Waste Treatment Process Engineer

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 an opening for a Waste Treatment Process Engineer. You will be responsible for performing activities associated with radioactive and hazardous waste treatment, process optimization, equipment troubleshooting, and waste characterization of treated wastes to ensure compliance with disposal criteria and land disposal restrictions. You will be responsible for applying your technical knowledge and skills to ensure that the LLNL’s waste treatment capabilities continue to be effective, safe, and compliant with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations and Department of Energy (DOE) Orders pertaining to the management of radioactive and hazardous waste and associated facilities. You will be part of a close-knit team of highly qualified waste treatment personnel with the common goal of effectively treating the Lab’s radioactive and hazardous waste in the safest and most efficient manner. This position is in the Radioactive and Hazardous Waste Management Program in the Strategic Deterrence Directorate.

This position requires full-time on-site presence due to the nature of the work.

This position 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

• Ensure safe and compliant treatment capabilities at LLNL’s Decontamination & Waste Treatment Facility.
• Apply practical and theoretical knowledge of techniques of flocculation, precipitation, filtration, evaporation, and organic adsorption and destruction to accomplish aqueous waste treatment.
• Apply practical and theoretical knowledge of techniques in other waste treatment technologies and methods such as solidification/stabilization, decontamination and size reduction, debris washing, shredding, surfaces cleaning, and reactive wastes processing and passivation, to treat other waste types.
• Apply technical knowledge and abilities to support maintaining, troubleshooting, repairing, and upgrading programmatic equipment including; storage and treatment tanks, vacuum filters and evaporators, process piping, process ventilation and off-gas abatement, fume hoods, glove boxes, automatic valves, pumps (double-diaphragm, centrifugal, vacuum, screw drive, piston), equipment control systems (PLC’s, HMI’s, process data, networks) and a wide variety of instrumentation using established procedures.
• Analyze and evaluate applicable regulations, documents, and policies for operational compliance.
• Track waste inventories and statuses and support waste certification and regulatory reporting by reviewing and validating waste tracking and analytical data, while ensuring quality of data records, information, and tools.
• Interpret and apply LLNL’s Integrated Safety Management work safety practices in the preparation, review, and performance of work.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  
  

Additional Job Responsibilities, At The TSS.3 Level

• Perform characterization on complex waste matrices and determine if they are treatable through DWTF.

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• Interpret and apply complex State and Federal environmental regulatory compliance requirements to new and existing processes and operations.
• Oversee other technical staff in the tracking and certification of waste treated on-site.
• Serve as a technical advisor, providing guidance and support associated with applicable regulations, documents, and policies for operational compliance.
• Identify and implement practical solutions to complex technical problems using a diverse range of data, in-depth analysis, technical knowledge, project coordination and/or hands-on effort.
  
  

Qualifications

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (e.g., chemical, nuclear, civil, mechanical), Physics, Chemistry, or Materials Science, or equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Demonstratedability to identify, assess and solve engineering problems, particularly in systems with mechanical and chemical process equipment.
• Demonstrated organizational skills with respect to juggling many unrelated activities and pushing small to mid-sized projects to completion in a highly regulated environment.
• Proficiency with computers and ability to rapidly learn and use new software.
• Experience interpreting data and using it to make operational decisions.
• Ability to design, perform, and report on bench-scale laboratory experiments.
• Proficient verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively collaborate in a multidisciplinary team environment and to clearly and succinctly present and explain technical or operational details.
• Ability to become medically qualified to wear respiratory and protection equipment.
• Experience interpreting and applying local, State, Federal and/or other complex laws/regulations to achieve compliance.
  
  

Additional Qualifications At The TSS.3 Level

• Advanced knowledge of waste treatment operations and experience with waste treatment equipment and systems.

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• Experience interpreting analytical and process data to make chemical treatment and operational process decisions to treat wastes to meet regulatory requirements for disposal.
• Experience with successfully troubleshooting, repairing, designing, modifying, procuring, and/or installing complex mechanical systems or process equipment.
• Experience working in analytical laboratories, following laboratory procedures, quality assurance, and lab safety protocols.
• Experience with automation control systems, such as making logic/HMI changes or device networking and data collection.
• Advanced knowledge of and experience with interpreting environmental regulations and/or Department of Energy Orders as they pertain to the management and treatment of hazardous or radioactive waste.
  
  

Pay Range

$129,150 - $196,476 Annually

$129,150 - $163,764 Annually for the TSS,2 level

$154,950 - $196,476 Annually for the TSS.3 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. 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

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

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• 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.

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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.

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