Laser Tech Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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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 have an opening for a highly experienced Senior Laser Modeling Physicist to independently guide the development, research, design, analysis, modeling, testing, and fielding of advanced laser technologies and systems. This work will take place within the National Ignition Facility & Photon Science (NIFPS) Directorate, home to the world’s most energetic laser. It is an exciting time to join the team that achieved fusion ignition in December 2022, a historic moment in science, opening up new physics regimes and setting the stage for new fusion energy possibilities.

You will provide technical direction to an interdisciplinary team developing and deploying state‑of‑the‑art high‑intensity, long and short pulse laser systems for the Department of Energy and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Much of the work in this group focuses on designing and modeling novel laser architectures as well as extending the capabilities of the National Ignition Facility (NIF). This position is in the NIFPS Directorate within the Laser Science & Systems Engineering group.

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.

• Provide strategies and direct efforts to interdisciplinary teams that research, design, develop, integrate, and field or enhance advanced, high‑energy laser systems, high‑peak power lasers, and high‑average power laser technologies, incorporating essential new physics models and new technologies to meet priorities of evolving missions.
• Guide systems design and apply system‑level engineering principles to a wide variety of advanced laser design and analysis projects using novel approaches to develop operational, system, and subsystem solutions.
• Collaborate in integrated experiments in the fields of nonlinear optics, long & short pulse, high‑power and high‑energy laser physics, or laser secondary source generation.
• Provide solutions to complex theoretical and numerical systems models needed to corroborate or anticipate experimental results that test advanced, coupled physics and modeling capabilities in collaboration with laboratory scientists and engineers.
• Provide recommendations to leadership and technical team regarding project vision and strategy independently, with minimal supervision, while providing technical and intellectual leadership on research and development projects.
• Prepare and provide technical presentations and publications for internal and external audiences.
• Advise senior management on involved technical strategies.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Direct and guide research, design, and enhancement or development of state‑of‑the‑art laser systems including elements that are frequently not well defined and often involve uncertain factors.
• Apply subject matter expertise and leadership in Joule‑class short‑pulse amplification, in hundred‑plus Joule‑class long‑pulse amplification, thermal/birefringence effects, or nonlinear optical effects to further evolve missions.
• Lead and perform highly complex and detailed signal and image analysis of extensive, highly intricate, and integrated laser performance experiments and their corresponding modeling.
• Develop in‑depth and highly complex nonlinear optics models—fiber or free‑space—from theoretical aspect to numerical implementation potentially for massively parallel high‑performance computer systems to explain the detailed and integrated performance of laser systems.

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q‑level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• PhD in Laser Physics, Applied Physics, general solid‑state laser engineering or related technical field or the equivalent combination of education and relevant previous experience.
• Significant experience in one of more of the following technical areas: high average power laser technology; thermal and birefringence management techniques in laser systems; short and long pulse laser physics; nonlinear optics; atmospheric propagation of laser beams.
• Advanced knowledge of and significant experience with complex analytical, numerical modeling and experiments to make recommendations and lead strategies for scientific and/or technical projects.
• Significant experience in systems architecture for advanced laser design and analysis projects.
• Advanced knowledge and significant experience recommending, developing, and implementing solutions to a range of difficult and complex problems.
• Experience guiding, leading, and mentoring team members.
• Advanced verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively collaborate in a team environment and present and explain technical information and provide advice to management.

• Substantial knowledge and subject matter expertise developing highly complex state‑of‑the‑art laser systems in an R&D environment.
• Expert level knowledge and expertise in Joule‑class short pulse amplification or in hundred‑plus Joule‑class long pulse amplification, thermal effects, or nonlinear optical effects and their respective modeling.
• Substantial experience developing and utilizing highly complex laser performance and/or laser propagation modeling codes from theoretical aspect to numerical implementation potentially in massively parallel high‑performance computer systems.

$175,530 - $267,060 Annually

$175,530 - $222,564 Annually for the SES.3 level

$210,630 - $267,060 Annually for the SES.4 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; pay will not be below any applicable local minimum wage. 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.

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 – visit https://www.llnl.gov/inclusion/our-values

This position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q‑level clearance. If you are selected, we will initiate a Federal background investigation to determine 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.

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.

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.

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.

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants privacy rights to all California residents. The law also entitles job applicants, employees, and non‑employee workers to be notified of what personal information LLNL collects and for what purpose. The Employee Privacy Notice can be accessed here.