Senior Scientist - Radiochemist

Location: On-site at the Nevada National Security Site in Mercury, Nevada, United States; 4/10 schedule from Monday through Thursday. A valid driver's license is required.

Annual salary: $101,524.80–$152,297.60.

Company

Mission Support and Test Services, LLC manages and operates the Nevada National Security Site for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration, supporting high-hazard experimentation, incident response, nuclear security, and environmental stewardship.

What you will do

• Serve as a subject matter expert in the Data & Diagnostics Group within the Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Directorate.
• Lead development of the radiochemistry program and create long-term strategic plans aligned with mission requirements.
• Design, implement, and evaluate experimental workflows for nuclear material characterization.
• Lead project execution, data collection, risk identification, mitigation, and technical analysis.
• Build collaborations across the Nevada National Security Site, DOE National Laboratories, universities, and related programs.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, publications, project proposals, and conference materials.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a calculus-based technical or STEM field and at least 5 years of relevant experience; skill-building experience must demonstrate deeper technical specialization or additional cross-disciplinary knowledge. Graduate research experience may be recognized.
• Extensive experience handling nuclear materials, especially unsealed sources and special nuclear materials.
• Proficiency with material characterization instrumentation, including gamma spectrometry, electron microscopy, and mass spectroscopy.
• Familiarity with radiation detection instruments and a strong interest in nuclear forensics and nuclear nonproliferation.
• Ability to build teaming relationships, work closely with diverse scientists and engineers, prioritize multiple activities, meet deadlines, and communicate effectively.
• Ability to draft accurate technical documents and execute work in compliance with laws, codes, orders, and MSTS policies and procedures.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance; this requires U.S. citizenship and being at least 18 years old.
• Successful completion of a pre-employment physical examination, drug screening, background review, and federal security investigation is required. A counterintelligence evaluation may also be required.

Nice to have

• PhD in Radiochemistry or a related field.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time employees receive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Benefits include a pension, 401(k), paid time off, and 96 hours of paid holidays.
• Relocation assistance is available for employees located more than 75 miles from the work location.
• Tuition assistance and reimbursement are available.
• Work supports national security research and collaboration with DOE National Laboratories and universities.