## [About](/about) # About ## People First, Mission Always LLNL Engineering provides the research, design, and execution behind some of the world’s most rigorous and complex engineering projects to support the Lab’s government-funded missions. We also collaborate with industry and academia to develop some of the world’s most sophisticated products, processes, and specialized instruments. Collaborations allow industry and academia to utilize LLNL’s resources to accelerate market-driven innovation and reduce production costs and time, while funneling outside knowledge toward projects in the energy sector, national security, and other applications. Our overall guiding principle is "People First, Mission Always.” When it comes to our people, we prioritize Respect, Integrity, Collaboration, Mentoring, and Safety. When it comes to accomplishing our mission, we celebrate Integrity, Ideas, Impact, Inclusiveness, and Zeal. ``` Please do not alter or edit this area. This generates the skewed image boxes. ``` ``` border-box-0 ``` ``` border-box-1 ``` ``` border-box-2 ``` ## Meet our Leadership ![Donn McMahon](https://engineering.llnl.gov/sites/engineering/files/2022-09/donn-mcmahon.jpg "donn-mcmahon") ### Donn McMahon Principal Associate Director (Acting)Donn McMahon is the Acting Principal Associate Director for Engineering at the Lab. The Engineering Directorate employs over 2,900 multi-disciplinary engineering, science, technology, and support staff to anticipate, innovate, and deliver responsive engineering solutions to complex national security needs. Donn has broad responsibilities in directorate leadership, supporting the Lab’s national security and science programs, and promoting and advancing engineering capabilities and its workforce. He leverages his leadership, project management, and technical skills for the oversight of staff for project execution and the development of strategic relationships with Livermore’s Strategic Deterrence, Strategic Threat Analysis and Response (STAR), Security Organization, Environmental Restoration, and the Extreme Light, Matter, and Fusion (LMF) directorates. Donn believes in a collaborative and service-based leadership model and is committed to recruiting and developing a diverse set of outstanding next-generation engineers, scientists, and technical staff. Donn earned an S.B. from MIT in Mechanical Engineering and a Ph.D. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley with a specialization in Control Systems. ![Shannon Ayers](https://engineering.llnl.gov/sites/engineering/files/2022-09/shannon-ayers.jpg "shannon-ayers.jpg") ### Shannon Ayers Laser Systems Engineering and Operations Division LeadShannon Ayers is the Division Leader for the Laser Systems Engineering and Operations (LSEO) Engineering Division as well as a National Ignition Facility (NIF) Laser and Alignment Section (LASE) lead. LSEO is responsible for maintaining a vibrant workforce to support the engineering needs of the NIF&PS directorate, and LASE is responsible for the performance, operations, and maintenance of the NIF laser and alignment systems. Shannon came to the Lab in 1998 as an intern working on the extreme ultraviolet lithography project. She has been part of the NIF team for over ten years, where in addition to laser, target, and diagnostic alignment she led the successful development and deployment of many target diagnostics for use at the NIF, the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, and the Atomic Weapons Establishment. Prior to supporting NIF, Shannon served as project engineer and manager of several optics processing projects in support of the Global Security and Physical and Life Sciences directorates. When not supporting the NIF facility operations or capability enhancements, Shannon is engaged in workforce development efforts to support an environment that fosters innovation at LLNL. She holds a degree in mechanical engineering. ![Mike Goldman](https://engineering.llnl.gov/sites/engineering/files/2025-02/mike-goldman-bio_0.jpg "Mike Goldman") ### Mike Goldman Computational Engineering Division LeadMike Goldman is the Division Leader for the Computational Engineering Division. This organization has approximately 300 engineering, scientific, mathematical, and administrative professionals with expertise in engineering modeling and simulation, data analytics and decision science, and signal and image processing. This collection of analytic expertise supports many Laboratory programs, external projects, and research collaborations. Since joining the Lab in 2007, Michael has spent his career working at the intersection of AI and national security. Michael serves as principal investigator for several internal and external projects related to overhead imagery, machine learning, data compression, and system development. From 2018 to 2023, he was the Director of LLNL's Data Science Institute. He was previously the associate program in Global Security, leading several projects in the aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance domain and executing work across a wide variety of NNSA/DOE, DOD, and IC stakeholders. Michael is also currently the Venture Manager for STEEL THREAD, a multi-lab effort under NNSA’s Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development program, focused on building large-scale foundation models for nuclear nonproliferation. Michael received his M.S. from UC Davis in Electrical and Computer Engineering and a B.S. from UC Santa Cruz in Computer Engineering. ![Becky Nikolic](https://engineering.llnl.gov/sites/engineering/files/2025-02/becky-nikolic-bio_0.jpg "Becky Nikolic") ### Becky Nikolic National Security Engineering Division Lead Becky Nikolic began her career at LLNL 22 years ago as a researcher in Engineering working for the N-Program, and now is the Division Leader for the National Security Engineering Division. Becky has held various technical and leadership roles across the Laboratory, most recently as Director for Institutional S&T Assessments, overseeing the Institutional Assessment Program. From 2016–2023, Rebecca led several roles within the Global Security Directorate, including Deputy Program Manager for Energy and Homeland Security, Point of Contact for LDRD, and Associate Program Leader for the Nuclear Threat Reduction Program. She also spent a decade as a group Leader at the Center for Micro and Nano Technology, where she advanced 3D-structured neutron detection systems to TRL 6 for DOE, DHS, and other government sponsors. She has published widely on semiconductor materials and devices, spanning application areas including communications, detection, and energy technologies. Her career includes over 20 awards and fellowships, including the Oppenheimer Science and Energy Leadership Program and Early Mid-Career Recognition. Becky holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (Applied Physics) from UC San Diego and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from UC Davis, with a certificate in National Security Affairs from Texas A&M University. ![Travis Paladichuk](https://engineering.llnl.gov/sites/engineering/files/2022-09/travis-paladichuk.jpg "travis-paladichuk.jpg") ### Travis Paladichuk Defense Technologies Engineering Division LeadTravis Paladichuk is the Defense Technologies Engineering Division Leader, leading approximately 750 personnel to provide technical and strategic leadership in support of the Lab’s national security mission. In this role, Travis works closely with Strategic Deterrence management to meet weapons engineering needs for annual assessments, modernization programs, and evolving future deterrents. Previously, Travis was the Engineering Lead for the W80-4 Life Extension Program, with programmatic responsibility for $150 million annually. Travis began his career at LLNL in 2001, leading a weapon component project realization team to execute large-scale experiments to assess engineering and physics performance. He then took on the role of Engineering Lead for the Phoenix Program, designing and fielding complex explosive experiments used to develop equations of state for high-density material targets. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, San Diego and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Davis. He also served in the U.S. Army as a Combat Engineer. ![Chris Spadaccini](https://engineering.llnl.gov/sites/engineering/files/styles/scaled_300w/public/2022-11/chris-spadaccini.jpg?itok=nAQeaUjm "chris-spadaccini.jpg") ### Chris Spadaccini Materials Engineering Division LeadChris Spadaccini is the Materials Engineering Division Lead and former Director of the Center for Engineered Materials and Manufacturing. He has been a member of the technical staff in the Materials Engineering Division for the past ten years. He is currently the principal investigator for several advanced materials and additive manufacturing projects. He is also the founder and director of a new additive manufacturing, process development, and architected materials center. The work in these laboratories focuses on developing next-generation additive processes that are capable of micro- and nano-scale features and have the ability to create components with mixtures of materials ranging from polymers to metals and ceramics. Development of these processes also involves the synthesis and materials science of feedstocks such as photopolymers and nanoparticles. These capabilities are utilized to fabricate microarchitected materials with unique designer properties, such as negative thermal expansion. Chris is also a part-time lecturer at the San Jose State University in the Biomedical, Chemical and Materials Engineering Department, where he teaches graduate courses in advanced transport phenomena. Chris's research interests include architected materials, metamaterials, advanced fabrication processes, additive manufacturing, topology optimization, energetic materials, fluid mechanics and combustion. He holds B.S., M.S., and PhD degrees from the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT. ![Rob Sharpe](https://engineering.llnl.gov/sites/engineering/files/2022-09/rob-sharpe.jpg "rob-sharpe.jpg") ### Rob Sharpe Deputy Associate Director for Research and DevelopmentRob Sharpe serves as the Deputy Associate Director of Engineering Research and Development. In this capacity, he directs efforts in computational engineering, micro- and nano-technology, advanced measurement capabilities, and data analytics. Prior to joining the Lab, Rob was a design engineer with the Antenna Laboratory at Texas Instruments; a doctoral fellow in the electromagnetics applications center with TRW in Redondo Beach; and a faculty member at the University of Houston. Rob joined LLNL in 1992 where he has held various positions including Director of the Center for Computational Engineering, Chief Technologist, Deputy Associate Director for Engineering Science and Technology, and the Division Leader for the Computational Engineering Division. Rob holds a B.S. in electrical engineering from Auburn University and an M.S. and D.Sc. in electrical engineering from the University of Houston. ![Alison Terrill](https://engineering.llnl.gov/sites/engineering/files/2025-02/alison-terrill-bio_0.jpg "alison-terrill.jpg") ### Alison Terrill Deputy Associate Director for OperationsAlison Terrill serves as the Acting Deputy Associate Director for Operations, providing internal oversight of major operational activities and serving as the principal interface for cross-institutional operational interactions. Alison brings a strong set of infrastructure and project management experience to the role. She started her LLNL career in 2007 as a Principal Architect and Design Manager. In 2016, she became the LLNL Campus Architect and a group leader for Space and Site Planning within the Director’s Office. Alison also served as the Deputy Director of the Office of Laboratory Infrastructure. In these roles, Alison has overseen and managed the planning and execution of the Laboratory’s site-wide indirect infrastructure investment budget by engaging managers for all disciplines, mission support, and program areas in collaborative decision making. Most notably, she oversaw the development of strategic and tactical Space and Site Planning processes, including supporting the creation of the 2020 LLNL 40-year Site Development Plan and 70+ annual area plans. She has also managed LLNL’s contribution to the NNSA Master Asset Plan. Prior to joining LLNL, Alison served as a project manager and architect for both private industry and local government. She received her bachelor’s degree in architecture from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 1990 and a State of California Architect License in 1997. ![Harry Martz](https://engineering.llnl.gov/sites/engineering/files/2022-09/harry-martz.jpg "harry-martz.jpg") ### Harry Martz Director, Nondestructive Characterization InstituteHarry Martz is the Director for Nondestructive Characterization Institute and a distinguished member of the technical staff at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. His work has pioneered ways to use x-rays and other forms of radiation and particles for noninvasive imaging of everything from warhead components to bridge decks to breast tumors. Harry's research has led to major advances in airport baggage scanning technology to detect explosive and non-explosive materials that terrorists try to sneak through airport security, as well as the development of better cargo scanning devices at major American sea, land, and airports. He has served on several National Academy of Sciences Committees on Aviation Security, was the Chair of the Committee on Airport Passenger Screening: Backscatter X-Ray Machines, and received an R&D Magazine 100 Award for his work on a mobile CT system to nondestructively assay thousands of waste drums at Department of Energy sites around the country. Harry has authored or co-authored over 300 papers and a book titled *X-ray Imaging: Fundamentals, Industrial Techniques and Applications*. Harry holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics/Inorganic Chemistry from Florida State University, and a B.S. in Chemistry from Siena College. ![Dan Tortorelli](https://engineering.llnl.gov/sites/engineering/files/styles/scaled_300w/public/2022-09/dan-tortorelli.jpg?itok=F-mfk2zL "dan-tortorelli.jpg") ### Dan Tortorelli Director, Center for Design and OptimizationDan Tortorelli has served as the Director for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s Center for Design and Optimization since its instantiation in 2016. He is also the George B. Grim Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a title given upon his retirement after a 26-year career on the faculty. Dan's interdisciplinary team develops software to optimize systems with respect to their structural, thermal, transport, fluidic, etc. performances. The software combines nonlinear programming and machine learning algorithms, finite element simulation, and high-performance computing strategies. Dan has a B.S. in mechanical engineering from University of Notre Dame and an M.A. and D.Sc. in mechanical engineering from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. ![Eric Duoss](https://engineering.llnl.gov/sites/engineering/files/2025-02/eric-duoss-bio.jpg "eric-duoss.jpg") ### Eric Duoss Director, Center for Engineered Materials and Manufacturing Program Development Lead for Advanced ManufacturingEric Duoss is the Director of the Center for Engineered Materials and Manufacturing and a Member of the Technical Staff at LLNL, where he conducts research in the areas of advanced materials and manufacturing combined with micro-architected design. Eric's research interests include additive manufacturing, 3D printing, printed electronics, functional materials, colloids and complex fluids, soft matter, microfluidics, microencapsulation, and emulsion science. He holds B.S. degrees in mathematics and chemistry from St. Norbert College and a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. ![Yongqin Jiao](https://engineering.llnl.gov/sites/engineering/files/2026-10/yongqin-jiao.jpg "yongqin-jiao") ### Yongqin Jiao Director, Center for Bioengineering & BiomanfacturingYongqin Jiao is the Director of the Center for Bioengineering and Biomanufacturing (CBB) in the Engineering Directorate. In her role, she leads CBB’s renewed mission to establish a nationally recognized research hub that advances bioengineering and biomanufacturing capabilities for materials security and bioresilience. The center integrates strengths across Engineering, Physical and Life Sciences (PLS), and Computing, with emphasis on biomaterials and biomanufacturing, biomeasurement platforms, autonomous laboratory systems, and AI-enabled computational design. Yongqin brings outstanding scientific leadership, strategic vision, and a strong record of mission-focused research to this role. She has nationally recognized expertise in synthetic biology, rare earth element recovery, biomaterials, and secure biosystems design—combined with sustained DOE, DoD, DARPA, LDRD, and industry-relevant program leadership. She joined LLNL in 2007 as a postdoc in PLS after earning her PhD at CalTech and became a staff scientist in 2010. She was promoted to Group Leader of the Systems & Synthetic Biology Group before becoming Deputy Division Leader for S&T in the Biosciences and Biotechnology Division. In that role, she has helped shape emerging initiatives aligned with LLNL’s One-Lab Bio strategy, strengthened sponsor and partner engagement, and supported workforce development across the division since 2021. ![Jamie Bramwell](https://engineering.llnl.gov/sites/engineering/files/2024-02/jamie-bramwell.jpg "jamie-bramwell.jpg") ### Jamie Bramwell Director, Center for Computational EngineeringJamie Bramwell is the director of the Center for Computational Engineering and a simulation software project leader working primarily on Smith, a next-gen finite element simulation toolkit supporting applications throughout the Engineering directorate. Jamie joined LLNL in 2013 as a computational engineer with a specialty in advanced finite element methods. She began her career as an integrated code developer on ALE3D, a large-scale multi-physics simulation code supporting Strategic Deterrence. She was the primary developer for the implicit solid mechanics physics package, including modern structural element capabilities to support complex mission analysis efforts in NIF and modernizing infrastructure for numerical solver libraries. In 2017, she joined the MFEM finite element library team as an engineering application specialist. This included developing a new cardiac mechanics simulation tool and experimental mini applications for user tutorials and examples. In 2020 she started the Smith project, a modular software development kit based on MFEM to enable agile development of GPU-ready and sensitivity-enabled high-fidelity engineering-scale simulations. Jamie earned her B.S. in mechanical engineering from Northwestern University, and her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Computational Science, Engineering, and Mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin. ![Donn McMahon](https://engineering.llnl.gov/sites/engineering/files/2022-09/donn-mcmahon.jpg "donn-mcmahon") ### Donn McMahon ![Shannon Ayers](https://engineering.llnl.gov/sites/engineering/files/2022-09/shannon-ayers.jpg "shannon-ayers.jpg") ### Shannon Ayers ![Mike Goldman](https://engineering.llnl.gov/sites/engineering/files/2025-02/mike-goldman-bio_0.jpg "Mike Goldman") ### Mike Goldman ![Becky Nikolic](https://engineering.llnl.gov/sites/engineering/files/2025-02/becky-nikolic-bio_0.jpg "Becky Nikolic") ### Becky Nikolic ![Travis Paladichuk](https://engineering.llnl.gov/sites/engineering/files/2022-09/travis-paladichuk.jpg "travis-paladichuk.jpg") ### Travis Paladichuk ![Chris Spadaccini](https://engineering.llnl.gov/sites/engineering/files/styles/scaled_150w/public/2022-11/chris-spadaccini.jpg?itok=Pgb1jf58 "chris-spadaccini.jpg") ### Chris Spadaccini ![Rob Sharpe](https://engineering.llnl.gov/sites/engineering/files/2022-09/rob-sharpe.jpg "rob-sharpe.jpg") ### Rob Sharpe ![Alison Terrill](https://engineering.llnl.gov/sites/engineering/files/2025-02/alison-terrill-bio_0.jpg "Alison Terrill") ### Alison Terrill ![Harry Martz](https://engineering.llnl.gov/sites/engineering/files/2022-09/harry-martz.jpg "harry-martz.jpg") ### Harry Martz ![Dan Tortorelli](https://engineering.llnl.gov/sites/engineering/files/styles/scaled_200w/public/2022-09/dan-tortorelli.jpg?itok=TSLplLwy "dan-tortorelli.jpg") ### Dan Tortorelli ![Eric Duoss](https://engineering.llnl.gov/sites/engineering/files/2025-02/eric-duoss-bio.jpg "eric-duoss.jpg") ### Eric Duoss ![Yongqin Jiao](https://engineering.llnl.gov/sites/engineering/files/2026-10/yongqin-jiao.jpg "yongqin-jiao") ### Yongqin Jiao ![Jamie Bramwell](https://engineering.llnl.gov/sites/engineering/files/2024-02/jamie-bramwell.jpg "jamie-bramwell.jpg") ### Jamie Bramwell ## Get to Know the People of Engineering ![A headshot of Research Engineer Eric Elton.](/sites/engineering/files/styles/scalecrop400x400/public/2022-07/eric-elton.jpg?itok=meeDLrFi) ### Eric Elton Research Engineer After earning a B.S. in Chemistry at Utah State University, Eric Elton completed his M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at U.C. Davis. He then worked as a postdoctoral researcher at LLNL prior to joining the Lab as a Research Engineer in the Materials Engineering Division in 2021. His research interests involve complex transport problems and multi-material additive manufacturing. In 2021, Eric was recognized with a Director’s Award for Excellence in Publication following the appearance of his paper "Dramatic Effect of Oxide on Measured Liquid Metal Rheology” in the Journal of Rheology. [Read Full Bio](/eric-elton) ![A headshot of NSED Space Development Group Lead, mechanical engineer, and LLNL’s Space Science and Security Program project manager Cynthia Panas.](/sites/engineering/files/styles/scalecrop400x400/public/2022-07/cynthia-panas.jpg?itok=7If9YHph) ### Cynthia Panas Mechanical Engineer and NSED Space Development Group Lead Cynthia Panas is the NSED Space Development Group Lead and a mechanical engineer and project manager at LLNL’s Space Science and Security Program (SSSP). She has worked on several flight payload platforms and mentors junior engineers in SSSP as they develop new technologies for spacecraft payloads. Previously at LLNL Cynthia supported nuclear weapons stockpile stewardship at NIF, where she led development of the high energy density materials strength platforms. In 2020, she was recognized as a Director’s Science & Technology Award recipient for her work on the NIF High Energy Density Science Campaign supporting the Life Extension Program team. Prior to joining the Lab in 2014, Cynthia worked at Nexus Automation as Lead Design Engineer for custom small scale manufacturing lines, and as a product development engineer on commercial products at Vecna Automation and Bose Corporation. Cynthia earned both a B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT. She is the proud mother of two and a member of her daughter’s Scout pack committee. Her family enjoys all things outdoors, from gardening to camping. [Read Full Bio](/cynthia-panas) ![A headshot of Senior Engineering Associate and Acquisition Management Supervisor Blanca Crivello.](/sites/engineering/files/styles/scalecrop400x400/public/2022-07/blanca-crivello.jpg?itok=NTq1ejwc) ### Blanca Crivello Senior Engineering Associate and Acquisition Management Supervisor Blanca Crivello is Senior Engineering Associate and Acquisition Management Supervisor in the Manufacturing Engineering Section of the Materials Engineering Division. Since joining LLNL in 2002, she has taken advantage of its Education Assistance benefit, earning her AA in Business from Las Positas College, and certificates in project management and leadership from CSU East Bay and MIT. Among the many teams that Blanca has been on in Engineering are the Additive Manufacturing Radioactive Operations Safety Team, Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster Response, Sled Test, First Hypersonic Flight Test, and Sunfish. In 2019 she was on the team that received the Defense Programs Awards of Excellence for the “Conventional Prompt Strike Flight Experiment 1 (FE-1).” Blanca is married and has two great boys whom she considers to be her greatest accomplishment. Outside of work, Blanca enjoys hiking, golfing, dancing and is a bon vivant who loves to serve charcuterie boards to her family and friends. [Read Full Bio](/blanca-crivello) ## Engineering Mission Statement LLNL’s Engineering Principal Directorate is a multidisciplinary, collaborative organization known for achieving breakthroughs in areas vital to our national security missions—from nuclear security and deterrence to cybersecurity to renewable energy. Our areas of expertise include materials engineering and manufacturing, computational engineering, optical engineering, bioengineering, data science and machine learning, and sensing and diagnostics. LLNL Engineering provides the research, design, and execution behind some of the world’s most rigorous and complex engineering projects to support the Lab’s government-funded missions. We also collaborate with industry and academia to develop some of the world’s most sophisticated products, processes, and specialized instruments. Collaborations allow industry and academia to utilize LLNL’s resources to accelerate market-driven innovation and reduce production costs and time, while funneling outside knowledge toward projects in the energy sector, national security, and other applications. People are our most prized resources and the root of our excellence. An outstanding group of researchers, engineers, technicians and machinists, and a specialized support staff all work to achieve our goals, and we value each employee’s contribution to the mission. Diversity is key to our inventiveness, and we are actively recruiting those who would benefit from the inclusive environment Engineering strives to cultivate. ![Man in front of machinery](/sites/engineering/files/styles/orig/public/2022-09/about-cta.jpg?itok=1xf1M_jl) ## Check Out Our Current Openings Top-notch administrative staff, technicians, and engineers make Engineering a powerhouse. Find a role that fits your skills. [See All Open Positions ](https://www.llnl.gov/join-our-team/careers/find-your-job/156da5cf-5933-4153-874f-cfd786065564)