Overview

The Worker Safety and Health Program is seeking an experienced professional to join its Safety Engineering team as a System Safety Engineer. This is a full-time, onsite position supporting a dynamic research and engineering environment with systems that have the potential for significant safety and mission impacts to staff and facilities.

The System Safety Engineer will provide technical leadership in identifying, evaluating, and collaborating on complex and high-hazard operations across research, laboratory, facility, and project activities. The successful candidate will work closely with engineers, scientists, operations personnel, project teams, and safety professionals to identify and analyze hazards in complex systems to ensure safety and regulatory compliance throughout the entire project lifecycle. The position provides solutions, advice, and recommendations to PNNL research and facilities staff.

Key areas of focus include:

• Conduct hazards analysis of complex research systems involving multiple hazards that are novel, unique, or uncommon.
• Adapt hazard analysis methodologies based on Center for Chemical Process Safety methods such as What-if, HAZOP, and FMEA, to the research environment to analyze potential causes and consequences of events such as fires; explosions; uncontrolled releases of toxic, radioactive, or flammable chemicals; and major spills of hazardous materials.
• Participate in the Process Safety Board to identify PNNL projects requiring a process safety approach in support of their safe, compliant, and efficient performance and operation.
• Provide direct technical assistance in identifying, evaluating, and controlling workplace and research hazards.
• Produce thorough, high-quality reviews, assessments, analysis, and hazard assessments.
• Provide implementation methods for requirements.
• Interface effectively with staff and management at all levels, as well as external stakeholders including DOE-PNSO.
• Champion a strong safety culture through active participation, mentorship, and effective communication.
• Enable cutting edge research in a safe and responsible manner.

Responsibilities:

• Implement Safety Programs: Implement, audit, and evaluate the effectiveness of the System Safety Program as a subject matter expert. Champion a strong safety culture through active participation, mentorship, and effective communication. Enable cutting edge research in a safe and responsible manner.
• Hazard Identification and Risk Management: Maintain systems and procedures to identify, evaluate, and control research hazards, conduct risk assessments, identify appropriate system and process safety directives to be implemented, and recommend mitigation strategies for identified hazards.
• Analysis and Assessment: Lead and conduct various safety analyses, assessments, and evaluations of system designs, modifications, operations, and procedures to identify and mitigate potential hazards.
• Compliance and Regulatory Affairs: Implement all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, codes, DOE Orders, and Standards.
• Contractor and Quality Assurance and Improvement: Complete contractor assurance activities to verify programmatic compliance, effectiveness, and overall health. Partner with management and workers to strengthen the safety culture and promote continuous improvement of the System Safety Program by monitoring performance, analyzing metrics, and implementing corrective actions.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Effectively interface and collaborate with research staff and management at all levels, internal and external customers (including DOE-PNSO line management and EHS&S staff), and regulatory bodies.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS/BA and 7+ years of relevant experience -OR-
• MS/MA and 5+ years of relevant experience -OR-
• PhD with 3+ years of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, nuclear engineering, or a related field; equivalent education and experience may be considered.
• Experience in a research laboratory, industrial, utility, manufacturing, construction, or other high-hazard environment.
• Proven ability to analyze complex (e.g., chemical, nuclear) processing systems using process and instrumentation diagrams, operating procedures, product information, and parts lists.
• Process safety board experience.
• Experience with hazard and accident analysis processes.
• Expertise in conducting qualitative and quantitative hazard analyses, risk assessments, and evaluating activities to mitigate safety hazards.
• Knowledge of contractor assurance activities including self-assessments, program assessments, metrics, and in-field performance observations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate with diverse stakeholders and effectively present complex information.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking abilities.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and foster a culture of open communication and collaboration.

Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment

This is a full-time, onsite role that may require work in laboratories, industrial facilities, construction areas, electrical rooms, and other operational environments. The position may require wearing personal protective equipment, entering controlled or high-hazard areas, climbing ladders or stairs, and working around energized or potentially energized equipment in accordance with established safety procedures.

Additional Information

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.

"Referral Eligible"

Testing Designated Position

This position is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). The candidate selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing for illegal drugs, including marijuana, consistent with the Controlled Substances Act and the PNNL Workplace Substance Abuse Program.