Principal Associate Director (PAD) for Computing

LLNL$500K+*
Education, Government & Non-Profit
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q/SCI-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
  • Ph.D. in computing or related field or equivalent experience.
  • Extensive experience in senior leadership roles within mission-oriented R&D organizations.
  • Expertise in advanced computing and its applications with national visibility.
  • Broad understanding of the DOE/NNSA Laboratory environment.
  • Proven track record in managing scientific programs and addressing complex scientific problems.
  • Experience in leading large technical organizations including workforce development and strategic planning.
  • Exceptional communication skills for presenting and influencing technical matters.

Responsibilities

  • Partner with Senior Leadership Team to advance institutional strategies.
  • Develop and implement computing strategies for resilience and growth.
  • Maintain partnerships with government, academia, and industry stakeholders.
  • Address workforce challenges focused on AI, data science, and emerging technologies.
  • Collaborate on multidisciplinary initiatives for future lab programs.
  • Oversee budgeting within DOE fiscal policies.
  • Manage recruitment and development of scientific staff effectively.
  • Commit to safety, security, and compliance standards.

Benefits

  • Flexible Benefits Package
  • 401(k)
  • Relocation Assistance
  • Education Reimbursement Program
  • Flexible schedules depending on project needs
  • Recognition as one of the Best Places to Work by Glassdoor for 2026.
Full Job Description
Job Description

We have an opening for the Principal Associate Director (PAD) for Computing. In this key leadership position, you report to the Laboratory Director and are a member of the Laboratory's Senior Leadership Team (SLT). You are responsible for managing the lab's computing workforce (currently around 1400 employees) and for enhancing the intellectual vibrancy of computing as well as related disciplines and capabilities at the lab. Together with other lab leaders and stakeholders, you will help shape the Laboratory's strategic vision and develop and articulate a strategy for the Principal Directorate in support of the institution. You will manage discretionary R&D resources and sustain relationships with government agencies that fund computing R&D.

LLNL is one of the nation's premier institutions in advanced computing and currently home to the world's fastest computer, El Capitan. Work conducted by Computing personnel supports a broad spectrum of programs across missions, scientific research, and operations and includes information technology, data science, computational mathematics, artificial intelligence, software engineering, high performance computing and much more.

LLNL is one of the nation's premier national laboratories applying leading edge science and technology (S&T) to a broad range of national security missions. LLNL is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) operated by Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) for the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration.

The Laboratory's mission is to perform leading edge scientific research and develop technological innovations to ensure the safety, security and reliability of the nation's nuclear stockpile; support chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive threat reduction; improve national and international security; strengthen energy and environmental security; assure U.S. leadership in strategic areas of S&T; and enhance the economic competitiveness of the nation. This mission is enabled by the Laboratory's outstanding scientific and engineering capabilities. Today LLNL has a multidisciplinary workforce of approximately 9000 and an annual budget of more than $3.5 billion.

Depending on your assignment, this position may offer a hybrid schedule, blending in-person and virtual presence. You may have the flexibility to work from home one or more days per week.

You will
  • Partner with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to create and advance strategies to achieve institutional goals.
  • Develop and implement strategies for the sustainment and advancement of the computing discipline and capabilities.
  • Maintain close partnerships with key stakeholders in government, academia and industry including DOE/NNSA.
  • Work with lab leadership to address technical and workforce challenges and opportunities in computing with a particular emphasis on AI, data science, and emerging or next-generation capabilities.
  • Collaborate with the SLT on long-term, multidisciplinary initiatives in support of the lab's future programmatic needs.
  • Oversee the Computing directorate budget consistent with Laboratory and DOE fiscal policies and practices.
  • Manage Directorate personnel, ensuring an effective system for recruiting, hiring, managing and developing a high-quality scientific staff.
  • Provide oversight and personal commitment to safety, security, environmental stewardship, good business practices, compliance, and equal opportunity.


Qualifications
  • Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q/SCI-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
  • Ph.D. in a computing or related discipline, or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
  • Extensive senior-level experience leading a large-scale, mission-oriented research and development organization.
  • Expertise and national visibility in areas of advanced computing and its applications.
  • Broad knowledge of the DOE/NNSA Laboratory enterprise.
  • Demonstrated success in managing scientific programs, projects, or organizations and promoting creative contributions to solving complex scientific problems.
  • Experience leading and managing a large complex technical organization, including hiring processes, workforce development, resource management, and strategic planning.
  • Ability to manage technical priorities and balance the need to deliver program milestones while maintaining world-class capabilities in computing.
  • Exceptional verbal and written communication skills necessary to explain, present, direct, negotiate, influence and coordinate technical or programmatic activities.
  • Extensive experience in effectively balancing complex technical, budgetary, and personnel priorities to achieve desired results.
  • Experience ensuring that standards of safety, security, environmental stewardship, and quality assurance are established and appropriately followed.

Qualifications We Desire
  • Broad knowledge of national security policy issues.
  • Established contacts with the relevant academic, national laboratory, industry, and government communities.

Pay Range

$521,580 - $669,864

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.

Additional Information

#LI-Hybrid

Position Information

This is an At Will, Career Indefinite position, open to Laboratory employees and external candidates. This key personnel position requires a commitment from you to serve at least two years in this position.

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 a Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance. Also, you must have the ability to obtain and maintain Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access. If you are selected, we will initiate a Federal background investigation to determine if you meet 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.

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

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