Senior Advisor

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.

We have an opening for a Senior Advisor within Z Program (Intelligence Program) in the Global Security (GS) Principal Associate Directorate (PAD). Z Program’s mission is to apply the complete set of LLNL’s science and technology capabilities to support the Intelligence Community (IC) in overcoming its most difficult challenges. As Senior Advisor for Support to Operations, you will work collaboratively with the support to operations community of interest at LLNL. You will work as an integral part of the Z Program team, with Z program leadership and with GS PAD management. Additionally, you will provide oversight and coordination of sponsor engagement planning and efforts, particularly with the Department of Energy, Department of War and the Intelligence Community. Additionally, you will provide dedicated support to NNSA/NA-80.

In this role, you will 

• Provide technical and programmatic guidance to the support to operations community of interest in Z Program and other LLNL programs.
• Provide solutions requiring in-depth analysis and creative use of innovative methods to address a range of highly unusual, complex, not well defined problems by leveraging deep subject matter expertise and collaborating with scientists and researchers across a variety of technical disciplines.
• Develop concepts for programmatic activities, program development plans and engagement strategies; provide decision insight to customers and stakeholders in highly unusual, complex mission areas.
• Develop creative program growth opportunities through interactions with current and potential sponsors and creation of research proposals.
• Provide direct technical support to DOE/NNSA/NA-80 funded efforts as required.
• Guide and provide technical leadership and direction to technical projects; maintain and ensure quality standards for deliverables, publications, and presentations; leverage team members’ skills to successfully complete highly unusual, complex projects, by ensuring excellence in execution of technical work in the program.
• Frequently mentor other personnel and actively recruit new staff.
• Champion large projects and multi-laboratory efforts to positively impact the team’s long-term goals and objectives.
• Successfully utilize existing work, internal resources, and partnerships to develop innovative capabilities to increase the impact of LLNL and lead the development of project portfolios.
• Represent the laboratory to the sponsor and stakeholders and serve on external scientific/technical committees and act as senior technical expert on large programs/projects.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• This position requires an Active DOE Q clearance (or active Top-Secret clearance) with Active Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access.
• Master’s Degree or PhD in physical science, engineering, computer science, political science or related discipline, or the equivalent combination of education and significant related experience and demonstrated ability to lead the application and development of principles, theories, and concepts in a creative and innovative fashion.
• Extensive experience directing technical staff and projects to achieve organization objectives and goals in the national security arena.
• Highly effective problem-solving and decision-making skills necessary to independently address challenging, highly unusual, complex problems.
• Expert leadership and management skills to champion innovative direction and influence the development of broad institutional goals and objectives.
• Demonstrated track record of building various mission-driven organizations.
• Extensive experience developing creative concepts, programmatic activities, program development plans, and engagement strategies.
• Expert communication, facilitation, and collaboration skills necessary to effectively present, explain, influence, and advise senior management and/or external sponsors.

Qualifications We Desire

• Extensive experience in personnel management, including recruiting, hiring, mentoring, career development, corrective action, performance appraisal, rating, and salary management.
• Extensive experience planning and directing intelligence operational planning and execution.
• In depth knowledge of Intelligence Community roles, organizations, procedures and practices.
• Current cognizance of intelligence and/or military sensitive programs of record.

#LI-Remote

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
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Our values - visit https://www.llnl.gov/inclusion/our-values

Security Clearance

This position requires an active Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance or active Top Secret clearance issued by another U.S. government agency at time of hire.  Also, you must have the ability to obtain and maintain Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access.  Please note that your current active Q or Top Secret clearance with DOE or another agency does not guarantee DOE SCI access approval; if you are denied access, you may be subject to reinvestigation of your existing Q or Top Secret Clearance. 

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.

How to identify fake job advertisements

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. 

California Privacy Notice

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.