What You Will Do

This position will be filled at either the R&D Engineer 1 or R&D Engineer 2 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 Operational Safety & Compliance Group (ORI-2) is seeking a highly motivated engineer to engage in exciting research opportunities. The selected candidate will support ORI-2's mission to reduce operational and programmatic risk at the Institutional and Weapons Production levels, through the application of continuous learning and the implementation of best-in-class safety and nuclear materials management program.

Nuclear material storage surveillance is a key component to ensuring protection to the worker, public, and environment. The development of novel surveillance tools to ensure compliance with DOE orders and standards, in addition to any facility-level requirements, are needed to address many of the incipient concerns with nuclear material storage containers where conventional approaches fail to provide information. The Intelligent Surveillance and Compliance team addresses these concerns through the application of machine learning-driven analytical tools and cutting-edge automated characterization systems. Leveraging a broad technical background, the team develops state-of-the-art deployable solutions in support of the surveillance process and enhances surveillance data by adding useful dimensionality to support container health assessments. As a member of the team, you will be actively involved in a diverse set of activities supporting core programmatic needs and directly impacting national security.

A successful candidate will collaborate with a team of experienced technical staff to explore and understand, in detail, nuclear material storage container health and characterization tools that provide the most relevant information for health screening. Candidates with a background in this research area, willingness to work with others, and a strong academic profile are encouraged to apply.

R&D Engineer 1 ($87,200 - $142,500)

• Develop an in-depth knowledge of nuclear material storage containers, including surveillance activities employed to characterize performance.
• Collaboratively design and develop novel solutions to address current needs, especially for those related to container aging studies.
• Leverage engineering expertise to review current solutions and provide input on pathways for improvement.
• Interface and communicate effectively with individuals at various levels in the organization.
• Engage the scientific community including participation in professional societies, and presentations at conferences and meetings.

R&D Engineer 2 ($96,100 - $159,00)

In addition to the requirements outlined at the lower level, a R&D Engineer 2 will:

• Lead business and technical discussions with customers to ensure needs are being addressed.
• Deploy alongside other teams to investigate phenomena, issues, and concerns relevant to customer needs.
• Develop scope for tasks and goals under defined project milestones and complete them in a timely manner.
• Actively participate in team building exercises including proposal development and mentoring of students and/or postdocs.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

Technical R&D Experience: Experience with research and development activities.

Computational Technique Familiarity: Experience with computational methods commonly used in engineering and material science including finite element analysis.

Communication and Teaming: Sound writing and communication skills in addition to experience working effectively both independently and as part of a team.

Education/Experience for R&D Engineer 1: Position requires a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (material science or mechanical engineering preferred) from an ABET accredited institution related to the occupation combined with 2 years of related experience.

Additional Job Requirements for the R&D Engineer 2:

In addition to the requirements outlined above, the R&D Engineer 2 level also requires:

Technical R&D Experience: Demonstrated experience in technical project planning, execution, and timely deliverable completion.

Technical Writing: Demonstrated excellence in technical writing through proposals, reports, journal publications, and conference proceedings.

Education/Experience at R&D Engineer 2: Position requires a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (material science or mechanical engineering preferred) from an ABET accredited institution and 4 years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Desired Qualifications:

Technical Knowledge: Knowledgeable with concepts core to material science including corrosion and microstructure of metals, in addition to machine learning concepts.

Integrated System Design and Deployment: Demonstrated experience with designing, building, and deploying automated systems with control software.

Programming Proficiency: Demonstrated proficiency with programming languages commonly used in scientific computing including MATLAB and Python.

Computational Modelling Expertise: Demonstrated proficiency of Abaqus, COMSOL, or similar finite element modelling, with emphasis on dynamic, explicit models.

Regulatory Compliance: Knowledge of industry. DOE/NNSA Complex codes, standards, and criteria to ensure developed systems and workflows can be successfully implemented.

Location: This position will be located in Los Alamos, NM.

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.
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/SCI(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.

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 and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or preference, 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 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 1-505-665-4444 option 1.Employment StatusFull Time