PULSE Principal Nuclear Facility Operations Specialist (SOM)

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.   

• 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.

MSTS is seeking a Principal Nuclear Facilities Operations Specialist to support the Principal Underground Laboratory for Subcritical Experimentation (PULSE) team as the Shift Operations Manager (SOM). The SOM will report to the PULSE Operations Manager and will support the PULSE Facility Manager. This position supports the facility’s mission of performing subcritical experiments (SCEs) as part of the Stockpile Stewardship Program.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain overall command and control of PULSE (“the facility”) during applicable shifts.
• Implement the requirements contained in U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Orders including Conduct of Operations. Ensures that all employees reporting to this position are informed about the standards of operation of a nuclear facility.
• Responsible areas include: Work control and authorization, shift turnover, operator routines and rounds, communication, control and status of equipment and systems, control area activities, independent verifications, procedure compliance, emergency response, and on-the-job training. 
• Ensure events are properly reported to management and DOE in a timely manner. Also ensures management reviews are conducted with appropriate personnel in case of an issue or facility event.
• Ensure completion of shift rounds and routines assigned to the shift. Ensure proper follow-up to equipment conditions if found to be in an abnormal state while rounds and routines are being conducted.
• Ensures the shift crew reviews changes to facility procedures, facility modifications, Technical Safety Requirements (TSR) and the Documented Safety Analysis. Ensures Surveillance Requirements, In-Process Inspections and Specific Administrative Controls specified in the TSR are performed in accordance with applicable facility procedures and/or SCE checklists.
• Maintain overall authority for the control, administration and auditing of the Hazardous Energy Control Program at the facility and the installed facility Temporary Modifications in accordance with MSTS procedures.
• Maintain facility housekeeping and communicate importance of good housekeeping attitude to facility workers.
• Ensure safety of personnel in the facility by maintaining a working knowledge and enforcement of facility, company, and regulatory requirements. Conduct safety observations, safety audits and observe operator rounds, and help ensure deficiencies are corrected in a timely manner.
• Ensure the shift is properly staffed and trained to perform operational and emergency activities during the shift. Ensure assigned personnel are fit for duty and qualified to perform assigned duties and tasks in accordance with facility training program requirements. Review each operator’s knowledge before qualifying an operator for a task. Serve as trainer/evaluator for the On-Shift Training Evaluation Program.
• Lead or participate in abnormal drills and emergency drills and exercises at the facility.
• Interface directly with DOE Facility Representatives on items related to all aspects of facility operations and safety.
• Direct activities of Operations, Maintenance, Construction, Mission, Facility Engineering, Radiological Controls, Fire Protection, Work Control, Quality Assurance, and Industrial Hygiene to accomplish the objectives of the facility.
• Assumes the role of Local Emergency Director (LED) who, in part, directs emergency actions for the facility and is responsible for maintaining the facility log book.
• Perform other duties assigned by Management.

• Bachelor’s degree in related field, plus at least 9 years’ related experience, 3 years’ experience of which must be in nuclear operations, engineering or maintenance. Related experience must be in nuclear facility management, maintenance or engineering, radiation protection, safety, nuclear training and qualification management, conduct of operations, nuclear operations, nuclear safety, and/or criticality safety position. Examples include nuclear operations, engineering or maintenance such as those found at a DOE nuclear facility, commercial power plant, or U.S. Navy Nuclear Propulsion Program. Related experience must include working with requirements-based systems in areas such as facility operations, engineering, maintenance, and/or radiological control.
• Must have an understanding of the Nuclear Facility Safety Basis Fundamentals including operational scenarios that involve significant risks to the facility worker and to the public which the SOM will need to understand and be able to manage.
• Must have an understanding of facility balance of plant equipment and systems and those systems relating to nuclear operations.
• Must understand the impacts to equipment and systems due to system changes or modifications and how to monitor and control equipment and systems in the facility.
• Must understand how to avoid situations and hazards that may cause issues to personnel or equipment within the facility and will be responsible for immediately mitigating potential hazards.
• Must be proficient with a computer and Microsoft Office suite.
• Must be capable of utilizing monitoring and control systems.
• Must be able to work outside in cold temperatures during the winter and extreme heat in the summer.
• Must be able to work in an underground facility.
• Must have excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills to work in a fast-paced environment with constantly changing priorities.
• Work location is in the forward area of the NNSS, approximately 80 miles from Las Vegas.
• Expected work schedule: 
  • Support night shift facility operations (Approximately 1600 hours to 0230 hours, per shift.)
  • Work schedule is 5 days, Monday through Friday and will require overtime.
  • Rotations between day shift and night shift SOMs may be utilized.
  • Shift differential premiums and straight overtime rates will be utilized when working the night shift.
• 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 Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, 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: $119,849.60 - $182,769.60.

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