First Line Manager (Manufacturing Manager 3)

Los Alamos National Laboratory; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Los Alamos National Laboratory seeks First Line Managers, Manufacturing Manager 3, to lead engineering or operations teams in the Pit Technologies Division. You will organize research and technical efforts, mentor staff, build strong technical teams, and drive advanced manufacturing concepts for pit technology modernization.

Emphasizes safety, project execution, and compliance in a nuclear setting. The role requires strong leadership, strategic planning, and the ability to manage scope,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in engineering or related field with at least 5 years of relevant experience; Master’s degree strongly preferred.
• DOE 426.2A requires a BS in engineering or related field with 4 nuclear years; substitutions may apply.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and define strategic objectives for manufacturing teams.
• Establish scope, schedule, and budget through work-package development and resource management.
• Ensure quality, safety, and compliance with nuclear facility requirements.
• Provide direct supervision of on-the-floor work and mentoring of staff.
• Communicate work status, deliverables, and commitments to line management.
• Oversee financial stewardship including procurement, time, labor, travel, and property.

Skills

Technical leadership

Staff supervision

Mentoring

Team building

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in engineering or related field

Master's Degree preferred

Job description

What You Will Do

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) maintains the nation's nuclear deterrent and advances scientific research. The Pit Technologies (PT) Division, part of the Associate Laboratory Directorate for Weapons Production (ALDWP), leads manufacturing operations at Technical Area 55 (TA‑55). The PT Division is expanding and seeks First Line Managers, Manufacturing Manager 3, to lead engineering or operations teams in various PT groups. The selected candidate will organize and guide research and technical efforts, facilitate hiring and mentoring, build strong technical teams, and contribute to advanced manufacturing and development concepts for pit technology modernization.

Responsibilities

• Planning, organizing, and defining strategic objectives.
• Establishing scope, schedule, and budget through work‑package development, resource and performance management, and ensuring worker qualification and authorization.
• Delivering quality products and/or services; enforcing adherence to quality standards; achieving balance between productivity goals and quality standards.
• Ensuring administrative and operating procedures are current, understood, and adhered to before releasing work.
• Working with facility operations staff to execute work safely, securely, with quality, and in compliance with nuclear facility requirements.
• Ensuring direct daily oversight of work, workers, and the work environment. Recognized as the safety‑responsible line manager over people, equipment, and processes.
• Ongoing communications with line management reporting on work status, deliverables and commitments.
• Directing and overseeing work performed by employees including “on the floor” supervision.
• Effective time‑management skills and the ability to deal effectively with changing priorities and conflicting demands.
• Effective teamwork in accomplishing objectives, including mentoring and motivating peers.
• Providing financial stewardship over budget, procurement, time and labor, travel, and property.

Minimum Job Requirements

• Demonstrated record of successful technical leadership and proven ability in supervising, resolving conflicts, administering discipline, mentoring, team building, managing staff requirements, motivating employees, and developing personnel such as students and/or early‑career scientists and engineers.
• Experience in developing work scope, schedules, budgets, and coordinating work activities; planning for and managing tactical execution; tracking and reporting progress.
• Experience performing work in a manufacturing environment and executing work in compliance with facility requirements, conduct of operations, conduct of engineering and conduct of maintenance standards.
• Experience working with confidential or proprietary information, classified documents or sensitive information.
• Demonstrated effective written and oral communication skills as evidenced by internal and/or external interactions, seminars, briefings, presentations, and publications; effective interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to interact with all levels of personnel and customers.
• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field from an accredited institution and 5 years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation. Master’s degree is strongly preferred.
• DOE 426.2A: Requires a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering or related science or technology, and 4 years of nuclear experience. Job‑related education or experience may be substituted on a case‑by‑case basis.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience in project and program management, including planning, organizing, and resource management.
• Experience with defining work unit objectives and tasks in alignment with organizational objectives, and tracking and reporting on progress.
• Experience with work package development and execution, identification of resource requirements and development of resource‑loaded schedules and financial stewardship.
• Experience working as a member of a multidisciplinary team of technicians, engineers, generators and professional staff.
• Experience executing work in compliance with facility requirements.
• Knowledgeable of Integrated Work Management (IWM) and integrated safety and security management (ISSM) procedures.
• Experience with nuclear high hazard facility operating requirements, safety authorization basis and/or Conduct of Operations planning and execution.
• DOE Q Clearance and HRP Certification highly desirable.

Work Schedule

Production work 7 days per week. This position may require 7‑day coverage and therefore may require working a shift schedule that includes weekends. Typical schedule is 4 days per week, 10 hours per day.

Work Location

Onsite 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. The position commitment is 1 year.

Citizenship 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 of national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, which includes Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Benefits

• PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same 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).

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.