Meet the People of IAEA Safeguards

Scott Luzi

How did you end up joining the IAEA and what were you doing prior to that?

A family friend decided to expatriate to Germany for a while and I found the idea compelling. When I posted my resume on job websites, I mentioned that I was open to relocating for opportunities in Germany. At the time, I had not considered moving to nearby Austria or pursuing a career with the IAEA. Despite being actively and happily employed, I never turn down a phone call after I post my resume. It would take a huge opportunity to get me to leave, and that is exactly what I was offered. I was approached by the United States Support Program (USSP) about a potential Junior Professional Officer (JPO) opportunity with the IAEA in Austria. Between living in Vienna and working for the IAEA, all it took was that phone call to get my career started.

Before accepting the role at AIEA, I was a Systems Engineer for an internationally distributed water desalination company (Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA)/The Caribbean/South America). I was the primary engineer for our cloud services and on-premises datacenter(s). Before that, I ran a service desk for an IT services organization and handled resource allocation, technical escalations, and other related tasks.

What have you learned about yourself while working in this capacity?

Working at the IAEA has been challenging, rewarding, and, ultimately, humbling. I think the biggest lesson I have taken from working within the Agency's challenging security framework is that previously, I was not as thorough in my product engineering as I thought I was. Working here demands very exacting requirements which need to be engineered to accommodate for. I have also learned that I generally enjoy working in a mentor capacity, o the opportunity with the IAEA has allowed me to cross-train colleagues in a variety of technologies.

How will working at the IAEA enhance your career?

Working at the IAEA will provide me, I believe, a degree of credibility that I am not sure I could replicate through other means. My career progression within the agency has shown demonstrable, professional growth. Frankly, the scale at which we work and the constraints we must adhere to are unique and valuable engineering challenges. Working at the agency by name alone is a boon but excelling while working at the Agency pays dividends in practical experience.

What is your favorite thing about your current work at the IAEA?

First, the people working at the IAEA are some of the best and brightest I've ever had the privilege to engage with. Customers, fellow IT engineers, and leadership have all been wonderful. The people are probably my favorite part about working here. Second, I enjoy the challenges we have to engineer around to deliver good customer-oriented solutions. As the old saying goes, “Necessity is the mother of invention”. When you turn challenges into opportunities, you can achieve results and grow.

What is living and working in Vienna like?

Living and working in Vienna is nearly idyllic. Healthcare is very accessible and public transportation is top notch. The scenery is beautiful. If you like hiking, you will love it here. The city oozes culture and history in a way that I have no comparison for. It's a wonderful jumping-off point to travel Europe and see other nearby countries. My wife and I have been able to expose our daughter, at a young age, to various languages and cultures she simply would not experience otherwise.

How is working at the IAEA in Vienna different than working at other jobs within the United States?

Work-life balance is something that is encouraged and supported here. We are given generous leave packages and entitlements, which make working at the IAEA compelling. Based on my experience, there is more emphasis on collaborating among peers. The impact of the work is also different. Depending on past experiences, you may find yourself working with a purpose that you didn't have before. That purpose brings immense job satisfaction that, based on other work I've done, could not be duplicated elsewhere.

What would you say to those that are hesitant to apply?

Transitioning to the IAEA and life in Vienna can be challenging, but it isn't a reason not to apply. Do it anyway. If you yearn for a job with purpose and want to experience a diverse workplace (that happens to be in Vienna — which has its own benefits), definitely apply. The experiences you will have at the IAEA, in Vienna, and in Europe, if you decide to travel, are opportunities you may not be able to enjoy elsewhere. I moved to Vienna with my entire family, which includes my wife, our nine-month-old daughter and our two dogs. It was challenging, but it has also been immensely rewarding.