LAB-0P1A63.Quality Engineer 3 (Project Quality Engineer)

Los Alamos National Security LLC; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 104,100 - 172,200; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and vision insurance

Dental insurance

Paid parental leave

401(k) with matching

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Los Alamos National Security LLC is seeking a Quality Engineer for Capital Projects to ensure quality and safety in nuclear and non-nuclear construction. The successful candidate will manage quality programs for critical infrastructure supporting national security and innovation.

This position, requiring a Bachelor's degree and 8 years' experience, offers a collaborative environment focused on continuous improvement and excellence.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of quality engineering experience in construction.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience in auditing and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Ensure quality standards are met throughout the project lifecycle.
• Lead audits and oversight of quality assurance processes.
• Collaborate to resolve quality risks and compliance challenges.

Skills

Advanced knowledge of construction codes

Technical understanding of EPC practices

Stakeholder engagement

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

Quality Assurance tools

Job description

What You Will Do

This position is open for external candidates only to apply.

Join Us as a Quality Engineer for Capital Projects!

Los Alamos National Laboratory is seeking an experienced Project Quality Engineer to play a critical role in delivering some of the nation's most important infrastructure and capital projects. In this position, you will help ensure the quality, safety, and performance of complex nuclear and non-nuclear construction projects that directly support national security, scientific innovation, and mission-critical operations.

As a Project Quality Engineer, you will collaborate with Project Managers, Subcontract Technical Representatives, construction partners, and Laboratory Building Officials to provide quality expertise across projects that shape the future of the Laboratory. You\'ll serve as a subject matter technical expert, helping teams navigate quality requirements, manage risk, drive continuous improvement, and maintain the highest standards of project execution.

The Infrastructure and Capital Projects Directorate (ALDICP) are investing in LANL\'s future, managing more than 50 infrastructure projects that support the Laboratory\'s national security, global security, science, and energy missions. With a particular focus on modernizing facilities that support plutonium pit production, ALDICP delivers high-impact projects safely, efficiently, and with excellence.

This is an opportunity for a seasoned quality professional who thrives in a collaborative environment, enjoys solving complex challenges, and is passionate about building systems and facilities that matter. Your expertise in quality engineering, stakeholder engagement, auditing, risk management, and organizational learning will help strengthen mission delivery while fostering a culture of accountability, resilience, and continuous improvement.

Quality Engineer 3 ($104,100 - $172,200)

As a Quality Engineer 3, you will play a key role in ensuring the effective implementation of the Laboratory\'s Quality Assurance Program in support of non-nuclear, radiological, and nuclear facility construction projects. Working closely with project teams, engineering organizations, procurement personnel, subcontractors, and quality professionals, you will help drive quality excellence throughout the project lifecycle while ensuring compliance with applicable codes, standards, contractual requirements, and Laboratory expectations.

Key responsibilities

• Reviewing, developing, and evaluating procurement documentation to ensure quality assurance and quality engineering requirements are appropriately defined, implemented, and verified.
• Supporting the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of processes, procedures, and quality programs that contribute to an effective Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) Quality Management System.
• Participating in nonconformance identification, evaluation, resolution, and closure activities, including corrective action development, implementation, and effectiveness reviews.
• Planning, coordinating, leading, and performing audits, surveillances, assessments, and field oversight activities of quality-affecting engineering, procurement, construction, testing, inspection, and related project work.
• Collaborating with project stakeholders to identify quality risks, resolve complex technical and compliance issues, and promote continuous improvement across project activities.
• Providing quality assurance guidance and technical support to project teams to ensure work is performed in accordance with approved requirements, codes, standards, and quality program expectations.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

• Advanced knowledge of commercial construction codes, standards, and quality requirements, with the ability to apply them effectively across complex capital projects. Strong technical understanding of engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) practices, including the implementation of quality assurance requirements, Commercial Grade Dedication (CGD), and the application of a graded approach within an ASME NQA-1 environment. Demonstrated ability to interpret and evaluate complex engineering and construction documentation, including drawings, calculations, and specifications design packages.
• Working knowledge of project management principles and the full project lifecycle, from planning and design through construction, turnover, and closeout.
• Proven success collaborating and communicating with diverse stakeholders across multiple organizations to resolve complex technical and quality challenges; including partnering with Project Managers, Engineers of Record, Field Engineers, Subcontractor Technical Representatives, Code Officials, and Compliance professionals.
• Proven ability to plan, prioritize, and coordinate quality assurance activities across multiple capital projects, ensuring compliance with applicable codes, standards, contractual requirements, and NQA-1 quality program expectations while supporting successful project execution.

Education/Experience: Position requires a Bachelor\'s degree in Engineering, Quality, Construction Management or a related field and 8 years of related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Desired Qualifications:

• Professional certifications in quality engineering, quality management, or construction quality, such as ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Construction Quality Manager (CCQM), or equivalent credentials.
• Project Management Institute (PMI) Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or demonstrated expertise in project management methodologies.
• Lead Auditor certification for ISO 9001, ASME NQA-1, or comparable quality management systems.
• Procurement Technical Subject Matter Expert (PTSME) certification or experience supporting procurement quality and supplier oversight programs.
• Experience supporting classified matter protection and control programs, including work within classified computing environments.
• Advanced knowledge and application of nuclear quality assurance requirements, codes, and standards, including DOE and NRC regulatory frameworks. Experience implementing requirements such as 10 CFR 830 Subpart A, DOE Order 414.1E, ASME NQA-1-2008/NQA-1a-2009 Addenda, Nuclear Regulatory Commission Regulatory Guides, or equivalent nuclear quality standards.
• Experience applying quality assurance principles and oversight within nuclear, defense, DOE, NRC-regulated, or other highly regulated environments.

Essential Job Functions

(can perform with or without reasonable accommodation): This position requires the ability to perform field visits, construction oversight activities, and office-based work in a variety of environments.

• Ability to effectively communicate and exchange information through speaking, hearing, reading, and written communication. Visual acuity sufficient to review drawings, specifications, technical documents, and construction activities, including color discrimination, peripheral vision, depth perception, and near/far vision.
• Ability to move throughout office, laboratory, and active construction environments, including prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and climbing stairs or ladders as required.
• Ability to perform routine physical activities associated with construction quality oversight, including reaching, grasping, pushing, pulling, operating computer equipment, and using both hands, arms, legs, and feet to access work areas and perform inspections.
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry materials, equipment, or inspection tools weighing up to 20 pounds.
• Ability to safely access and work within construction sites and industrial environments while complying with all applicable safety and security requirements.

Work Environment: This position requires work in both office and field environments and may involve routine interaction with active construction sites, industrial facilities, and nuclear-related operations.

• Work is performed in a variety of settings, including offices, construction sites, industrial facilities, and operational laboratory environments. Duties may require exposure to varying noise levels, changing weather conditions, confined work areas, elevated work locations, unusual lighting conditions, and proximity to energized electrical systems, moving equipment, and other construction-related hazards.
• Responsibilities may include access to facilities and work areas where ionizing and non-ionizing radiation sources are present. All work is performed in accordance with established safety, radiological, and security requirements.
• The successful candidate must be willing and able to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriate to the work environment. PPE may include hard hats, safety glasses, face shields, hearing protection, gloves, respiratory protection, protective clothing, fall protection equipment, and safety footwear.
• Occasional travel throughout the Laboratory site may be required to support project activities, assessments, audits, field observations, and stakeholder engagements.

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.

Note to Applicants: 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 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 the employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. This requirement applies only to U.S. citizens. 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. Obtaining such clearance requires U.S. 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 and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to 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 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 1-505-664-6947 option 2.