Los Alamos National Laboratory

What You Will Do

This position will be filled at either the R&D Engineer 2 or R&D Engineer 3 level, depending on the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate. Additional responsibilities will apply at the higher level.

Located in northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is the nation's premier plutonium center of excellence. We are a leader in safeguarding the U.S. nuclear stockpile while pushing the frontiers of science and technology across national security, space exploration, geophysics, renewable energy, supercomputing, medicine, and nanotechnology.

The Pit Technologies (PT) Division, part of the Associate Laboratory Directorate for Weapons Production (ALDWP), is at the forefront of delivering world-class plutonium pit-related products and services. The PT Division ensures high-consequence manufacturing operations meet rigorous compliance, safety, and quality standards.

As part of the PT-2 Machining Group, you will contribute your expertise in precision machining and mechanical engineering to support national security objectives. You will design, develop, and qualify critical components for nuclear weapons systems and experimental platforms in a high-tech, secure, and mission-driven environment.

Key responsibilities include:

• Design mechanical components, tooling, and fixtures for CNC machining, EDM, turning, drilling, and other advanced manufacturing processes.
• Support the fabrication and handling of plutonium and other actinides in a glovebox and hazardous material environment.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with machinists, technologists, project managers, and scientists.
• Lead and participate in hazard analyses, readiness reviews, and quality assurance activities.
• Troubleshoot and maintain complex machinery and integrate new equipment and capabilities into the manufacturing floor.
• Optimize manufacturing processes to improve yield, reduce cycle time, and enhance throughput.

R&D Engineer 2 $104,100 - $172,200

• Engage in hands-on mechanical design and fabrication support.
• Contribute to the development and integration of manufacturing processes.
• Solve complex problems with innovative engineering solutions.

R&D Engineer 3 $125,200 - $211,300

In addition to the responsibilities at the lower level, a candidate selected at this level will:

• Lead multidisciplinary engineering efforts and guide high-rigor mechanical system development.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in design, analysis (including stress analysis and tolerance stack-ups), and process integration.
• Mentor junior engineers and influence project strategy.
• Represent LANL in internal and external technical collaborations.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in an engineering discipline.
• Comprehensive knowledge of designing, planning, and executing research and development projects.
• Experience with CNC machine tools, inspection equipment, and hands-on mechanical engineering in a high-precision environment.
• Familiarity with hazardous materials, including radioactive, pyrophoric, and toxic substances.
• Strong troubleshooting skills and understanding of machine dynamics and kinematics.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD/CAM software (e.g., Creo, SolidWorks) and ASME Y14.5 GD&T.
• Knowledge of machining operations: milling, turning, EDM, and drilling.
• Understanding of materials science and feed/speed optimization.
• Experience with inspection and metrology tools (e.g., calipers, micrometers).
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills in multidisciplinary environments.
• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain a Q clearance.

Additional Job Requirements for R&D Engineer 3:

In addition to the requirements outlined above, qualification at the higher level requires:

• Thorough knowledge of and experience in engineering disciplines
• Excellent project management skills, including the ability to plan and execute R&D projects
• Demonstrated leadership in engineering design and manufacturing integration.
• Track record of leading technical projects with defined scope, schedule, and deliverables.
• Experience in mentoring and technical leadership.
• Innovation in design, manufacturing methods, or systems engineering.
• Strong technical writing and presentation skills.

Education/Experience at lower level: Bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited institution and 4 years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Education/Experience at higher level: Master's degree in engineering from an accredited institution and 6 years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. A Ph.D. may be preferred at this level.

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:

• Active Q clearance or participation in the Human Reliability Program (HRP).
• Experience working in nuclear or radiological environments and glovebox operations.
• Familiarity with NQA-1 or equivalent quality assurance frameworks.
• Use of simulation tools (ANSYS, COMSOL) for thermal or mechanical analysis.
• Background in CNC programming, additive manufacturing, and custom tooling design.
• Experience leading process hazard analyses and readiness activities.
• Certification in Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).

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:

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. 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.

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