Data Engineer Team Leader (Science/Engineering Program Manager 3)

Los Alamos National Security LLC; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance: PPO or HDHP

Dental and vision

Life and disability insurance

Parental leave

401(k) with matching

Tuition assistance

Flexible schedules

Onsite gyms

Relocation support

Job summary

Los Alamos National Laboratory seeks a Data Engineering Team Leader to guide a team of data engineers, partnering with scientific and engineering programs to manage data as long‑term mission assets. The role requires leadership, program management, and stakeholder engagement across multi‑program initiatives.

The candidate will define data strategies, oversee budgets, and ensure delivery of high‑quality support while balancing evolving mission priorities in a semi‑autonomous onsite leadership

Qualifications

• Experience managing scientific or engineering data lifecycle including metadata, quality, curation, provenance, preservation, and governance.
• Ability to translate strategic objectives into executable projects with measurable outcomes.
• Strong collaboration with leadership, SMEs, partner organizations, and external audiences.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical and operational leadership for data management initiatives across programs.
• Develop data strategies and guide repository adoption.
• Plan resources, budgets, and oversee portfolios to deliver high-quality customer support.
• Lead and mentor a data engineering team to ensure mission alignment.

Skills

Data management

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Teamwork

US citizenship clearance

Education

Bachelor's degree in science or engineering

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

What You Will Do

Join our team at Los Alamos National Laboratory! The Weapons Research Services (WRS) Division's National Security Research Center (NSRC) is Los Alamos National Laboratory's classified library. The NSRC's lineage dates back to 1943 when it was formed as part of the Manhattan Project and houses 80+ years of scientific and engineering research, designs, procedures, and other reports. The NSRCMS group provides services for classified and historical research including training, tours, collection management, data engineering, knowledge management, project support and research assistance.

The NSRC is seeking an experienced and collaborative Data Engineering Team Leader to lead a team of data engineers responsible for partnering with scientific and engineering organizations to ensure research data are managed as long-term mission assets. This team serves as the bridge between data-generators and mission data repositories, helping customers implement sound data management practices that maximize the accessibility, quality, and long-term value of their data.

The Data Engineering Team Leader will provide technical and operational leadership for data management initiatives across multiple programs. This includes developing data strategies, guiding repository adoption, planning resources, negotiating budgets, overseeing project portfolios, and ensuring the team delivers high-quality customer support. The ideal candidate combines expertise in research data management with strong leadership, program management, and stakeholder engagement. This challenging and exciting position requires a motivated and professional individual who is capable of quickly changing focus, acting independently, and thriving within a collaboratively defined scope of work. Scope is established in partnership with WRS leadership and weapons program customers to align with mission priorities, ensuring clear objectives while allowing flexibility to adapt as needs evolve. This includes working directly with weapons program stakeholders to validate requirements and deliverables. The role operates as the onsite team leader, administering work to the team in a semi-autonomous manner balancing initiative with accountability to organizational goals.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements

Technical Knowledge: Demonstrated experience in managing scientific or engineering data throughout its lifecycle from creation through long-term preservation and reuse. Knowledge of research data management principles, including metadata, data quality, curation, provenance, preservation, and governance. Familiarity with recognized data management frameworks and best practices, including FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Interoperable, Reusable) principles and Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) concepts. Ability to develop strategic approaches that improve organizational data maturity and maximize the long-term value of mission data.

Project Management: Demonstrated ability to convert concepts and strategic objectives into executable projects with measurable outcomes. Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while balancing priorities and deadlines. Familiarity with coordinating interdisciplinary efforts and aligning project work with broader organizational goals. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in both planning and execution.

Customer Relations and Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to build effective working relationships with both internal and external stakeholders. Experience collaborating with leadership, subject matter experts, partner organizations, and/or public audiences. Ability to assess customer needs and translate them into achievable projects scopes and deliverables. Experience setting realistic expectations regarding project scope, timelines, resources, and deliverables.

Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a team through mentorship, guidance, and follow-up. Ability to plan, schedule, and assign work to others.

Teamwork/Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to foster a respectful, collaborative, and productive work environment. Ability to work constructively and professionally with colleagues across disciplines and backgrounds. Ability to collaborate and strategize with application product owners responsible for data platforms. Experience mentoring staff and supporting professional development. Willingness to share knowledge, provide constructive feedback, and support team success.

Clearance: This position requires the ability to obtain a DOE Q clearance, which typically requires US citizenship

Education/Experience: Position requires a bachelor's degree in a science or engineering related field from an accredited institution and 8 years of directly related technical and program management experience; or an equivalent combination of education and technical experience directly related to the occupation. At this level an advanced degree is typically expected.

Desired Qualifications

• Knowledge of the LANL weapons programs and associated datasets.
• Advanced degree in Data Science, Information Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Library and Information Science, or related field.
• Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) certification or similar.
• Experience with enterprise data governance, metadata standards, or data stewardship programs.

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.

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.

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 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.