What You Will Do
This position will be filled at either the R&D Engineer 3 or R&D Engineer 4 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.
Join the W93 System Development and Realization Group (Q-20) as a Research and Development Engineer 3/4 to be the W93 Electrical Functional Qualification Lead. In this pivotal role, you will lead and manage the W93 Electrical Functional Qualification team and collaborate with the W93 Qualification, Test, and Evaluation (QTE) Director to build, develop, and manage the team responsible for planning, executing, and reporting on the component, sub-system, and system electrical functional tests and analyses for the W93/Mk7. Your work will provide the critical evidence needed to support the development and ultimate qualification of this groundbreaking new weapon system. This is an unparalleled opportunity to be part of the first new weapon system program in over 30 years. The Q-20 Group is responsible for defining, developing, and fielding the warhead system for the Navy's newest submarine-launched ballistic missile program.
As the Electrical Functional Qualification lead, you will partner closely with the QTE Director, the Q-20 system engineers, product-realization teams, and other qualification experts to drive the full lifecycle of the electrical functional qualification program. Early in the project you'll help execute tests and analyses that assess how the initial W93 design meets the stringent requirements of both the tactical War Reserve system and the surveillance Joint Test Assemblies. As the program matures, you will take a central role in gathering critical qualification evidence and interfacing directly with key stakeholders-including the NNSA, U.S.Navy, Sandia National Laboratories, and LockheedMartinSpace.
In this capacity, you will also lead the development of the Electrical Environmental Specification (ES), shaping the electrical-environment requirements that underpin the program. You will be responsible for the electrical-domain contributions to the Certification Plan (CQ), which defines the testing and analysis strategy needed to achieve full requirement validation, verification, and design qualification for both the War Reserve and Joint Test Assembly configurations of the W93/Mk7. Collaboration with the test and analysis teams at Sandia and LockheedMartinSpace will be essential to qualify the re-entry system and ensure the W93 warhead delivers safe, secure, and reliable performance, sustaining a robust nuclear deterrent.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
Electrical Qualification Lead (R&D Engineer 3) $125,200-$211,300
Engineering Expertise: Proven ability to apply advanced engineering principles, practices, and procedures to research, design, test, analyze, verify, and validate complex solutions.
Engineering Test and Evaluation: Extensive experience leading design certification, qualification, and complex test/analysis efforts for systems, subsystems, and components. Skilled in requirement derivation, traceability, and verification to validate robust design and performance.
Program/Project Management: Demonstrated ability to apply project management principles and tools to deliver products on schedule, while effectively managing multiple concurrent projects with varying priorities.
Stakeholder Engagement: Demonstrated success in interacting and integrating effectively with external and internal interfaces (including DoD, NNSA, and other agencies), building trust, gaining consensus, and resolving conflicts while nurturing relationships.
Electrical Qualification Lead (R&D Engineer 4) $150,300-$260,800
In addition to the requirements outlined above, qualification at the higher level requires:
Leadership and Collaboration: Exceptional track record of developing and leading high-performing, cross-functional teams to tackle complex challenges and deliver impactful solutions.
Engineering Design: Advanced knowledge and experience in designing and executing interconnected system, sub-system, and component electrical tests and analyses with data needs and components from multiple stakeholders.
Education/Experience at lower level: Position requires a Master's Degree in Engineering from an accredited institution and 6 years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation. At this level a Ph.D. may be preferred.
Education/Experience at higher level: Position requires a Master's Degree in Engineering from an accredited institution and 12 years of related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation. At this level a Ph.D. may be preferred
Desired Qualifications
Nuclear Weapon Lifecycle Experience: Experience in the design, development, qualification, certification, assembly/production, or surveillance of nuclear weapons (Phase 6.X or Phase X processes), preferrable U.S. Navy systems.
Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) Expertise: Experience with Model Based Systems Engineer (MBSE) processes and tools for tracing requirements.
Proven Senior-Level Engagement: Seasoned experience interacting with and presenting to senior-level management and customers.
Educational Qualification: Electrical Engineering degree.
Security Clearance: Active Q Clearance, equivalent DoD clearance, or the ability to obtain an Active Q Clearance.
Work Environment:
Work Location: The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.
Position commitment:
Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position in order to be eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the time required, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. The position commitment for this position is 1 year.
Work Schedule: This position will be required to work onsite and will have access to the 5/40 or 9/80 schedules.
Note to Applicants:
For full consideration, please submit a comprehensive resume reflective of your relevant experience to the job requirements and desired skills stated above
Domestic travel will be required
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 maternity and parental leave
Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
Flexible schedules and time off (paid sick, vacation, 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.
Incentive Compensation Program: Position is eligible to participate in the Triad Incentive Compensation Program. You must be in an eligible position for a minimum of 3 months, before July 1st and remain in an eligible position as of the end of the fiscal year, September 30th. The annual distribution is prorated based on the number of months in the eligible position.
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.
