Los Alamos National Laboratory

What You Will Do

This position is open for external candidates only to apply.

This position will be filled at either the R&D Engineer 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.

The Detonation Science and Technology Group (Q-6) serves the Laboratory and the Nation providing the knowledge base and component design responsibilities for the Nuclear Weapons Program and other critical national security areas. The Group's capabilities include design engineering for nuclear weapon detonators and detonator cable assemblies, design, fabrication, qualification, and installation of test fire control systems, pulse power engineering, advanced detonator design and testing, and applied problem solving. Additional capabilities include expertise in the detonation science and physics of detonator energetic materials, and engineering responsibility for the cradle to grave care of the detonators and detonator cable assemblies used by Los Alamos National Laboratory. Q-6 is also responsible for engineering, fabricating, or acquiring precision high explosives detonators for a diverse R&D customer base to meet present and future national security needs in a safe, secure, and efficient manner.

Q-6 is offering an opportunity to join the Detonation Science and Technology Group as a mid-career R&D Engineer. You will work closely with a diverse team of engineers, technologists, and technicians on timing and firing control systems, facility infrastructure integration with high-voltage and laser operations that support critical high consequence experiments. We are looking for a thoughtful, collaborative engineer who enjoys solving real problems, learning quickly, and contributing to a team-oriented environment. In this role, you'll help design and deliver high value projects end-to-end and support the development of tools and systems.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

R&D Engineer 2 ($106,400 - $176,000)

Ideal applicants will have experience in the following areas:

• Design timing & firing system architectures, including hardware, software, electrical interfaces, PCB layouts, schematic development, and mechanical definitions for boards, chassis, and connectors
• Develop embedded and system-level software, including scripts, modules, simulations, HDL logic, and hardware-control interfaces
• Integrate hardware and software subsystems, validating compatibility across electrical, firmware, and mechanical components
• Build and assemble system hardware, including PCB fabrication/assembly oversight, wiring installation, component selection, and in-house inspections for continuity, signal integrity, and workmanship
• Troubleshoot complex mixed-signal systems, using oscilloscopes, TDRs, high-voltage test equipment, digital/analog diagnostics, and data-driven isolation methods
• Document engineering work clearly, including test results, user documentation, lessons learned, version control notes, and integration guides

Education/Experience for R&D Engineer 2: Position requires a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from an accredited institution and 4 years of related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Education/Experience for R&D Engineer 3: 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.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with FPGA/HDL development, embedded systems, and real-time hardware-control firmware
• Strong background in mixed-signal circuit design, signal/power integrity, and PCB manufacturing or DFM practices
• Proficiency with advanced diagnostics such as high-bandwidth scopes, Time Domain Reflectometer (TDRs), network analyzers, or precision LCR equipment
• Familiarity with high-voltage, pulse-power, or safety-critical electrical environments and related engineering standards
• Experience with system-level integration involving sensors, data acquisition (DAQ) hardware, and communication interfaces (SPI, I²C, Ethernet, etc.)
• Competence with version control, technical documentation, and engineering review processes, including V&V or environmental qualification testing
• Ability to independently lead subsystem-level design, including architectural decisions, PCB design ownership, and advanced HDL/embedded development
• Demonstrated skill in solving complex mixed-signal issues using advanced diagnostics (TDRs, network analyzers, high-bandwidth scopes) and data-driven root-cause analysis
• Experience overseeing hardware build and integration, including fabrication reviews, DFM considerations, and validation of signal/power integrity
• Experience contributing to or leading verification, validation, environmental qualification, and engineering review processes
• Demonstrated excellence in technical documentation, producing integration guides, test reports, design notes, and engineering artifacts used by multi-disciplinary teams

Additional desired qualification for a R&D Engineer 3:

• Demonstrated ability to lead multi-disciplinary design efforts, driving system architecture decisions across electrical, firmware, and software
• Proven experience owning full product or subsystem lifecycles, from concept development through prototype build, qualification testing, and operational deployment
• Expertise developing and reviewing complex HDL, embedded control systems, or safety-critical logic with rigorous verification and documentation standards
• Ability to mentor junior engineers and guide peer design reviews, offering technical direction supported by data-driven analysis and diagnostic insight
• Experience designing scalable test frameworks, simulation environments, or automated validation workflows for mixed-signal systems
• Demonstrated success in resolving high-complexity integration issues involving timing, power integrity, high-speed interfaces, or cross-domain interactions

Essential Job Functions (can perform with or without reasonable accommodation): Ability to speak, Reading vision

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:

• For full consideration, a comprehensive cover letter addressing your qualifications against the minimum and desired skills requirements is 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 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.

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.

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.

Apply