Analytical Scientist 2/3

Los Alamos National Laboratory; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 104,000 - 172,000; Full time

Job summary

Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, NM seeks a Scientist 2 or Scientist 3 to join the Plutonium Assay/Interstitial Chemistry team. You will perform analytical measurements on actinide materials, lead method development and QA/QC enhancements, and deliver timely, defensible results for national security missions.

The role requires strong analytical chemistry expertise, ability to work independently, and collaboration with operations staff, engineers and customers.

Qualifications

• Significant knowledge of analytical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, actinide chemistry, radiochemistry, nuclear chemistry, or related disciplines acquired through education and/or experience.
• Experience performing quantitative chemical analyses and interpreting analytical data.
• Experience developing, implementing, or improving analytical methods.
• Experience with uncertainty evaluation, data quality assessment, and technical reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and exercise scientific judgement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work safely and effectively in a highly regulated nuclear facility environment.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Performs routine, unsupervised measurements and data evaluations associated with PA/IC team activities.
• Contributes to improvement of the QA/QC posture of the PA/IC task area through development of analytical methods with continuous improvement to both accuracy and precision.
• Contributes to the technical basis and QA/QC of analytical measurements supporting nuclear material operations.
• Independently executes analytical work while contributing to larger team objectives and customer deliverables.
• Identifies and implements process improvements that enhance measurement quality, efficiency, and turnaround time.
• Mentors technicians and junior staff in PA/IC analytical chemistry techniques and laboratory operations.
• Maintains technical expertise in analytical chemistry and actinide characterization methods.
• Communicates technical results effectively to customers, collaborators, and line management.
• Works effectively in a collaborative team environment with changing priorities.
• Effective communications both oral and written with various collaborating teams.

Skills

Analytical chemistry

Inorganic chemistry

Actinide chemistry

Radiochemistry

Nuclear chemistry

Data interpretation

Written and verbal communication

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Master's degree in STEM

Job description

What You Will Do

This position is open for external candidates only to apply.
The Actinide Analytical Chemistry (C-AAC) Group within Chemistry Division is looking for a Scientist to join the Plutonium Assay/Interstitial Chemistry (PA/IC) team. The position serves the Laboratory's core national security mission areas of weapons science and threat reduction.

The successful applicant will perform analytical chemistry measurements on actinide materials, including plutonium, uranium and associated process materials. Responsibilities include sample preparation, general wet chemistry, bulk dissolutions and solution aliquoting, chemical separations, analytical method implementation and development, data analysis, uncertainty evaluation, technical reporting, and troubleshooting of analytical processes. The selected applicant will work closely with operations personnel, technicians, scientists and customers to provide timely and defensible analytical results in support of laboratory missions. The position requires application of scientific principles to solve analytical challenges, improve laboratory processes, and ensure the quality and reliability of analytical measurements performed on nuclear materials.

This Position will be filled at either the Scientist 2 or Scientist 3, 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.

Scientist 2 $104,100-$172,200

• Performs routine, unsupervised measurements and data evaluations associated with PA/IC team activities.
• Contributes to improvement of the QA/QC posture of the PA/IC task area through development of analytical methods with continuous improvement to both accuracy and precision.
• Contributes to the technical basis and QA/QC of analytical measurements supporting nuclear material operations.
• Independently executes analytical work while contributing to larger team objectives and customer deliverables.
• Identifies and implements process improvements that enhance measurement quality, efficiency, and turnaround time.
• Mentors technicians and junior staff in PA/IC analytical chemistry techniques and laboratory operations.
• Maintains technical expertise in analytical chemistry and actinide characterization methods.
• Communicates technical results effectively to customers, collaborators, and line management.
• Works effectively in a collaborative team environment with changing priorities.
• Effective communications both oral and written with various collaborating teams.

Scientist 3 $125,200-$211,300

• Serves as a technical lead and recognized subject matter expert in plutonium assay and/or interstitial chemistry measurements.
• Develops novel analytical approaches and technical solutions to address complex analytical challenges associated with actinide materials.
• Leads method development, validation, uncertainty analysis, and implementation activities. This also applies to process improvements of PA/IC team methods.
• Provides technical direction for troubleshooting analytical processes and resolving measurement anomalies.
• Influences technical strategy and execution for analytical chemistry activities supporting major laboratory programs.
• Develops technical standards, procedures, and best practices for analytical measurements.
• Contributes to peer-review publications, technical reports, and programmatic deliverables.
• Leads continuous improvement efforts that improve analytical performance, measurement quality, and operational efficiency.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

• Significant knowledge of analytical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, actinide chemistry, radiochemistry, nuclear chemistry, or related disciplines acquired through education and/or experience.
• Experience performing quantitative chemical analyses and interpreting analytical data.
• Experience developing, implementing, or improving analytical methods.
• Experience with uncertainty evaluation, data quality assessment, and technical reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and exercise scientific judgement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work safely and effectively in a highly regulated nuclear facility environment.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q Clearance.
• Ability to follow procedures and perform work in accordance with Conduct of Operations, Quality Assurance, and Nuclear Safety requirements.

Additional Job Requirements for higher level title:

• Demonstrated understanding of principles of scientific integrity relating to actinide assays.

Education/Experience at lower level:

Position requires a Bachelor' degree in a STEM field from an accredited college and university and 4 years of related experience, typically with post-doctoral research experience at a university or national lab or equivalent experience directly related to the occupation

Education/Experience at higher level:

Position requires a Master's degree in a STEM field from an accredited college or university and 6 years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

DOE Order 426.2A:

Requires a Bachelor' of Science degree in engineering or a related science or technology, 2 years of job related experience, and 1 year of nuclear experience.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience performing plutonium assay measurement and/or analytical characterization of actinide materials.
• Experience with wet chemistry analytical techniques including titrimetric, gravimetric, spectroscopic, chromatographic, or radiochemical methods.
• Experience working with plutonium, uranium, americium or other radioactive materials.
• Familiarity with nuclear material accountability measurements and associated quality requirements.
• Experience understanding and following QA/QC principles in an analytical chemistry production environment (ASTM, ISO, etc.).
• Active DOE Q clearance.

Essential Job Functions

Ability to hear in a normal range (500 to 3000 hz); Standing; Bending; Climbing stairs; Use of both hands, arms, legs feet; Lifting 20-30 pounds.

Work Environment:

Work near sources of ionizing radiation, safety glasses or eye protection, face shield or facial protection, mask or respirator, gloves or hand protection, safety shoes or protective footgear.

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.

Work Schedule:

This position may require extended hours which could involve working a shift schedule. Employees may be eligible for shift differential pay when assigned by their manager. Shift assignments are at the discretion of the manager.

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.

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.

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.

HRP:

This position is subject to the requirements of the DOE Human Reliability Program as specified in 10 Code of Federal Regulation, Part 712.

• 712.11. These requirements include ongoing drug and alcohol testing, as well as periodic medical and psychological evaluations.

426.2A:

This position is subject to DOE Order 426.2A, Personnel Selection, Training, and Qualification Requirements for DOE Nuclear Facilities, which establishes entry-level requirements to ensure candidates selected for specific positions can successfully perform the requirements of the job.

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.

Internal Applicants:

Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy P701 for applicant eligibility requirements.

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 [e-mail] or call (505)-664-6947.