What You Will Do
We are seeking a data scientist with strong programming skills and hands-on experience with experimental test data to join our Test Engineering Data Analysis Team . In this role, you'll integrate diverse weapons measurement data-mechanical, thermal, and blast-convert it from disparate acquisition formats into our standard archive, and ensure it's quality-checked and readily available in a central repository. You'll develop and maintain a codebase for data analysis to produce accurate, reproducible, data-driven products in support of the annual assessment, stockpile modernization, global nonproliferation initiatives, and other national-security missions. You will collaborate closely with systems and test engineers to build test environments, apply advanced statistical and signal-processing methods, generate figures, tables, and reports, and contribute to a shared codebase of analysis tools that underpin both weapons and broader global security ventures.
This posting is under the Associate Laboratory Directorate for Weapons Engineering (ALDW) and will be filled at either the Scientist 2 or 3 level, depending on the skills of the selected candidate. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level.
Scientist 2 ($104,100 - $172,200)
You will transform raw data into actionable insights that drive critical R&D efforts, importing, cleaning, and preprocessing complex datasets-from experimental shock, vibration, and thermal tests to high-fidelity simulations-while ensuring all test data is quality-checked and centrally archived with a fully traceable history. You'll collaborate with systems and test engineers to develop and maintain test environments and a shared codebase of reproducible analysis tools, apply advanced statistical and signal-processing techniques to extract patterns, detect anomalies, and answer both directed and exploratory questions, and conduct peer reviews of your colleagues' results. Your work will directly support high-consequence decisions and the Laboratory's mission to solve national-security challenges through scientific excellence, all while growing your career in a mission-driven, collaborative environment.
Scientist 3 ($125,200 - $211,300)
In addition to the duties outlined at the lower levels, at the Scientist 3 level you will be required to provide technical leadership to members of an analysis team, interface with customers, engage in strategic planning to pursue new streams of relevant data, and innovate by developing novel approaches, whether that means designing cutting-edge data-analysis techniques or pioneering advanced statistical methodologies.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
Data Analysis and Preprocessing: Demonstrated experience importing, cleaning, and preprocessing datasets from experimental or simulation sources, with an emphasis on time series data such as mechanical shock, vibration, and thermal measurements.
Statistical Methods and Signal Processing: Proficiency in applying applied statistics and signal processing techniques to extract insights, identify patterns, and detect anomalies in time-series or sensor data.
Programming and Tools: Proficient in at least one data analysis programming language such as Python, MATLAB, or R. Experience with libraries and tools commonly used for numerical analysis, data visualization, and signal processing.
Problem Solving and Critical Thinking: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment.
Communication and Collaboration: Effective written and verbal communication skills. Ability to clearly document methods and results and to engage productively with team members, engineers, and scientists.
Clearance: Ability to obtain a DOE Q clearance.
Additional Job Requirements for Scientist 3:
In addition to the requirements outlined above, qualification at the higher level requires:
Professional Experience:
Additional experience beyond the minimum requirements, particularly in roles involving analysis of scientific data in research, defense, or national laboratory settings.
Experience supporting or collaborating on cross-disciplinary scientific projects with high-impact deliverables.
Domain Knowledge:
Practical experience handling and analyzing time-series data from scientific sources such as mechanical-shock, vibration, thermal or environmental sensor streams.
Technical Expertise:
Familiarity with designing and implementing data-analysis pipelines, exploratory data analysis, and statistical or machine-learning methods for extracting insights from experimental or diagnostic datasets.
Strong background in time-series analysis, advanced signal-processing techniques (filtering, FFT, spectral decomposition), and interpreting complex physical phenomena via quantitative methods.
Software and Data Systems:
Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git), database management, or scientific workflow tools.
Exposure to data pipelines, visualization platforms, or high-performance computing environments.
Proficient in multiple languages such as Python, MATLAB, Julia, etc....
Education/Experience at Scientist 2: Positions requires a Bachelor' degree in a STEM field from an accredited college or university and 4 years of related experience, typically with post-doctoral research experience at a university or national lab or equivalent experience directly related to the occupation
Education/Experience at Scientist 3: Position requires a Master's degree in a STEM field from an accredited college or university and 6 years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.
Desired Qualifications:
Clearance:
Active DOE Q clearance
Data Engineering and Big Data
Experience with handling large-scale datasets: designing ETL pipelines, orchestrating data workflows, and managing both relational (SQL) and NoSQL databases.
Machine Learning and Deep Learning
Building and fine-tuning predictive models. Proficiency in supervised and unsupervised learning methods and deep learning architectures.
Desired Education
Advanced degrees in STEM field
Instrumentation
Experience specifying data acquisition equipment or instrumentation requirements.
Modeling/Simulation
Experience with modeling and simulation
U.S. Nuclear Stockpile
Working knowledge of nuclear weapons and the U.S. stockpile
Note to Applicants: Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China-including the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau-as well as citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and the Russian Federation, who are not Lawful Permanent Residents ("green card" holders) are prohibited from accessing facilities that support the mission, functions, and operations of national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, which includes Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Where You Will Work
Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:
§ PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network
§ Dental and vision insurance
§ Free basic life and disability insurance
§ Paid childbirth and parental leave
§ Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
§ Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
§ Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)
§ Onsite gyms and wellness programs
§ Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)
Additional Details
Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2 (https://directives.nnsa.doe.gov/supplemental-directive/sd-0206-0002) . Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.
Clearance: Q (Position will be cleared to this level). Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government, and must meet eligibility requirements* for access to classified matter. This position requires a Q clearance. and obtaining such clearance requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Dependent upon the position, additional authorization to access classified information may be required, which may or may not be available to dual citizens. Receipt of a Q clearance and additional access authorization ultimately is a decision of the Federal Government and not of Triad.
*Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order 472.2 (https://www.directives.doe.gov/directives-documents/400-series/0472.2-BOrder-A/@Aimages/file) for additional information.
New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.
Regular position: Term status Laboratory employees applying for regular-status positions are converted to regular status.
Internal Applicants: Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy Policy P701 (https://int.lanl.gov/policy/documents/P701.pdf) for applicant eligibility requirements.
Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to protected categories such as race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to applyhelp@lanl.gov or call (505)-664-6947 opt. 3.
