Permanent Weapon Design Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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 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.
As an R&D Engineer assigned to the Plutonium Tooling Group, the selected applicant will support the development of tooling and equipment for all PT groups and operations. This person will serve as a senior design engineer and will work closely with other PT product engineering, design, and fabrication personnel in a dynamic and collaborative work environment to provide timely and novel solutions.
R&D Engineer 3 ($128,000 - $215,900)
At this level, you will:

• Manage multiple challenging design projects simultaneously, leading and/or performing activities such as requirements management, concept development, engineering analysis, detailed design, prototyping, and test plan development.
• Work with a variety of stakeholders in product engineering, quality engineering, process engineering, procurement engineering, facilities engineering, and other organizations to deliver timely solutions that are fit for use in a category 2 nuclear production facility.

R&D Engineer 4 ($153,600 - $266,500)
In addition to the responsibilities listed above, at this level you will:

• Serve as a technical authority and overall approver for tooling design definitions.
• Serve as the lead engineering mentor on the Tooling Design team, playing a key role in the training and qualification program for more junior engineers and technologists.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:
Design Engineering Expertise

• Thorough knowledge and proven experience in mechanical design engineering disciplines, including materials, joining methods (permanent and non-permanent), load and stress analysis, deflection, and other relevant disciplines
• Demonstrated experience leading R&D projects, including design, analysis, and testing
• Proficiency in computer aided design (CAD), drafting principles, and the application of relevant engineering drawing standards
• Proficiency in geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) and the ability to achieve an ASME GDTP Senior level certification
• Thorough knowledge and experience in manufacturing techniques and best practices, especially machine shop and inspection equipment

Technical Leadership

• Experience leading engineering tasks, projects, or programs
• Demonstrated ability to influence technical decisions and program direction
• Experience mentoring or guiding junior staff

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.
Education/Experience at higher level: Master's degree in engineering and 12+ years of related experience; or equivalent combination.
Desired Qualifications:

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with Creo Parametric and PDMlink
• Demonstrated experience in a nuclear environment or with nuclear weapon design or manufacturing
• A professional engineering (PE) license in mechanical engineering
• A current ASME GDTP Senior level certification to ASME Y14.5
• Active DOE "Q" clearance (or equivalent)

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-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
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.
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.
Incentive Compensation Program: Position is eligible to participate in the Triad Incentive Compensation Program. You must be in an eligible position for a minimum of 3 months, before July 1st and remain in an eligible position as of the end of the fiscal year, September 30th. The annual distribution is prorated based on the number of months in the eligible position.
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.