Accelerator Beamline Technologist 2/3 (Engineering Technologist 2/3)

Los Alamos National Laboratory; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PPO or High Deductible medical insurance

Dental and vision insurance

401(k) matching

Flexible schedules

Onsite gyms

Job summary

Los Alamos National Laboratory is seeking an Engineering Technologist 2/3 in Los Alamos, NM to provide technical leadership in testing and troubleshooting ion sources and beamlines. The role includes maintaining vacuum and mechanical systems and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.

Candidates should have a relevant Bachelor’s degree and proven experience in high voltage systems, with the ability to work independently and document technical results effectively.

Qualifications

• 5 years of experience for Engineering Technologist 2, or 8 years for Technologist 3.
• Ability to safely perform hands-on work in a laboratory environment.
• Experience with operations and maintenance at an accelerator facility.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain high voltage ion sources and beamlines.
• Lead installation and testing of mechanical systems.
• Prepare technical documentation and communicate with team members.

Skills

Experience in high voltage systems

Troubleshooting electrical circuits

Data analysis

Lab management

Technical documentation preparation

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering Technology, Science, Math or related field

Tools

Python

C/C++

EPICS

Job description

Responsibilities

The Accelerator Operations and Technology Division Applied Electrodynamics (AOT-AE) group is seeking an Engineering Technologist 2/3 to provide expertise, support, and technical leadership in testing and troubleshooting ion sources and beamlines. Responsibilities include experiment setup, live data analysis during testing, and maintenance of vacuum, mechanical systems, plasmas, or electric circuits. The position is funded by the LANSCE Accelerator Modernization Project (LAMP) and involves developmental activities for the LAMP accelerator, interacting with experimental physicists and engineers at various test stands.

Engineering Technologist 2 Tasks

• Operating, maintaining, and repairing H+ and H- ion sources
• Operating and maintaining vacuum, water, and pressure systems on ion source beamlines
• Operating, and maintaining ion source and beamline diagnostics
• Assist with the creation of operational procedures and safety documentation
• Preparing written technical documentation, test records, and summaries, and communicating test activities and results effectively with engineers, technologists, and other team members.
• Working independently on assigned tasks and collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to support project and operational goals.

Engineering Technologist 3 Tasks

• Operating, maintaining, repairing, and improving H+ and H- ion sources
• Operating, maintaining, and designing vacuum, water and pressure systems on ion source beamlines
• Design mechanical or electrical components for use on the ion source or beamline
• Operating, maintaining, repairing and improving ion source and beamline diagnostics
• Lead the creation of operational procedures and safety documentation
• Lead the installation, troubleshooting, checkout, and testing of high-voltage or mechanical systems, including resolving complex technical issues during operations and test activities.
• Planning, coordinating, and leading test experiments, including preparing test configurations, supporting safe execution, documenting results, and helping drive resolution of identified issues.
• Working independently with minimal oversight while coordinating closely with engineers, technologists, and other team members to meet technical and operational objectives.

Minimum Job Requirements

• Demonstrated experience in the operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and characterization of high voltage systems, electrical circuits, plasmas, particle beams, or vacuum systems, with the ability to analyze performance, identify anomalous behavior, and implement effective solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to safely perform hands‑on work in a laboratory or experimental environment, including monitoring live tests, diagnosing system issues in real time, and operating within approved electrical and laboratory safety requirements.
• Demonstrated knowledge of developing, refining, and executing structured test plans and procedures based on test data, observed results, and engineering objectives to support troubleshooting, validation, and performance improvement.

Additional Job Requirements for Engineering Technologist 3 Level

• Demonstrated experience in the successful design of high voltage or vacuum systems.
• Demonstrated experience with programming (e.g., Python, C/C++, EPICS).
• Experience with procuring complex custom equipment, including fabricated parts, power supplies, and other science equipment.
• Lab management experience including proactively managing supplies of lab consumables, spare components, and equipment maintenance.
• Experience maintaining and running scientific systems as part of a research and development facility.

Education / Experience

Engineering Technologist 2: Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering Technology, Science, Math or related degree and 5 years of directly related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Engineering Technologist 3: Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, Science, Math or related degree from an accredited institution and 8 years of directly related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Desired Qualifications

• Operations and maintenance experience at an accelerator facility.
• Familiarity with maintenance and operations of ion sources.
• Experience developing safe working procedures for hazardous systems involving stored energy (e.g., electrical, chemical, mechanical).

Benefits

• PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with a 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

The Accelerator Operations and Technology (AOT) Division provides leadership in accelerator science, engineering, and operations in support of National User Facilities and national security challenges. The division operates the injector, beam transport, linear accelerators, proton storage ring, and targets of the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE), a multidisciplinary national user facility that delivers intense neutron and proton pulsed beams for research and medical isotope production.

Location: Los Alamos, NM. The position is onsite.

Security and Eligibility

Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China (including Hong Kong and Macau), the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and the Russian Federation who are not lawful permanent residents are prohibited from accessing facilities that support national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, which includes Los Alamos National Laboratory.

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 see the contact information provided.