Associate Technician

Requisition Id 9399 

Overview:

The Nuclear Nonproliferation Division (NND) is a division operating within the National Security Sciences Directorate (NSSD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The NND performs research and development to detect, characterize, and monitor nuclear fuel cycle activities and nuclear explosions; develops concepts, approaches, and technologies to strengthen global security for nuclear and radiological material; and engages with federal agencies to enhance international nonproliferation regimes.

The Material Security and Counterproliferation (MSC) group within the NND at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking qualified applicants for an Associate Technician who will co-focus on (1) ceramic powder testing, characterization, ceramic sintering, and postmortem analyses, and (2) mechanical evaluation of materials and components, using standard and non-standard configurations.  This work will be performed as part of a multi-disciplinary team focused on the development and characterization of materials for national nuclear security purposes.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Perform ceramic powder testing, characterization and processing, sintering, post-processing characterization, and manage calibration and maintenance schedules for laboratory equipment that support those efforts.
• Perform mechanical testing of specimens using conventional and non-conventional configurations.
• Communicate status updates of current work to principal investigator(s) and program management.
• Document work results including through co-authoring formal technical reports.
• Ensure compliance with environmental, safety, health, and quality program requirements.
• Maintain laboratory record-keeping and documentation of experiments.
• Maintain strong dedication to the implementation and perpetuation of values and ethics.

Basic Qualifications:

• Associate degree in ceramic engineering or a related field with a minimum of 2 years of experience
• Background in ceramic powder processing, mechanical testing especially of ceramic powders and/or powdered metals, and/or ceramic sintering in a research or industrial environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in ceramic engineering
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs
• Experienced operator of characterization equipment such as thermogravimetric analyzer, differential scanning calorimeter, gas adsorption (BET), gas pycnometer, laser-based particle size distribution equipment, sieving equipment, tap density measurement equipment, and optical, digital, and scanning electron microscopes
• Experienced operator of granulation equipment, dry pressing equipment, furnaces for sintering in oxidizing and reducing environments, and sintering dilatometry
• Experienced operator of electromechanical testing machines
• Experienced with computer aided drafting (CAD) software and MATLAB

Special Requirement:

• Must possess or be immediately eligible for DOE Q-clearance
• Perform tasks that involve physical requirements, including, but not limited to: standing, walking, sitting, lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling medium objects, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, and crouching, reaching (high, low and level), rapid finger movement, sense of touch, speaking clearly, hearing conversation and high acuity, depth perception, color vision, and seeing near and far.
• Wear applicable protective equipment, including, but not limited to: eyes, hearing, head, arms, hands, and fingers, and known allergenic materials.
• Work in varied working conditions, including, but not limited to: heights, noise over 80dB, vibration, mechanical and thermal hazards, moving objects, operate vehicle on company property and/or highway, working with people, working alone and working with solvents, fumes, dusts, mists, gases, and chemicals.

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply.  UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.