Vacancy Notice No. 2009/107
Position and Grade: NDA Systems Engineer (P-4)
Organizational Unit: Attended and Unattended Non-Destructive Assay Section
Division of Technical Support
Department of Safeguards
Duty Station: Vienna, Austria
Issue Date: 19 November 2009
Application Deadline: 4 January 2010
Type/Duration of Appointment: Fixed term, 3 years (subject to a probationary period of 1 year)

Organizational Setting
The Department of Safeguards is the organizational hub for the implementation of IAEA safeguards. The IAEA implements nuclear verification activities for more than 160 States in accordance with their safeguards agreements.

The Department of Safeguards consists of six Divisions: three Operations Divisions, for the implementation of verification activities around the world; and three Support Divisions, (i) Division of Concepts and Planning, (ii) Division of Information Management and (iii) Division for Technical Support. The Division of Technical Support is responsible for the development and implementation of the Department's equipment systems.

Within the Division, the Section for Attended and Unattended Non destructive Assay (NDA) is responsible for the development, deployment and maintenance of the NDA systems used by IAEA inspectors in the field.

The Section has four units responsible for: unattended monitoring systems, portable and resident NDA systems, project engineering of safeguards equipment at large facilities, and nuclear security instrumentation.

The Portable and Resident NDA Unit is in charge of developing, maintaining and deploying a large diversity of NDA systems hand carried to the field by IAEA inspectors or left resident at the facilities under IAEA safeguards for periodic use by inspectors.

The operating environment is collaborative, with due regard given to confidentiality.

Main purpose
As a team member reporting to the Head of the Portable and Resident NDA Unit, the NDA Systems Engineer takes the lead and provides professional expertise in projects for the development and deployment of NDA systems in the context of safeguards verifications.

Role
The NDA Systems Engineer is: an expert adviser to the Operations Divisions and support technicians on the selection and use of safeguards NDA instruments; an engineering support specialist, providing support for calibration adaptation and the field deployment of NDA systems for specific applications; a project manager, coordinating contracted activities and tasks under Member State Support Programmes; a development engineer, contributing to development activities; and, a technical writer, developing and updating development requirements for safeguards instrumentation, equipment specifications, equipment procedures and other reports.

Partnerships
The NDA Systems Engineer takes the lead in several projects aimed at the development and deployment of new or customized NDA instruments in partnership with other professionals and technicians in the Unit. Also, he/she contributes through his/her strong skills and competencies to other projects in the Unit. In close coordination with the Unit Head, he/she engages inspectors from the Operations Divisions and staff elsewhere in the Division of Technical Support in addressing the safeguards needs and reporting on deliveries. As a task officer, the NDA Systems Engineer manages contracted projects and coordinates activities within the framework of Member State Support Programmes.

Functions / Key Results Expected
  • Take the lead in projects for the development and deployment of instruments and measurement techniques to meet the needs determined by the Operations Divisions.
  • Deliver in a timely way the support requested for implementation of safeguards equipment, including technical specification, operational documentation and reports.
  • Deliver expert assistance in the field for the deployment of new or customized NDA instruments or special NDA measurements.
  • Enhance the functionality, usability testing, maintenance and calibration of safeguards equipment.
  • Plan and execute procurement of the equipment and services necessary to deliver the requested support.
  • Develop and write quality controlled technical documents, testing and calibration procedures for equipment, and trip reports that detail the deployment, repair, design or calibration of NDA instruments.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
  • Technical expertise:
    • Ability to design, develop and implement NDA instruments used to verify the presence, absence, amount and unique characteristics of plutonium, uranium and spent fuel, with emphasis on gamma spectrometry and neutron coincidence counting;
    • Knowledge of the numerical simulation of particle transport for the design and calibration of NDA instruments based on gamma spectrometry and/or neutron counting;
    • Knowledge of computerized data acquisition and data evaluation systems;
    • Knowledge of the application of nuclear instrumentation for the specific purpose of NDA of nuclear material in the context of international safeguards.
  • Ability to manage and accurately document project development and implementation.
  • Quality and customer orientation.
  • Strong interpersonal skills to establish and maintain good relationships in a multicultural/multidisciplinary environment and to work with high standard of integrity, fairness and transparency.
  • Strong analytical and communication skills to prepare clear and concise technical reports and to conduct presentations effectively.

Education, Experience and Language Skills
  • Advanced university degree in nuclear engineering, applied physics, physics or electrical engineering.
  • At least 7 years of work experience in the design, development, deployment, production or use of nuclear NDA instrumentation.
  • Experience in project management.
  • Demonstrated experience in neutron coincidence counting and/or gamma spectrometry.
  • Demonstrated experience in computerized data acquisition systems applied to NDA instruments.
  • Skills and experience in computerized simulations of the transport of radiation, such as Monte Carlo simulations, applied to the design and calibration of NDA instruments.
  • Fluency in spoken and written English.

Remuneration
The Agency offers an attractive remuneration package including a tax-free annual net base salary starting at US $64 521 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), a variable post adjustment which currently amounts to US $47 746*, dependency benefits, rental subsidy, education grant, relocation and repatriation expenses; 6 weeks' annual vacation, home leave, pension plan and health insurance.

How to apply to the IAEA

Complete an Online Application

* Subject to change without notice

Applications from qualified women and candidates from developing countries are encouraged

Applicants should be aware that IAEA staff members are international civil servants and may not accept instructions from any other authority. Staff members may be assigned to any location. The IAEA retains the discretion not to make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade or to make an appointment with a modified job description or for shorter duration than indicated above. Testing may be part of the recruitment process.
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