Graduate Materials Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has turned bold ideas into world-changing impact advancing science and technology to strengthen U.S. security and promote global stability. 

Our mission spans four critical national security areas nuclear deterrence, threat preparedness, energy security, and multi-domain defense empowering teams to take on the toughest challenges of today and tomorrow. With a culture built on innovation and operational excellence, LLNL is a place where your expertise can make a real impact.

We have an opening for an Academic Graduate Appointee to support research in the Bioengineering and Advanced Fabrication Group. You will contribute to the design, fabrication, testing, and characterization of advanced materials, microfabricated devices, and biomedical technologies for applications. This role offers hands-on experience in a multidisciplinary research environment spanning bioengineering, materials science, microfabrication, and advanced manufacturing.  This position is in the Materials Engineering Division (MED) which is part of the Engineering Directorate.

In this role, you will

• Assist with the design, fabrication, and evaluation of bioprinted tissue constructs, organ-on-a-chip devices, and related material systems for bioengineering applications.
• Prepare bioinks, hydrogels, cells, microfabricated devices, samples, and test structures for experimental studies.
• Support DLP bioprinting of multi-material and multicellular hydrogel constructs, including vascular-like architectures.
• Assist with sterile mammalian cell culture, cell encapsulation, device seeding, and maintenance of engineered tissue models under aseptic conditions.
• Conduct biomaterial and tissue characterization using methods such as rheology, swelling analysis, immunostaining, confocal microscopy, and cell-viability assays.
• Collect, analyze, visualize, and document experimental data in laboratory notebooks, technical summaries, and presentations.
• Develop, refine, and follow experimental procedures in collaboration with scientists, engineers, and technical staff.
• Conduct literature reviews and contribute to technical reports, presentations, and publications.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree in bioengineering, biomedical engineering, materials science, chemical engineering, biology, or a related field.
• Experience or relevant coursework in biomaterials, tissue engineering, microfluidics, organ-on-a-chip systems, or additive manufacturing.
• Experience with hydrogel or bioink formulation and characterization.
• Familiarity with 3D bioprinting, preferably digital light processing, DLP, bioprinting.
• Experience with sterile mammalian cell culture and aseptic laboratory techniques.
• Familiarity with biological and materials characterization methods, such as rheology, microscopy, immunostaining, cell-viability assays, or image analysis.
• Ability to collect, analyze, visualize, and document experimental data using laboratory notebooks and standard data-analysis software.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate in a multidisciplinary research environment and contribute to technical reports, presentations, and literature reviews

Qualifications We Desire

• Experience with vascular tissue models, including endothelial-cell culture, barrier-function assays, inflammation, permeability, or coagulation-related measurements.
• Experience designing, fabricating, or operating microfluidic and organ-on-a-chip devices.
• Experience with DLP bioprinting, multi-material biofabrication, and development of cell-laden hydrogel constructs.
• Experience with laboratory automation, robotics, multi-omics datasets, and/or computational analysis methods, including Python, R, or machine-learning approaches.

Pay Range

$7,510 - $9,282 Monthly 

Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. Many factors are taken into consideration when setting starting pay including education, experience, the external labor market, and internal equity. 

#LI-Onsite

Position Information

This is a one-year Academic Graduate Appointee, open to those who have been awarded a degree at the time of the employment offer.

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2026 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Flexible Benefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Our values - visit https://www.llnl.gov/inclusion/our-values

Security Clearance

None required.  However, if your assignment is longer than 179 days cumulatively within a calendar year, you must go through the Personal Identity Verification process.  This process includes completing an online background investigation form and receiving approval of the background check.  

National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)

The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Section 3112, generally prohibits citizens of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea without dual US citizenship or legal permanent residence from accessing specific non-public areas of national security or nuclear weapons facilities.  The restrictions of NDAA Section 3112 apply to this position.  To be qualified for this position, Candidates must be eligible to access the Laboratory in compliance with Section 3112.

Pre-Employment Drug Test

External applicant(s) selected for this position must pass a post-offer, pre-employment drug test. This includes testing for use of marijuana as Federal Law applies to us as a Federal Contractor.

Wireless and Medical Devices

Per the Department of Energy (DOE), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory must meet certain restrictions with the use and/or possession of mobile devices in Limited Areas. Depending on your job duties, you may be required to work in a Limited Area where you are not permitted to have a personal and/or laboratory mobile device in your possession.  This includes, but not limited to cell phones, tablets, fitness devices, wireless headphones, and other Bluetooth/wireless enabled devices.  

If you use a medical device, which pairs with a mobile device, you must still follow the rules concerning the mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas.  Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities require separate approval. Hearing aids without wireless capabilities or wireless that has been disabled are allowed in Limited Areas, Secure Space and Transit/Buffer Space within buildings.

How to identify fake job advertisements

Please be aware of recruitment scams where people or entities are misusing the name of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to post fake job advertisements. LLNL never extends an offer without a personal interview and will never charge a fee for joining our company. All current job openings are displayed on the Career Page under "Find Your Job" of our website. If you have encountered a job posting or have been approached with a job offer that you suspect may be fraudulent, we strongly recommend you do not respond.

To learn more about recruitment scams: https://www.llnl.gov/sites/www/files/2023-05/LLNL-Job-Fraud-Statement-Updated-4.26.23.pdf

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer that is committed to providing all with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status, age, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

Reasonable Accommodation

Our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates applying and interviewing at the Laboratory.  If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please use our online form to submit a request. 

California Privacy Notice

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants privacy rights to all California residents. The law also entitles job applicants, employees, and non-employee workers to be notified of what personal information LLNL collects and for what purpose. The Employee Privacy Notice can be accessed here.