Advanced Manufacturing and Automation, Group Manager

Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), a national laboratory under the stewardship of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM), is seeking an accomplished and collaborative Group Manager to lead the Advanced Manufacturing and Automation group within the newly formed Energy Sciences and Engineering (ESE) Division, part of the Science, Energy, and Innovation (SEI) Directorate.

Advanced Manufacturing and Automation is one of four founding groups within ESE, alongside Energy Material Sciences, Fusion Energy and Isotope Science, and Research Computing and Computational Sciences. The group advances the science and emerging technologies that will shape the next generation of manufacturing and industrial processing - integrating materials science, manufacturing processes, robotics, advanced sensing, controls, and data to understand how materials, components, equipment, and processes can be designed together for targeted performance. Its research addresses high-consequence challenges where conventional technologies fall short, particularly nuclear and radiological operations, critical-material processing, and other harsh or complex environments, and spans the full arc from fundamental process-structure-property relationships through custom experimental equipment to robotic and adaptive processing systems capable of sensing changing conditions and responding intelligently.

The group operates across SRNL's research infrastructure and mission environments rather than any single facility, based on the scientific, security, scale, and application requirements of the work. The Group Manager is accountable for making sure this research portfolio is deep, rigorous, and connected to where the laboratory's mission is headed, and for working with other organizations across SRNL to build a connected pathway from scientific discovery and early experimentation through prototype development, technology maturation, and mission application.

As a line leader reporting to the ESE Division Director, the Group Manager is accountable for the stewardship, development, and support of the group's people; for creating an environment where this research thrives; and for executing technical work aligned with the strategic direction set by the Division Director and SRNL leadership. The Group Manager also plays a direct role in cultivating the external partnerships - with DOE program offices, industry, and universities - that keep the group's science connected to real mission need and sustained by external investment.

This role requires technical credibility across materials, manufacturing, and automation; a demonstrated record of developing researchers and research leaders; and the judgment to prioritize a portfolio that ranges from fundamental science through custom equipment development to fielded robotic and adaptive systems. Success is measured on the group's collective impact: the quality and trajectory of its science, the development and retention of its staff, the strength of its external partnerships and funding base, and its operational and safety excellence.

People Development and Culture Building

• Recruit, develop, mentor, and retain a high-caliber technical staff spanning materials, manufacturing and process engineering, robotics, sensing, and controls disciplines. Identify and grow the next generation of technical leaders within the group.
• Reinforce the division's operating culture, values, and norms around scientific rigor, collaboration, psychological safety, inclusion, and accountability at the group level. Set the day-to-day tone for how the group works together.
• Create an environment where researchers are supported, developed, and enabled to do their best work. Manage performance, allocate staff and resources across the group's project portfolio, and make sound personnel and investment decisions.
• Foster a strong safety culture and ensure all group work - including work in radiological, secure, and other high-consequence environments - is planned and executed safely and in full compliance with environmental, safety, health, quality, and security requirements.

Science and Infrastructure Stewardship and Execution

• Work with the ESE Division Director to translate division and SRNL strategic priorities into the group's technical portfolio and resource allocation.
• Steward the quality, rigor, and reputation of the group's work across its core domains - additive and advanced manufacturing methods, process-structure-property research, custom experimental equipment, and robotic and adaptive processing systems for harsh or complex environments. Serve as a credible technical voice to sponsors, peers, and the external research community.
• Work with Advanced Engineering and other SRNL organizations to build a connected pathway from scientific discovery and early experimentation through prototype development, technology maturation, and mission application, so research outcomes convert into deployed, mission-ready capability.
• Identify high-value manufacturing and automation opportunities that align with DOE mission needs, SRNL strategic priorities, and the group's distinctive capabilities. Bring those opportunities forward to inform division and directorate strategy.
• Partner directly with groups across SRNL to ensure the group's manufacturing, robotics, and automation expertise is embedded in the materials, fuel cycle, and computational work it depends on and supports.

External Partnership and Ecosystem Development

• Cultivate and steward strategic partnerships outside the Department of Energy - industry engagement, university collaborations, and national laboratory partnerships - that strengthen the group's technical capabilities and expand its funding base and impact.
• Lead and mentor staff in building and deepening these external relationships. Position the group as a credible, trusted manufacturing and automation partner to industry and academia.
• Advance SRNL's standing and visibility in advanced manufacturing and intelligent automation through publications, presentations, professional leadership, and strategic external relationships.
• Support the Division Director and Directorate in engaging DOE program offices relevant to the group's domains, and translate those relationships into a healthy, diversified project portfolio.

Operational Excellence and Business Performance

• Manage the group's budget, financial performance, and equipment and infrastructure needs across its distributed set of research environments. Ensure delivery of high-quality work products on scope, on schedule, and on budget.
• Establish group-level metrics, reporting cadences, and accountability structures. Track and communicate progress to the Division Director.
• Work within the SRNL matrix structure to ensure alignment between group capabilities and program priorities; surface challenges and opportunities that should inform division and directorate strategic planning.

Leadership Competencies

• Technical credibility - strong, current expertise in materials, manufacturing processes, robotics, or advanced sensing and controls, with the breadth to engage knowledgeably across the group's full portfolio.
• People leadership - ability to recruit talent, develop researchers into technical leaders, create psychological safety, and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Portfolio and maturity-stage judgment - ability to prioritize across fundamental science, custom equipment development, and fielded systems, and to select the right facility and partner for each stage of work.
• Collaborative matrix leadership - skill in working through peer relationships across ESE's other groups, Advanced Engineering and other SRNL organizations, and DOE program offices, navigating ambiguity, and building alignment without direct authority.
• Business and operational acumen - comfort with budgets, metrics, and performance management; ability to connect resources to outcomes.
• External relationship building - ability to establish trust and credibility with DOE sponsors, industry, and university partners; skill in translating relationships into funded work.
• Founding-group mindset - comfort building structures, processes, and norms for a group still taking shape, and documenting decisions and rationale for those who come after.
• Integrity and unwavering commitment to safety - personal integrity that sets the tone for the group; zero tolerance for shortcuts on safety, quality, or ethical conduct, particularly in radiological and other high-consequence environments.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in materials science and engineering, manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering, robotics, or a closely related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
• Significant progressive experience in manufacturing, materials, or automation research and research leadership, including direct management or mentorship of technical staff. Minimum 7+ years of relevant experience.
• Deep technical credibility in at least one core domain - advanced or additive manufacturing, materials and process-structure-property research, robotics and automation, or advanced sensing and controls - with the intellectual breadth to engage across adjacent domains.
• Demonstrated commitment to and accountability for safety in a research environment, including work in radiological, secure, or other high-consequence settings; experience in such settings is a plus.
• Track record of developing technical talent and cultivating the next generation of research leaders.
• Proven ability to work effectively in matrix environments, partnering with peer leaders and sponsors to align direction and execute missions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to represent the group credibly to sponsors, DOE leadership, external partners, and internal staff.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE security clearance as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a DOE national laboratory, federal research environment, or comparable mission-driven research organization.
• Direct research or applied experience in one or more of: additive manufacturing, materials-to-process translation, robotics or remote/automated operations in radiological or hazardous environments, adaptive/intelligent processing systems, or critical-material processing.
• Experience with AI- or data-driven manufacturing process optimization or qualification.
• Experience building and cultivating strategic partnerships with industry, universities, and other national laboratories.
• Track record of growing a research portfolio and securing external funding, including competitive proposals and industry-sponsored work.
• Experience contributing to or standing up a new group, program, or research area within a larger organization.

"We put science to work!"

Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) is a multi-program laboratory applying state of the art science and practical, high-value, cost-effective solutions to complex technical problems to protect the nation. Located at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Savannah River Site (SRS) in Aiken SC, the laboratory develops and deploys innovative technologies to address some of the nation's environmental, energy, and national security challenges.

Battelle Savannah River Alliance (BSRA) is constantly assessing trends to provide the best possible benefits to our workforce. We also negotiate cost effective premiums that will meet the needs of our evolving workforce.

Some of the *Benefits offered to employees include:

*Benefits vary based upon employment status

• Highly competitive Medical, Dental, and Vision options including HSA options with company provided seed
• Short- & Long-Term Disability (company paid)
• Life Insurance Non-Contributary 1X salary (company paid)
• AD&D Non-contributary 1x salary (company paid)
• Savings & Investment plan:
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  • Qualified Non-Elective Company Contribution of 5% each pay period with immediate vesting
  • Company match 50 cents/dollar up to 8% (5 yrs. vesting in company match)
  
  
• Contributory Life Insurance up to 5x Salary with $1M Cap
• Contributory AD&D (employee, spouse and children)
• Paid Time Off
• Employee Assistance Plan
• SRNL offers a competitive relocation package to ease the transition process. Domestic and international relocation assistance is available for certain positions.

For more information about our benefits, working here, and living here, visit the "About" tab at www.srnl.doe.gov.

BSRA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. BSRA is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. Please email us at SRNLRecruiting@srnl.doe.gov with any questions regarding the hiring process or to request an accommodation.