Description

We are seeking an exceptional and motivated Economic Geologist to work alongside world class engineers and researchers supporting the mission of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in Albany, OR. This work will involve a multi-disciplinary, scientific, and technically oriented national laboratory team, with participation alongside other data scientists, engineers, geologists, and computer scientists that produces technological solutions for America’s energy challenges.

Location: This position is onsite at the NETL lab in Albany, OR. Only candidates local to this area or willing to relocate to this area will be considered.

What this opportunity with Leidos supporting NETL through a Research Support Services (RSS) contract uniquely provides you:

• Working on applied, cutting-edge projects with global impact side by side with the nation’s leading energy scientists and engineers.

• Real-world experience supplemented with technical development and discussions that provide unique insight into the broad range of mission critical engineering and scientific disciplines NETL leverages to support national energy research and policy development.

• Access to world-class, customized facilities and computational assets specific to high impact energy research, technology generation, and product development.

• Support proposal development focused on expanding industry and scientific partnerships and developing new technical opportunities for NETL with federal guidance.

The successful candidate will participate in research on unconventional Critical Minerals and Materials (CMM) resources. This includes developing and testing of new mineral deposit models for domestic unconventional CMM resources, and providing mineral system expertise for AI/ML-driven methodologies for prediction of CMM in unconventional prospects. Additionally, the successful candidate will have a background in natural resource exploration, geochemistry, and geology (including sedimentary systems). Experience with laboratory and field techniques relating to critical minerals is preferred.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Apply knowledge of conventional mineral systems to design and implement studies of new, unconventional mineral systems.

• Contribute to geological modeling and database tasks to support accurate resource prospectivity analysis.

• Implement best practices for geologic resource evaluation and characterization.

• Develop research projects aimed at describing the geological conditions that lead to economic concentrations of minerals, as well as how these minerals are recovered in a cost effective and environmentally friendly way.

• Review, analyze, and interpret geological, mineralogical, and geophysical datasets to discover new insights about critical mineral systems.

• Perform sample preparation and analysis with laboratory instruments such as XRF, XRD, LIBS, light microscope, and SEM.

• Train and mentor new staff in lab operations and research methods.

• Plan and develop proposals for DOE or external funding opportunities.

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary group of science researchers to accomplish project tasks.

• Build and maintain relationships with internal and external clients.

• Lead and assist in the writing of science-based methods, results, and data interpretations for publications in high quality, scientific peer-reviewed journals, and technical reports.

• Develop and present results for oral presentations to staff, stakeholders, and at professional conferences.

• Effectively document and communicate scientific results through peer-review journal manuscripts and technical reports.

• Provide weekly and monthly technical updates to research team members and project management.

• Provide leadership and expertise on projects including delegation to team members and communication of project milestone status to management.

Required Education, Experience & Other:

• PhD in economic geology or geochemistry with 3+ years of experience equivalent practical experience working in a laboratory or industrial environment , or a Master’s degree in economic geology or geochemistry, or related field with 6+ years of equivalent practical experience working in a laboratory or industrial environment.

• Advanced knowledge in at least one of the following areas related to RD&D in critical minerals: geologic knowledge of coal and sedimentary basin systems; economic geology or mineral deposit systems; volcanic rocks and processes; metamorphic rocks and processes; structural geology or tectonics; geochemistry.

• Advanced knowledge and skills in data management, data processing, and generating high-impact data visualizations.

• Ability to operate and train/oversee junior level staff in the use of multiple laboratory instruments including XRF, XRD, LIBS, light microscope, and SEM.

• Ability to lead a multidisciplinary team composed of geologists/geoscientists, data scientists, computer engineers, and other technical staff.

• Ability to collaboratively work with geology and resource modeling geologists to refine existing models and establish new resource assessment methods.

• Understanding of principles in mining and ore geology including the use, geologic setting, and mode of formation of naturally occurring economic concentrations of metallic raw materials.

• Ability to develop and implement new standard operating procedures and work instructions for characterizing mineral systems and associated geologic processes.

• Proven track record of publications and presentations related to research on geologic/mineral systems.

• Experience managing time effectively; experience developing and meeting project milestones with little oversight.

• Clear and effective communication, both in writing and in person.

• U.S. Citizen.

• Must be able to meet the requirements for gaining access to work on the NETL campus.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with 3D geomodelling software (e.g., Leapfrog).

• Ability to plan and develop proposals for DOE or external funding opportunities.

• Evidence of substantive participation in the critical mineral geologic scientific community.

• Experience working for a U.S. national laboratory or as a research site-support contractor.

Salary Range for this position: $120K to $130K

Original Posting Date:

2024-08-29

While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range:

Pay Range $101,400.00 - $183,300.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

REQNUMBER: R-00142723

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. Leidos will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories for employment in accordance with relevant Laws. Leidos is an equal opportunity employer/disability/vet.