Controls and Timing R&D Engineer 1/2

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401k with match

Flexible schedules

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Los Alamos National Laboratory is seeking R&D Engineers to work at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. The position involves operating and modernizing an 800-MeV proton accelerator complex.

Responsibilities include designing and maintaining control systems, troubleshooting electronics, and supporting upgrades related to national security and scientific research. Candidates will need a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering and demonstrate relevant technical skills.

Qualifications

• Experience with PLCs, microcontrollers, or embedded systems.
• Ability to troubleshoot electronics and controls systems.
• Proactive approach to safe work practices.

Responsibilities

• Design, test, troubleshoot, and maintain controls.
• Support control system upgrades for LANSCE Modernization.
• Work closely with operations to solve problems.

Skills

Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs)

Embedded systems

Analog or digital electronics design

Troubleshooting electronics

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLC systems

FactoryTalk View Studio

LabVIEW

Job description

Job Overview

At the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE), engineers operate and modernize an 800-MeV proton accelerator complex that supports national security, isotope production, proton radiography, materials research, neutron science, and future accelerator missions.

What You Will Do

This position will be filled at either the R&D Engineer 1 or R&D Engineer 2 level. Selected candidates will join the Controls and Timing Systems Team within AOT-IC, the Instrumentation and Controls Group in LANL's Accelerator Operations and Technology Division.

• Design, test, troubleshoot, install, maintain, and upgrade controls, instrumentation, electronics, data acquisition, and timing systems that support safe and reliable beam delivery.
• Support control system upgrades for the LANSCE Modernization Project.
• Work closely with operations to solve problems rapidly and implement reliable solutions in the field.
• Contribute to project leadership and cross-team collaboration.

Responsibilities by Level

R&D Engineer 1 (Level 1)

• Contribute to controls and timing projects under the direction of senior engineers.
• Learn and support complex accelerator systems, including installation and troubleshooting.
• Execute tasks safely in an operational environment and manage changing priorities.

R&D Engineer 2 (Level 2)

• Work independently, taking ownership of projects from concept through completion.
• Apply systems engineering principles to define requirements, develop architectures, manage interfaces, document designs, verify performance, and support commissioning.
• Lead technical projects, coordinate multidisciplinary teams, and mentor junior staff.

Minimum Job Requirements

• Experience with one of the following: Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), microcontrollers or embedded systems, analog or digital electronics design and troubleshooting.
• Ability to create, read, and interpret electrical schematics.
• Ability to troubleshoot electronics and controls systems to the component or subsystem level.
• Ability to plan and complete multiple projects with changing priorities, deadlines, and customer needs.
• Willingness to assume rotating 24-hour on-call support of AOT-IC accelerator hardware.
• Proactive approach to safe work practices and ability to work safely in an operational facility environment.
• Clear communication with engineers, technicians, operators, and customers.

Additional Requirements for R&D Engineer 2

• Demonstrated experience independently developing, maintaining, and troubleshooting PLC-based control systems (Allen-Bradley PLC experience preferred).
• Experience applying robust systems engineering principles through the project lifecycle.
• Demonstrated leadership on technical projects with limited direction.
• Operations and maintenance experience at an accelerator, large scientific facility, industrial facility, or high-reliability technical environment.
• Ability to coordinate technical work across multidisciplinary teams and mentor less-experienced staff.

Education and Experience

R&D Engineer 1: Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (accredited) plus 2 years of related experience, or equivalent education/experience combination.

R&D Engineer 2: Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (accredited) plus 4 years of related experience, or equivalent education/experience combination.

Desired Qualifications

• Formal training in Allen-Bradley PLC systems (RSLogix 5000 or Studio 5000).
• Experience with FactoryTalk View Studio or related HMI development tools.
• Experience taking a project through the full design lifecycle (requirements, design, implementation, testing, verification, commissioning).
• Experience with EPICS-based control systems.
• Experience with timing and synchronization systems, including event-based timing systems.
• Experience with high-speed data acquisition or scientific instrumentation systems.
• Experience with FPGA and/or DSP programming.
• Experience using software or communication protocols (LabVIEW, Python, SCPI, I2C, SPI, Ethernet/IP, Modbus, OPC).
• Experience with analog or digital electronics design, troubleshooting, or signal conditioning.
• Experience supporting operations at an accelerator, large scientific facility, industrial facility, or other high-reliability environment.
• Ability to obtain a DOE Q clearance (requires U.S. citizenship).

Benefits

• PPO or high-deductible medical insurance with a nationwide network.
• Dental and vision insurance.
• Basic life and disability insurance.
• Paid childbirth and parental leave.
• 401k with 6% match plus 3.5% annually.
• Learning opportunities and tuition assistance.
• Flexible schedules and paid time off.
• Onsite gyms and wellness programs.
• Relocation packages (outside a 50-mile radius).

Location

The work location is onsite in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

Security Clearance

The position does not require a security clearance; however, selected candidates will be subject to drug testing and other pre-employment background checks.

Eligibility

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, and the Russian Federation who are not lawful permanent residents are not permitted to access facilities that support national security laboratories or nuclear weapons production facilities.

Equal Opportunities Statement

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 disability. The Laboratory is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.