High-Power Experimental Electrical Engineer (R&D Engineer 1/2)

Los Alamos National Laboratory; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental and vision insurance

Life and disability insurance

Parental leave

Competitive retirement plan

Job summary

Los Alamos National Laboratory seeks an R&D Electrical Engineer to join the M-6 group within the Dynamic Experiments division. The role spans circuit design, prototype fabrication, and field deployment of high-explosive initiation tools.

You will work at the boundary of electronic hardware and experimental physics in a multidisciplinary team. Responsibilities include designing, testing, and sustaining legacy hardware while collaborating with internal fabrication and external vendors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering related to occupation
• 2 years of related experience (Engineer 1)
• Bachelor's degree + 4 years related experience (Engineer 2)
• Experience in electrical hardware design and analog circuits

Responsibilities

• Translate concepts into fieldable electrical assemblies from design to field deployment
• Prototype fabrication, bench testing, troubleshooting, and support during fielding
• Modernize and document legacy designs
• Integrate digital controllers into analog circuits

Skills

Electrical engineering

Analog circuits

Digital control integration

PCB design

Prototype testing

Team collaboration

Project execution

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

4 years related experience

Tools

ECAD

Altium Designer

KiCad

SolidWorks

Job description

M-6 is seeking a skilled and creative R&D Electrical Engineer to join the Explosive Applications and Special Projects (M-6) Group within Dynamic Experiments (M) Division. M-6 conducts research to study the initiation and performance of high explosives (HE) through mechanical, thermal, and electromagnetic mechanisms. Our areas of expertise include non-shock initiation of HE, HE-driven pulsed power, special energetic materials, and special security projects in service to the Laboratory, the nation, and other national security areas. We develop and perfect state-of-the-art diagnostics and explosive initiation tools.

About the Role

This position will be filled at either the R&D Engineer 1 or 2 level, depending on the skills and experience of the selected candidate. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level.

Responsibilities

• Translating experimental concepts, physical behavior, and technical requirements into fieldable electronic and electrical assemblies from initial design through fabrication, testing, integration, documentation, and field deployment
• Developing hands‑on ownership of the hardware you create, including prototype fabrication, bench testing, troubleshooting, repair, modification, and support during experimental fielding
• Developing new and novel designs while sustaining, troubleshooting, documenting, and modernizing M-6's library of legacy designs
• Knowledge of analog electronics and the integration of digital controllers into analog circuits

This role is for an engineer who wants to work at the boundary between circuit design and experimental physics. Success requires learning the specialized physics of the loads and experiments that these electrical systems drive and using that understanding to make better engineering decisions. M-6 maintains an in‑house electrical engineering laboratory with rapid-prototyping capability, circuit milling, parts inventory, and diagnostic and test equipment. Engineers also work with internal fabrication organizations and external vendors to turn designs into finished hardware.

Qualifications

Education/Experience at the R&D Engineer 1 level: Position requires a bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited institution related to the occupation combined with 2 years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and technical experience directly related to the occupation.

Education/Experience at the R&D Engineer 2 level: Position requires a bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited institution and 4 years of related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Required Skills

• Engineering: Knowledge of and experience in electrical engineering, including circuit or electronic hardware design. Demonstrated knowledge of analog circuits and integration of digital controls into analog circuits
• Design and Test: Experience contributing to the design, fabrication, testing, analysis, verification, or troubleshooting of electrical or electronic hardware.
• Engineering Tools: Experience using engineering design, analysis, laboratory, or test tools relevant to electrical hardware development.
• Technical Learning: Demonstrated ability to learn unfamiliar technical subjects and apply engineering and scientific principles to assigned problems.
• Communication and Collaboration: Effective interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills and the ability to contribute effectively within a multidisciplinary technical team.
• Execution: Ability to understand assigned objectives, manage individual engineering tasks, and deliver work products with appropriate technical guidance.

Preferred Skills

• High‑Power Electronics: Experience designing, building, and testing high‑voltage, high‑current, fast-switching or pulsed‑power circuits, including capacitive‑discharge systems and associated analog and digital electronics.
• Design and Analysis Tools: Experience with ECAD for schematic capture and printed circuit board layout, MCAD for enclosure and assembly design, and SPICE or related circuit simulation tools. Experience with Altium Designer, KiCad, and/or SolidWorks is particularly relevant.
• Hands‑On Prototyping and Test: Experience independently building, modifying, testing, troubleshooting, and repairing electronic or electromechanical prototypes using laboratory and rapid‑prototyping equipment, oscilloscopes, high‑voltage probes, current probes, and related diagnostic equipment.
• System Integration: Experience integrating analog, digital, power, programmable, and electromechanical components into complete fieldable assemblies.
• Fabrication and Vendor Interface: Experience creating fabrication packages, including schematics, printed circuit board files, bills of materials, drawings, assembly documentation, and technical requirements, and working with internal fabrication organizations or external vendors to produce hardware.
• Design Sustainment: Experience maintaining, troubleshooting, documenting, and modernizing legacy hardware, including configuration and revision control.
• Experimental Engineering: Experience working in multidisciplinary research teams and learning the underlying experimental physics needed to translate physical requirements and constraints into engineering design decisions.
• Hazardous Operations and Clearance: Experience working around energized systems, high explosives, radiological materials, pressurized systems, or chemicals; an active Department of Energy Q clearance or equivalent is desired.

Pay range and compensation package

Equal Opportunity Statement

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.

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.

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)