Director Associate System Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Overview

The Advanced Photon Source (APS) at Argonne National Laboratory seeks an Associate Division Director (ADD) to provide leadership for a major science and technology area within the APS Engineering Support Division (AES). The ADD reports to the AES Division Director and provides strategic, operational, and technical leadership across Information Solutions, Information Technology, and Mechanical Design and Drafting groups.

Organizational Context

APS is one of the world’s most productive hard X‑ray light sources, operated by Argonne National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy. The APS Engineering Support Division delivers mechanical, electrical, controls, safety, information technology, and information solutions capabilities required to operate the accelerator complex and associated beamlines, and provides engineering services to the broader APS scientific enterprise. AES is a large, multidisciplinary organization that requires a strong safety culture, disciplined engineering practice, and continuous coordination with the Accelerator Division, the X‑ray Science Division, and Argonne’s central services.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Personnel: Provide senior leadership, direction, mentorship, and performance management to the leaders of the Information Solutions, Information Technology, and Mechanical Design and Drafting groups and, through them, to the staff of those groups. Serve as a member of the AES senior leadership team, contributing to division‑wide strategy, workforce planning, budget development, and operational decision‑making. Foster a culture of safety, technical excellence, professional development, inclusion, and cross‑group collaboration; act as a role model for the Argonne Core Values. Recruit, retain, and develop a functionally diverse high‑performing workforce, and oversee succession planning for key technical and leadership positions.

Strategic Direction and Execution: Set the strategic direction for the assigned groups in alignment with AES and APS priorities and translate that direction into an actionable roadmap with clear phases, milestones, deliverables, and measurable outcomes. Develop tactical implementation plans, define scope, sequencing, resource commitments, dependencies, decision gates, and risk mitigations. Drive successful execution of those plans through active operational leadership: hold groups accountable, anticipate and address risks, adjust the plan when circumstances change, and intervene when a critical initiative is at risk.

Digital and Engineering Modernization: Lead the AES contribution to enterprise digital initiatives – modernization of the digital infrastructure, integration and rationalization of engineering business systems, and establishment of a unified engineering data thread. Champion and personally own the modernization of mechanical design and drafting capabilities, including CAD, PLM, and digital engineering workflows.

Performance Monitoring: Establish and monitor implementation metrics—milestone completion, budget adherence, service‑level performance, and customer outcomes—and report progress transparently to the AES Division Director, division leadership, and stakeholders.

Cross‑Division Collaboration: Partner with peer leaders across AES, the Accelerator Division, the X‑ray Science Division, and Argonne central services to align priorities, resolve cross‑division dependencies, and secure stakeholder engagement necessary for change.

Operational and Technical Oversight: Ensure the safe, compliant, and reliable operation of the groups within the portfolio, including compliance with Argonne, DOE, and other applicable requirements. Oversee operational planning and delivery of services to APS operations, projects, and scientific user programs. Manage annual operating budgets and long‑term capital planning for the portfolio; establish and monitor performance measures for service delivery, reliability, and cost effectiveness.

External and Cross‑Divisional Representation: Represent AES to Argonne senior leadership, DOE program offices, external review committees, and the user community as appropriate. Participate in laboratory‑wide committees, working groups, and initiatives, particularly those affecting information technology, digital engineering, or engineering design across Argonne.

Position Requirements

• Master’s degree in engineering, computer science, mechanical systems engineering, engineering physics, or a related technical discipline; equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively increasing responsibility in engineering or a closely related technical discipline, including at least ten (10) years of experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams or organizations.
• Proven history of delivering strategic initiatives, complex engineering programs, and organizational results.
• Experience managing managers—leading an organization through group leaders responsible for their own staff and technical scope.
• Experience developing and executing organizational strategy, managing budgets, and leading through organizational change.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to represent the organization effectively to senior laboratory leadership, external stakeholders, technical staff, and users.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety, quality, and a positive, inclusive work culture.
• Ability to model Argonne’s core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork.
• Interpersonal skills, oral and written communication skills, and ability to interact with people at all levels both within and outside the laboratory.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• Doctoral degree in engineering, physics, computer science, or related discipline.
• Experience in a national laboratory, major research facility, or scientific user facility environment, including familiarity with 24/7 operations, safety programs, and Department of Energy requirements.
• Experience with digital transformation programs, including product lifecycle management (PLM), MBSE, AI for operations and engineering, computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS), digital thread implementations, or equivalent enterprise engineering data platforms.
• Experience with engineering design and drafting tools and processes, including CAD systems and configuration management practices for engineered assets.
• Familiarity with EPICS‑based control systems and scientific computing environments.
• Experience leading organizational transitions, including matrixed working arrangements across scientific and engineering divisions.
• Familiarity with DOE Order 413.3B or equivalent project management frameworks.

Working Conditions and Location

This position is based at Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, Illinois. On‑site presence is expected during the work week. Occasional domestic and international travel may be required for conferences, program reviews, and coordination with partner facilities.

Pay and Benefits

The expected hiring range for this position is $202,125.00 – $315,315.00. Pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law.