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.
Located in northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is primarily responsible for monitoring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile and conducting advanced research in numerous areas related to national security. Additionally, it is a center for research in a wide range of scientific disciplines, including space exploration, geophysics, renewable energy, supercomputing, medicine, and nanotechnology.
Welcome to the Associate Laboratory Directorate for Weapons Production (ALDWP) and the Pit Technologies (PT) Division. The PT Division is one of 10 divisions in ALDWP. We are confident that you will find the PT Division a dynamic and rewarding place to work. Our employees are the most valuable asset within ALDWP and the Laboratory as a whole. The PT Division provides plutonium pit related products and services of superior quality and value to protect our nation and promote world stability.
The selected candidate will leverage their technical expertise within the Product Engineering group in PT-5 (Product Engineering). PT-5 consists of a multidisciplinary group of engineers and scientists that supports plutonium programs (i.e., pit production, surveillance, research and development, and subcritical experiments) across the entire PT Division. Individuals working in this position will be directly supporting the operations necessary to ensure high-quality production and provide configuration management to the suite of PT programmatic missions from development through production.
R&D Engineer 3 ($128,000 - $215,900)
At this level, you will:
Lead research, design, testing, analysis, verification, and validation of engineering solutions
Apply advanced engineering principles to solve complex or ambiguous technical problems
Develop innovative concepts, methods, and technologies
Influence project and program strategies and technical direction
Lead technical decision-making at the task or project level
Develop and execute project plans including scope, schedule, and deliverables
Produce technical reports, presentations, and publications
Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams and organizations
Participate in external collaborations, working groups, and professional activities
Mentor and train junior engineers and staff
R&D Engineer 4 ($153,600 - $266,500)
In addition to the responsibilities listed above, at this level you will:
Serve as a recognized technical expert or authority in your field
Lead large-scale, high-impact engineering projects and programs
Set technical direction and approve approaches for complex challenges
Influence division, directorate, and institutional strategies
Drive development of advanced technologies and capabilities
Lead major project planning, including scope, schedule, and budget
Manage complex, high-risk projects involving multiple teams and organizations
Represent the Laboratory in external engagements and collaborations
Lead peer reviews across organizations and disciplines
Mentor and guide technical staff across the division
Lead development of major proposals and new program opportunities
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
Engineering Expertise
Advanced knowledge of engineering principles, practices, and procedures
Demonstrated experience leading R&D projects, including design, analysis, and testing
Ability to solve complex, ambiguous technical problems using advanced methodologies
Technical Leadership
Experience leading engineering tasks, projects, or programs
Demonstrated ability to influence technical decisions and program direction
Experience mentoring or guiding junior staff
Analytical Skills
Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
Experience designing experiments and interpreting complex data
Commitment to high-quality, timely deliverables
Communication and Collaboration
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Experience presenting technical work to stakeholders and leadership
Ability to work across multidisciplinary teams in high-intensity environments
Additional Job Requirements for R&D Engineer 4:
In addition to the requirements outlined above, qualification at the higher level requires:
Advanced expertise across multiple engineering disciplines or deep specialization
Proven ability to lead large, complex programs or high-risk projects
Demonstrated influence on organizational strategy and technical direction
Experience representing organizations externally and leading major collaborations
Strong track record of innovation, publications, or technical contributions
Education/Experience at lower level: Master's degree in engineering and 6+ years of related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience. A PhD may be preferred.
Education/Experience at higher level: Master's degree in engineering and 12+ years of related experience; or equivalent combination. A PhD is often preferred
DOE O. 426.2: Requires a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering or related science, 2 years job related experience, and 1 year of nuclear experience.
Desired Qualifications:
Experience in manufacturing or production environments
Knowledge of materials science, metallurgy, or related fields
Experience with qualification testing, analysis, or modeling
Familiarity with conduct of operations and rigorous engineering processes
Project management experience (scope, schedule, budget)
Active DOE Q clearance (or ability to obtain)
Experience in various work environments
Demonstrated knowledge or experience working in a manufacturing or production organization requiring implementation of defined manufacturing, testing and quality requirements.
Interdisciplinary project experience with varied technical backgrounds within a group.
Willingness to take initiative on new tasks or projects.
Quality and Improvement
Demonstrated knowledge and experience with system and subsystem qualification testing and/or analysis.
Demonstrated knowledge of conduct of operations principles.
Demonstrated experience performing engineering work using rigorous institutional processes.
Active Q clearance or equivalent
Existing DOE "Q" clearance (or similar).
Technical Knowledge
Materials Selection/Design
Non-destructive evaluation techniques (ex: radiography)
Microscopy/Image Analysis
Maintainability/Reliability Certification
Materials Characterization
Data Analysis
Chemical Analysis
Electrochemistry
Metallurgy experience
Computational modeling
Computer programming
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.
Note to Applicants:
This position requires 24/7 coverage and therefore may require working a rotating shift schedule that includes nights and weekends.
Please submit a detailed resume and cover letter highlighting your experience and achievements to be considered for this position.
Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of 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
This position requires 24/7 coverage and therefore may require working a rotating shift schedule that includes nights and weekends.
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. 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 for additional information.
HRP: This position is subject to the requirements of the DOE Human Reliability Program as specified in 10 Code of Federal Regulation, Part 712, §712.11. These requirements include on going drug and alcohol testing, as well as periodic medical and psychological evaluations.
426.2: This position is subject to DOE Order 426.2, Personnel Selection, Training, and Qualification Requirements for DOE Nuclear Facilities, which establishes entry-level requirements to ensure candidates selected for specific positions can successfully perform the requirements of the job.
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 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.
Tyler Daniel: sdaniel@lanl.gov
Alex Wroblewski: alexwrob@lanl.gov
