Scientific Associate - Urgent

We are searching for a competitive Scientific Associate to join our growing team at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, TN.
Growing your career as a Full Time Scientific Associate is an amazing opportunity to develop useful skills.
If you are strong in creativity, planning and have the right initiative for the job, then apply for the position of Scientific Associate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory today!

Overview: 

We are seeking a Scientific Associate who will focus on operational support of the neutron scattering program at the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR), providing direction to scientific staff, visiting researchers (users), technical support groups and craft, and serving as the space manager and primary operations contact for one or more neutron scattering instruments, performing work related to instrument operations, maintenance, reliability, upgrades, and experiment planning, preparation and execution.  This position resides in the HFIR Science Support Group in the HFIR Beamline Operations Section, Neutron Scattering Division, Neutron Sciences Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).  

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Support staff scientists and users in the successful planning and execution of neutron scattering experiments. This involves instrument operation, calibration and data acquisition, timely response to emergent troubleshooting situations (occasionally after normal business hours or on weekends) and providing technical guidance and expertise about the neutron instrument itself.
• Analyze and develop solutions for successful integration and execution of novel experiments and equipment with the instrument.
• Troubleshoot instrument issues as they arise. Determine which, if any, technical support groups need to be involved, and work with them to resolve the problem.
• Direct craft and technical staff in repair, maintenance, and upgrade activities associated with the instrument and related equipment.
• Work with safety personnel to evaluate and review hazards associated with experiments and other work in instrument areas and generate and enforce appropriate work control and documentation as necessary.
• Contribute as an instrument subject matter expert to upgrade design team efforts.
• Lead day to day instrument and facility work and upgrade activities which may include managing project schedules, scope, and coordination of resources.
• Support all phases of the experiment process: scheduling experiments, ensuring proposals have all required science/safety/equipment approvals, completing all necessary documentation, and training users on the safe operation of the instrument
• Safe and secure management of user-supplied, potentially hazardous, samples and equipment through the lifetime of a user experiment.
• Test and prepare instrument for each operating cycle and maintenance period.
• Develop and maintain instrument documentation.
• Maintain inventory of instrument consumables and critical spares.
• This role may include limited travel opportunities.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, or related discipline with 5 or more years of relevant work experience.
• Computer literacy, including proficiency in MS Office applications.
• Ability to perform hands-on work to troubleshoot, diagnose, and debug technical equipment and systems.
• Ability to work independently, respond to emergent situations, and utilize sound judgment.
• Periods of moderate overtime will be required. Must be willing to work outside the normal work schedule, including occasional weekends, with little or no notice.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MS degree in relevant discipline with 4 or more years of relevant work experience.
• Direct experience working with neutron scattering instruments, related equipment and software, particularly at HFIR or SNS.
• Experience planning, integrating, and supporting novel technical equipment setups.
• Experience working within a DOE-regulated environment.
• Experience with sample environment systems (such as high temperature, high pressure, low temperature, high magnetic field, etc.) and material characteristics in these extreme conditions.
• Good written and verbal communications skills, ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team environment, and a professional demeanor.

Physical Requirements: Work involves various physical requirements and working conditions. As such, a pre-hire physical will be required after offer.

About Neutron Sciences Directorate:
The Neutron Sciences Directorate (NScD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) operates the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR), the United States’ highest flux reactor-based neutron source, and the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS), the world’s most intense pulsed accelerator-based neutron source.  Together these facilities operate 30 instruments for neutron scattering research, each year carrying out in excess of 1,000 experiments in the physical, chemical, materials, biological and medical sciences for more than 3,000 visiting scientists.  HFIR also provides unique facilities for isotope production and neutron irradiation.  To learn more about Neutron Sciences at ORNL go to  .

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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 View email address on jobs.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.

Benefits of working as a Scientific Associate in Oak Ridge, TN:

● Company offers great benefits
● Advancement opportunities
● Advantageous package