Featured Careers: Actinide Material Processing & Power Division (AMPP)

Work with the Actinide Material Processing & Power Division (AMPP)

Some of the key capabilities/projects/programs we manage are:

The Deputy Division Leader (DDL) will work for the Actinide Material Processing & Power Division in support of completing missions for NASA, the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy and the Office of Science. We do great things for our nation, see our key projects below!

Key projects and accomplishments

AMPP Division proudly support Pu-238 science and manufacturing for NASA and their exploration programs, various Defense Programs, the Advanced Recovery and Integrated Extraction System (ARIES) for nuclear non-proliferation, the Material Recovery & Recycle (MR&R) to enable the future of PF-4, and Americium production to support well logging for the United States.

Los Alamos National Laboratory has played a pivotal role in all of NASA’s Planetary Exploration missions since the late 1950s.  NASA uses radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), which convert heat from decaying plutonium into electricity, to power spacecraft like Voyagers 1 and 2, the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Packages, and the Mars Curiosity rover.    Pu-238 is an ideal isotope for heat sources due to its high thermal wattage per gram (Wth/g).  Here at Los Alamos National Laboratory, AMPP Division is proud to be the Production Agency to manufacture heat sources for NASA as well as Heat Source Final Assemblies (HSFAs) that are assembled into RTGs in AMPP’s state of the art Assembly and Test Facility for defense missions.   

AMPP employees are the heart of the Advanced Recovery and Integrated Extraction System (ARIES) program for nuclear non-proliferation.  ARIES supports the Nation’s objectives of nuclear disarmament, fissile material disposition, and actinide fuels development by using the LANL Advanced Recovery and Integrated Extraction System (ARIES). AMPP employees within the ARIES program dismantle the core of nuclear weapons, convert the plutonium into oxide, process the oxide to ensure it falls within customer specifications, and then certify the oxide for use in support of national missions.

It is also within AMPP Division where 70 plus career professionals work on the Material Recovery & Recycle (MR&R) program to support and enable the future of the Laboratory’s plutonium facility by processing and disposing of legacy residues.  Processing and recycling legacy residues directly supports the success of the plutonium facility to ensure its future availability for missions. 

AMPP Division supports a wide range of products for a wide variety of customers.   In addition to the above listed programs the Division produces Americium for the Office of Science in support of oil and gas prospectors; Americium is also useful to farmers, scientists, and land developers.  In the last ten years, our outstanding scientists, engineers and technicians have made contributions and won awards that have changed and transformed the nation’s plutonium capabilities.  For example, The Americium Oxide Production Team won a Los Alamos National Laboratory Distinguished Performance Award for its contributions leading to the successful production of Americium oxide.  Americium is important because it is used for well logging in the oil and natural gas industries. The United States had stopped producing Americium oxide in the 1980’s, leaving Russia as the world’s sole producer. In 2017, one of AMPP’s teams reinstated Americium production for the United States. 

We are proud of our many key projects and know there are more to come.  Join our team and launch you career!

What employees have to say about their careers with AMMP

“Being a part of a team that produces technology apparatus to power up the nation’s mission critical equipment is thrilling. AMPP is a powerhouse of career growth opportunities that allowed me to learn breathtaking technologies and processes. However, my greatest admiration for AMPP is its people, who not only provide groundbreaking scientific solutions to complex problems, but also share a ‘human touch’. This is a place where I have grown technically, but also found friends who welcomed me as part of their family.” — Nash Ubale, Manufacturing Manager 3, AMPP-2

“I love working in AMPP Division because of its various key missions that are important to our nation’s security and space endeavors. Working on these key missions are amazing and we work with wonderful people.” — Chastity Kolar, Manufacturing Manager 3, AMPP-1 

Lead the AMPP Team

The AMPP division is currently seeking a well-rounded and experienced Deputy Division Leader.  This individual will provide scientific, technical, and operational leadership.  The Deputy Division Leader (DDL) will work with the Division Leader to develop current and future strategies to enhance operations for Actinide Material Power & Processing manufacturing.  The DDL is responsible for assigning clear authority and accountability, directing change while maintaining operating effectiveness, integrating efforts across work units and functions, monitoring results and tackling problems directly while assuming ownership.  This role focuses on maintaining quality assurance practices, issuing work authorizations, and providing oversight and deployment of work scope, scheduling and budget for line management to execute.  The DDL will work with the Division Leader to provide leadership and management over the AMPP portfolio that encompasses NASA, ARIES, MR&R and the Office of Science for Americium, as well as a couple of other programs.   The DDL will broker with the division’s line management and support organizations to negotiate work scope and priority.  This role oversees the integrity of project scope, schedule and cost, including ensuring that firm baselines are clearly structured, while ensuring formality and discipline are present during project execution.  The DDL assists with effectively overseeing the project’s resources (people, equipment and material) for AMPP’s portfolio. These great accomplishments will contribute to the development the division’s capabilities.   

Consider taking your career to the next level and apply today!

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