Weapon Designer 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 2 or R&D Engineer 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.
Join the frontline of National Security as a Design Engineer at Los Alamos National Laboratory!
Are you ready to make a direct impact on the future of our nation's nuclear deterrent? At Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), we are searching for a passionate and driven Mechanical Design Engineer to join our Rapid Engineering Design & Integration (REDI) team within the Advanced System Development Group (Q-18). This is not just a job; it's a mission of critical national importance.
Why This Role Matters
As a cornerstone of our nation's defense, LANL plays a pivotal role in ensuring the integrity of the U.S. nuclear stockpile. Our work protects millions, upholds peace, and ensures that our nation remains secure in an increasingly complex global landscape. By joining our team, you'll be at the heart of this mission, contributing to the development and advancement of future weapons systems and sustaining the legacy of existing programs.
In Q-18, we responsively address emerging national security challenges through simultaneous technical and programmatic excellence and innovation in the development of future weapons systems with our laboratory and national defense partners. Focusing on effective design, development, and peer review of future weapons systems with an emphasis on improved performance, safety, and agility in support of our nation's foremost defense missions.
We are seeking qualified and enthusiastic individuals to work in Q-18's Rapid Engineering Design & Integration (REDI) team. The REDI team is responsible for developing initial engineering designs for new and modified weapons systems in support of urgent warfighter requirements. You will be part of an agile and responsive team that blazes the trail for the next generation of nuclear weapons. You will be responsible for developing mechanical designs and facilitating fabrication in support of the group's national defense mission and you will ensure that designs are manufacturable and able to withstand the complex deployed weapon environments.
In this role, you will:

• Join a mechanical design team developing cutting-edge weapon designs that meet the performance, safety, and agility requirements of our nation's future nuclear weapons systems.
• Apply mechanical design expertise, and best practices to both new weapon systems and the modification of existing programs.
• Generate and release critical deliverables to meet key customer milestones, ensuring our projects align with national security needs.
• Play a role in technical reviews, briefing management and stakeholders on project progress and innovations.

Apply today and be part of something bigger.
What You Need
R&D Engineer 2 ($106,400 - $176,000)
Technical Expertise:

• Familiarity with nuclear weapons development and design
• Experience with at least some of the R&D product lifecycle, from requirements generation, validation and verification, prototyping and testing.
• Experience in Mechanical Engineering Design including hand calculations and engineering analysis
• Experience with Creo and PDMLink with demonstrated experience designing complex assemblies.
• An understanding of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), materials, and precision mechanical design.
• Ability to produce formal fabrication drawings that follow industry standards.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes and design-for-manufacturing (DFM) principles

Communication and Teamwork:

• Strong written and verbal communication
• Experience working effectively both independently and in a team

R&D Engineer 3 ($128,000 - $215,900)
In addition to the outlined responsibilities at the R&D Engineer 2 level, the minimum requirements at the R&D Engineer 3 level include:
Technical Expertise:

• Experience in nuclear weapons development and design
• Experience with the full R&D product lifecycle, from requirements generation, validation and verification, prototyping and testing.
• Expertise in Mechanical Engineering Design including hand calculations and engineering analysis
• Expertise with Creo and PDMLink with demonstrated experience designing complex assemblies.
• Ability to perform drawing checks and verification of the work from other designers in accordance with drafting standards.
• Experience with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), materials, and precision mechanical design.
• Ability to produce formal fabrication drawings that follow industry standards.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes and design-for-manufacturing (DFM) principles

Communication and Teamwork:

• Strong written and verbal communication
• Experience working effectively both independently and in a team

Safety and Security: Safety and security are primary responsibilities for all Laboratory employees. Maintains required safety and security training and assures compliance; makes safety and security an integral part of every task. Takes steps to stop work if unsafe conditions exist or security is compromised.
Education/Experience at lower level: 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 at higher level: 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.
Desired Qualifications:
Although not required, any number or combination of the following skills may make an applicant for this position more appealing to the hiring committee:

• Active DOE Q clearance.
• Experience with Systems Engineering.
• Advanced Understanding of ASME, ANSI, AWS and related industry standards for addressing fit, form, and function.
• Experience interfacing with machine shop personnel, or hands-on knowledge of machining processes and assembly.
• Experience interfacing with Department of War industry partners

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: Along with your resume, please submit a detailed cover letter explaining how you meet each of the minimum requirements and any of desired qualifications.

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