NEN-1 R&D Engineer 3 (R&D Engineer 3)

Los Alamos National Laboratory; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PPO or High Deductible medical insurance

Dental and vision insurance

401(k) matching

Learning opportunities and tuition assistance

Flexible schedules and time off

Job summary

Los Alamos National Laboratory is seeking an experienced R&D Engineer to support national security missions by developing innovative safeguards technologies in Los Alamos, NM. The role requires deep expertise in nondestructive assay methodologies and project management skills.

The ideal candidate will hold a Master’s degree in engineering with at least 6 years of experience, and will adapt cutting-edge technologies to enhance the facility’s capabilities. The position offers a comprehensive benefits package and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in engineering and 6 years of related experience.
• Deep expertise in nondestructive assay methodology for nuclear safeguards.
• Demonstrated ability to lead engineering research.

Responsibilities

• Adapt and develop MC&A technologies for the LANL Plutonium Facility.
• Lead technical initiatives to enhance nuclear material safeguards.
• Provide training and support to the safeguards community.

Skills

Nondestructive assay methodology

Statistical uncertainty analysis

Project management

Statistical modeling

Education

Master's degree in engineering

Ph.D. in nuclear engineering or related subject

Tools

Monte Carlo modeling

Radiation detection instruments

Job description

What You Will Do

Help support our National Security Mission and discover why we attract the best minds in the world! NEN-1 is the Safeguards Science and Technology Group in the Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation (NEN) Division. NEN-1's purpose is to defend against misuse of nuclear materials by developing and testing new technologies for domestic and international safeguards and providing training for the safeguards community. These technologies are often based on nondestructive assay (NDA) of nuclear material to provide data to material control and accounting (MC&A) programs. NEN-1 staff are technical experts in nuclear signatures and the nuclear fuel cycle and leverage that expertise to provide solutions to national challenges. We are seeking an experienced R&D Engineer who wants to make an impact and lead technical initiatives developing safeguards solutions that enhance the LANL Plutonium Facility's MC&A capabilities for the production mission. As an engineer in NEN-1 you will adapt state-of-the-art MC&A technologies, or invent new technologies, techniques, and capabilities as necessary, to increase throughputs, reduce uncertainties, enable new process flows, and enhance facility agility.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements

• Technical Expertise: Deep expertise in a nondestructive assay methodology used in nuclear safeguards, security, arms control, or nonproliferation verification. Familiarity with a broad range of safeguards technologies. In-depth understanding of statistical uncertainty analysis and error propagation.
• Professional Skills: Demonstrated commitment to quality research, technical and scientific excellence, professional integrity, scientific communication, supporting diverse points of view, and personal initiative.
• Collaboration: Ability to work independently and in a team environment on multidisciplinary engineering problems. Ability to build strong inter‑organizational relationships with stakeholders.
• Leadership Experience: Proven track record leading engineering research. Experience developing and implementing project management plans, including scope, schedule, and budget.

Desired Qualifications

• Safeguards and Material Control and Accounting Expertise: Familiarity of the legal and operational frameworks governing domestic and/or international nuclear safeguards. Expertise in material control and accounting practices at nuclear facilities at various stages of the fuel cycle.
• Modeling Experience: Extensive experience in Monte Carlo modeling of nuclear physics and NDA signatures for designing experiments, optimizing instruments, quantifying uncertainties, and developing new analysis techniques.
• Equipment Deployment to Nuclear Facilities: Experience in leading the fabrication of equipment to meet requirements for use in nuclear facilities. Experience in navigating the authorization of equipment use. Familiarity with mechanical and electrical engineering, including signal processing and data acquisition, relevant to the design and fabrication of radiation detection instruments.
• Innovation: Demonstrated ability to develop innovative advanced concepts, theories, methods, techniques and approaches to address specialized problems. Ability to leverage skills (such as analysis of large data sets or expertise in programming) to solve difficult technical problems.
• A Ph.D. in nuclear engineering, physics, or related subjects is preferred.

Education/Experience

Master's degree in engineering from an accredited institution and 6 years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Work Environment

Work Location

The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM.

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.

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

Position will be cleared to Q. 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.