Job Description (show details...)

Summary

Provides written technical guidance to assist operations in mitigating, the consequences associated with inadvertent, self-sustaining nuclear chain reactions by analyzing normal and abnormal conditions for new or changed significant quantity fissile/fissionable material operations. Provides general guidance on the implementation of criticality safety limits, the physics of criticality and criticality accidents, training and assistance to operational personnel, and guidance to members of safety basis core and field services concerning safety basis authorization information and activities.

A broad-based experienced nuclear criticality safety specialist with basic education (bachelor's, master's or doctorate) in nuclear engineering, nuclear physics or related discipline with a detailed understanding of the underlying principles of criticality. At this level the specialist will have been expected to have completed from 30 to 75 criticality safety evaluations, technical reports, or published papers related to criticality safety. The level of technical difficulty, as judged by a peer, for most of the evaluations in the out years 3+ being generally from moderate to highly complex with an occasional extremely complex evaluation or topic. The specialist should be extremely well versed with all of the ANSI/ANS standards and expert on the use and meaning of one or two national standards. In addition this level specialist should be an expert in the use of the data from references LA-10860-MS, and the Nuclear Safety Guides. The specialist should be an expert in the use of the common computer codes and cross sections in terms of modeling.  Capable of independently scoping and planning the work for those tasks assigned with occasional input from more experienced staff. For the initial period of LANL employment the professional will be on a qualification track for the functional areas within criticality safety specific to Los Alamos National Laboratory and will develop a working knowledge of the LANL facilities requiring criticality safety guidance. It is expected that based on prior experience that qualification in the general application areas will be expedited. Once obtained must retain that qualification via continuous professional development. NOTE: This function is primarily concerned with nuclear criticality safety, guidance designed to mitigate the consequences of an inadvertent nuclear criticality (point at which nuclear chain reactions become self-sustaining). For engineering safety functions associated with nuclear and high-hazard facility-specific operations and systems, see:

Safety Basis Analyst.

For broader engineering functions associated with occupational health and safety, see:

Environment, Health, and Safety Engineer

Job Duties

1. Safety and security are a primary responsibility for all Laboratory employees. Maintains required safety and security training, assures safety and security compliance, and makes safety and security an integral part of every task, including taking the necessary steps to stop work if continuing the job is unsafe or compromises security.
2. Participates in the performance of nuclear criticality safety evaluations for all new and changed significant quantity fissile/fissionable material operations.
3. Assists in the reviews of new or proposed changes to existing significant quantity fissile/fissionable material operating procedures and assists in making recommended changes or additions to guidelines and limits to mitigate the consequences, of inadvertent nuclear criticality.
4. Gathers relevant technical information/data from the responsible operating organization as necessary to adequately perform NCS evaluations.
5. Works with the operating organization personnel and senior criticality safety engineer to reach a consensus agreement as to the normal and credible abnormal process conditions.
6. Works with the operating organization personnel and senior criticality safety engineer to reach a consensus agreement as to the administrative requirements and engineering features (limits) needed to establish the required safety margin.
7. Works with the operating organization personnel and senior criticality safety engineer to reach a consensus agreement as to process specific good safety practices.
8. Consults with knowledgeable individuals to obtain technical assistance from other relevant disciplines, e.g., chemistry, fire safety, seismic safety, etc.
9. Performs walk downs of operations to assess the adequacy of criticality safety limit implementation as compared to the requirements of the applicable evaluations and approval documents.
10. Provides basic training and assistance to the responsible operating organizational personnel regarding NCS evaluation content.
11. Assists in the development of criticality safety technical proposals, project cost/schedule documentation, and provides technical leadership to resolve issues, including conferring with project officials to resolve situations where hazards are beyond acceptable levels.
12. Responds, assesses, and assists in the development of appropriate response to events possibly involving the compromise or suspected compromise of a criticality safety limit.
13. Responds, assesses, and assists in the development of appropriate response to nuclear criticality accidents.
14. Performs criticality accident alarm needs analysis and detector placement evaluations for significant quantity fissile/fissionable operating facilities.
15. Participates in the development and conducting of emergency response exercises and drills as required by national standards and governmental regulations.
16. Reviews design information of proposed nuclear material operations including but not limited to transportation and storage facilities. Provides written guidance concerning designs to facilitate future implementation of appropriate criticality safety practices.
17. Interfaces with the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Transportation (DOT), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) for criticality safety issues and matters.
18. Provides input to federal and state regulators directly or through trade associations and industry groups for the writing and revision of regulations.
19. Understands and adheres to all Laboratory and industry regulatory guidance and governance specific to nuclear criticality safety.
20. Ensures all nuclear criticality safety results, materials, processes and final products meet quality specifications and are completed according to established requirements.
21. Fosters a mutually respectful work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment.

Job Knowledge

• Thorough knowledge of and experience with nuclear criticality safety, including implementation of nuclear industry codes, standards, and regulatory guidelines.
• Thorough  knowledge of and experience with nuclear physics in general and criticality physics and accident kinetics in specific
• Thorough  knowledge of and experience with criticality safety analysis tools, for example PARTISN, SCALE/KENO and MCNP.
• Thorough  knowledge of and experience with qualitative and quantitative accident analysis techniques.
• Working knowledge of the applicable ANSI/ANS national standards.
• Ability to understand and interpret various physical and mechanical design documents such as drawings and schematics.
• Experience and demonstrated skill in conducting research, investigating alternative solutions, and recommending solutions on problems affecting nuclear criticality safety.
• Skill to conceptualize and communicate major elements of nuclear criticality safety to both technical and non-technical personnel.
• Ability to prepare and present nuclear criticality safety technical reports and evaluations.
• Thorough  knowledge of the Laboratory nuclear criticality safety policies, practices, and procedures.
• Thorough  knowledge of legal requirements affecting nuclear criticality safety.

Education

• Broad-based experienced nuclear criticality safety specialist with basic education (bachelor's, master's or doctorate) in nuclear engineering, nuclear physics or related discipline.  Criticality safety or related experience typically varies between 5 to 10 years.

Direction

A. Supervision Received

• Receives functional and operational direction from the criticality safety manager.

B. Supervision Exercised

• May provides functional and operational direction to criticality analysts 1 and 2, criticality safety support staff, and/or clerical employees, if assigned.

C. Contacts

• Regular contact with internal customer organizations (significant quantity fissile/fissionable material management, supervision, operators, and members of safety basis core and field services) and occasional contact with external customer organizations and regulators (DOE/NSSA, DNFSB Staff).

This description is not intended to be a complete statement of every aspect of the position, but rather to act as a guide to the essential functions to be performed. Assigned functions of this job may vary, and other duties and responsibilities may be assigned or changed at the discretion of management.