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

Los Alamos National Security LLC; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 110,000 - 176,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation package

Onsite gym

Tuition assistance

Paid time off

Flexible schedules

Job summary

Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, NM seeks an R&D Electrical Engineer at level 1 or 2 in the M-6 group. You will translate experimental concepts into fieldable electronic assemblies from design through field deployment, take ownership of prototype hardware, and evolve legacy designs at the intersection of circuit design and experimental physics.

You will work with internal teams and vendors to turn designs into finished hardware, while building expertise in specialized high-energy

Qualifications

• Engineering knowledge including circuit or electronic hardware design.
• Analog circuits and integration of digital controls into analog circuits
• Experience in design, fabrication, testing, analysis, verification, or troubleshooting of electrical hardware
• Engineering tools: experience with design, lab, or test tools for electrical hardware development.

Responsibilities

• Translate concepts into fieldable electronic/electrical assemblies from design through fabrication, testing, integration, and field deployment.
• Develop hands-on ownership of hardware including prototype fabrication, bench testing, troubleshooting, repair, and field support.
• Modernize legacy designs and sustain a library of designs.
• Understand analog/digital interactions and apply to engineering decisions.
• Work with internal/external teams to turn designs into finished hardware.

Skills

Electrical engineering

Analog circuits

Digital control integration

Hardware design

Testing & verification

Learning ability

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Bachelor's degree in engineering (2 years experience)

Tools

ECAD

SPICE

Altium Designer

KiCad

SolidWorks

Job description

What You Will Do

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.

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. These tools include high-speed analog and digital electronics, high-voltage and high-current fast-switching circuits, capacitor-discharge systems, and the integration of commercial modules into custom experimental assemblies.

This work includes:

• 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.

R&D Engineer 1 ($96,600 - $158,000)

The successful candidate will work with M-6 project leads and experimental teams on electronic design, experimental engineering, diagnostics, and fielded hardware. At this level, the engineer will take responsibility for assigned engineering tasks and portions of experimental assemblies while receiving technical guidance on objectives and more complex design decisions.

The Level 1 position is expected to:

• Design, analyze, fabricate, test, verify, document, and field analog and digital electronic circuits and assemblies, including work with high-voltage, high-current, fast‑switching, and pulsed‑power systems
• Translate defined experimental requirements and physical constraints into electrical requirements, interfaces, component selections, design features, and test plans with technical guidance as needed
• Build, modify, troubleshoot, repair, and rapidly iterate prototype hardware using in‑house laboratory and rapid‑prototyping capabilities
• Participate in brainstorming and technical planning with engineers, scientists, modelers, technicians, and technologists
• Develop an understanding of the specialized physics of the experiments and loads that the electrical systems drive and apply that understanding to engineering decisions
• Support integration and fielding of assigned designs and develop increasing technical ownership through testing, troubleshooting, repair, and modification
• Maintain, troubleshoot, document, and modernize legacy systems while learning their design intent and operating principles

R&D Engineer 2 ($106,400 - $176,000)

In addition to the duties outlined above, an R&D Engineer 2 will be expected to function as an independent engineering contributor and take primary technical ownership of well‑defined designs and experimental assemblies.

At this level, the successful candidate will be expected to:

• Independently develop technical approaches and own experimental electrical assemblies from requirements and conceptual design through fabrication, verification, fielding, troubleshooting, and sustainment
• Serve as the technical point of contact and subject matter expert for assigned designs, including their design basis, operation, interfaces, limitations, troubleshooting, and future modification
• Translate experimental requirements and relevant physical behavior into electrical architectures, interfaces, component selections, design margins, and verification strategies
• Develop new or improved engineering approaches and rapidly iterate designs based on analysis, simulation, prototype testing, experimental results, and field experience
• Scope and coordinate well‑defined engineering tasks, define technical deliverables, and provide technical guidance to technicians, junior staff, or other contributors as needed
• Coordinate technical interfaces with customers, internal organizations, fabrication partners, and external vendors, and take responsibility for technical stewardship of assigned legacy designs

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements

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.

Additional Job Requirements for the R&D Engineer 2

• Demonstrated experience independently developing and executing electrical or electronic designs, including selection of technical approaches, design implementation, testing, troubleshooting, and documentation.
• Demonstrated ability to take technical ownership of well‑defined engineering hardware or systems through multiple stages of their lifecycle.
• Demonstrated experience applying engineering and scientific principles to complex technical problems for which the solution is not immediately apparent.
• Demonstrated ability to scope and coordinate technical tasks, define deliverables, and work effectively with other contributors to meet project objectives.

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.

Desired Qualifications

• 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.

Work Environment

Outdoors, exposure to wildlife, in a hot or cold environment 5 - 100 F, in a wet or humid environment, in a noisy environment, under unusual lighting conditions; near sources of ionizing radiation, near sources of non‑ionizing radiation, with weapons or explosives, with vibrating equipment/machinery, near machinery with moving parts, toxic chemicals, irritant chemicals, dusts or powders, fumes, carcinogens; wearing face shield or facial protection, wearing mask or respirator, use of hearing protection, wearing gloves or hand protection, wearing safety shoes or protective footgear; operation of motor vehicles, working alone, working overtime or irregular schedule, domestic and international travel possible.

Physical Job requirements

Color discrimination, peripheral vision, depth perception, binocular vision, reading vision, distance vision; ability to speak, ability to discriminate speech, ability to smell, ability to hear in a normal range (500 to 3000 Hz); sitting, standing, walking, climbing stairs, climbing ladders, bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, twisting the trunk or back, balancing, reaching overhead, reaching horizontally, reaching down; applying torque with hands or arms, gripping with the hand, pressing with hands or arms, pushing with hands or arms, pulling with hands or arms, fine motor control, use of both hands, use of both arms, use of both legs, use of both feet, lifting 20-30 pounds, carrying 20-30 pounds.

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)
• 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.

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.