 Annually
• $146,340 - $185,544 Annually for the SES.
  2 level
• $175,530 - $222,564 Annually for the SES.
  3 level

This is a Career Indefinite position, open to Lab employees and external candidates.

• 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 - visithttps://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).-values

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 time of hire.

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.