Analytical Research Technologist 1

Los Alamos National Security LLC; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PPO or High Deductible medical insurance

Dental and vision insurance

Paid childbirth and parental leave

401(k) with matching

Learning opportunities

Flexible schedules

Job summary

Los Alamos National Security LLC is looking for a candidate to join the Fundamental Explosives Analysis & Research Team. The successful candidate will focus on analyzing properties of high explosive materials and developing methodologies.

Required qualifications include a Bachelor's in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering, familiarity with wet-chemistry techniques, and the ability to obtain a Q clearance. The position is onsite in Los Alamos, NM and includes various benefits.

Qualifications

• Experience with basic wet-chemistry transformations.
• Experience with thermogravimetric techniques.
• Ability to work independently and in teams.
• Knowledge of safe chemical working standards.
• Fluent in common software packages.

Responsibilities

• Analyze properties of high explosive materials.
• Develop new methodologies and onboarding of techniques.

Skills

Wet-chemistry transformations

Thermogravimetric techniques (DSC, TGA)

Instrument troubleshooting

Safe chemical working standards

Verbal and written communication

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft PowerPoint

Origin software

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering

Tools

Liquid chromatography techniques (LC-MS, GPC/SEC)

Job description

What You Will Do

The successful candidate will work with the Fundamental Explosives Analysis & Research Team to execute our diverse mission of analyzing the properties of high explosive materials for groups across Los Alamos. Our team primarily focuses on a core set of techniques, periodically developing new methodologies and onboarding new instrumentation/techniques.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

• Experience with following basic wet-chemistry transformations with aqueous or nonaqueous solvents, like pH adjustment, filtering, weighting, and centrifugation.
• Experience with thermogravimetric techniques (DSC, TGA)
• Experience with instrument troubleshooting, repair, and manufacturer interaction.
• Experience in working independently and within a team environment
• Demonstrated knowledge of safe chemical working standards
• Fluent in common software packages including Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Origin.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• The ability to obtain a Q clearance

Desired Qualifications

• Familiarity with liquid chromatography techniques: LC‑MS and GPC/SEC
• Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry, or Chemical Engineering

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.

Benefits

• 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)

Directive 206.2

Employment with the laboratory requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. This requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.

Federal Restrictions

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—and 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, 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.

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 U.S. 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 the employer. 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.

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. 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.