Mechanical Engineer

argonne; Lemont (IL); On-site; USD 78,505 - 147,399; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

The Argonne National Laboratory is seeking a junior mechanical engineer to join the Medium Energy Physics and Fundamental Symmetry groups. You will support design and construction of detectors and instrumentation, rotate with senior engineers, and help grow toward a lead engineering role.

Responsibilities include mechanical design, hands-on assembly, CAD work, and collaboration with scientists and vendors, with emphasis on vacuum systems, laser and optical components, and detector R&D.

Qualifications

• B.S. in mechanical, structural, or related engineering required; M.S. preferred.
• Ability to carry out mechanical design and hands-on build/assembly for detector systems.
• Proficiency with CAD software (SolidWorks, Creo, Inventor or equivalent).
• Working knowledge of high‑ and ultra‑high‑vacuum systems.
• Strong communication and collaboration with scientists and vendors.
• Experience with laboratory equipment and detector R&D basics.

Responsibilities

• Design and construct Barrel Imaging Calorimeter components and related hardware.
• Support overlap with senior engineer toward long‑term lead role.
• Collaborate with researchers and external partners on R&D and fabrication.
• Apply CAD models and perform mechanical analysis for safety and reliability.

Skills

Mechanical design

CAD software

Vacuum systems

Communication skills

Hands-on build

Education

B.S. in mechanical engineering

M.S. in engineering or lab experience

Tools

SolidWorks

Creo

Inventor

FEA tools (ANSYS/COMSOL)

Job description

Overview

We are searching for a junior engineer to join the engineering team supporting the Medium Energy Physics and Fundamental Symmetry research groups at Argonne National Laboratory. The engineering team supports the full experimental program of both groups, including the design and construction of particle detectors and atomic physics instrumentation.

Responsibilities

The main focus over the next five years will be the design and construction of the Barrel Imaging Calorimeter for the future Electron‑Ion Collider and the expansion of the Argonne TRACER center, alongside other smaller experimental efforts. The position includes structured overlap with an outgoing senior engineer and is designed to grow toward a long‑term lead engineering role supporting both research groups.

Position Requirements

• B.S. in mechanical, structural, or related engineering required. M.S. in engineering OR experience in an accelerator or physics research laboratory preferred.
• Ability to carry out mechanical design and hands‑on build/assembly for large particle detector systems and other systems for physics experiments.
• Proficiency with mechanical CAD software (Solidworks, Creo, Inventor, or equivalent).
• Working knowledge of high‑ and ultra‑high‑vacuum systems.
• Oral and written communication skills and the ability to interact with research scientists, laboratory support staff, and external collaborators or vendors.
• Experience with a breadth of laboratory equipment.
• Familiarity with laser and optical systems, and radiation and beam detectors to support detector R&D.
• Working proficiency with modern engineering analysis tools, including FEA (ANSYS, COMSOL, SolidWorks Simulation, or equivalent).
• Basic fluency with the physics context of detector and atomic‑physics work, enough to communicate design tradeoffs with physicists (specialist physics or data‑analysis expertise is not required).
• Ability to model Argonne's Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork.
• Other: The position requires mechanical aptitude and demonstrated hands‑on work (academic, internship, or professional).

Levels

• RD1 (Assistant Mechanical Engineer): Bachelor's and 0 years or Master's and 0 years. Pay range $78,505 - $122,467.
• RD2 (Mechanical Engineer): Bachelor's and 5+ years, or Master's and 3+ years, or Doctorate and 0 years. Pay range $94,486 - $147,399.

Job Family and Profile

Job Family: Research Development (RD). Job Profile: Mechanical/Civil Engineering 1. Worker Type: Regular. Time Type: Full time.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.

Equal Employment Opportunity

As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law.

Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department.

All Argonne offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes an assessment of criminal conviction history conducted on an individualized and case‑by‑case basis. Please be advised that Argonne positions require upon hire (or may require in the future) for the individual to obtain a government access authorization that involves additional background check requirements. Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.