Operator 3/4

Los Alamos National Security LLC; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 66,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental and vision

Life insurance

Retirement plan

Tuition assistance

Flexible schedules

Onsite gyms

Job summary

Los Alamos National Security LLC is seeking an Operator to power the infrastructure behind LANL's critical missions. You will ensure 24/7 facility operability and work with engineers, maintenance, safety, and customers to address real-world challenges in a high-reliability data center environment.

Opportunities span Operator 3 and Operator 4 levels, with duties ranging from routine walkdowns to coordinating shutdowns, upgrades, and subs contractor guidance.

Qualifications

• Proficient knowledge and experience in facility operations and maintenance including mechanical, electrical, computing, or chemical processing systems.
• Ability to understand work hazards and safety practices; experience with lock-out/tag-out policies.
• Ability to communicate effectively with operations, maintenance, engineering, safety and customers.
• Ability to interpret engineered facility or project documents, drawings, and schematics.
• Ability to obtain DOE Q Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine facility walkdowns, procedures reviews, and inspections to ensure safety and efficient operation.
• Identify and communicate facility issues, hazards, or configuration concerns.
• Support configuration management and planned work coordination across teams.
• Drive accountability and ensure work is performed as planned within controls.
• Assist in startup activities and project implementation.
• Respond to unexpected operating conditions and troubleshoot equipment to maintain operability.
• Support on-call rotations and emergency events.

Skills

Facility operations

Electrical systems

Safety practices

Lock-out/tag-out

Communication

Troubleshooting

Emergency response

Computerized work management systems

Education

Associate's degree + 3 years related experience

Associates Degree + 5 years related experience

Tools

Building management systems

Job description

What You Will Do

This position is open for external candidates only to apply. Power the infrastructure behind one of the nation's most important missions. The Institutional Facilities (IF) Division is seeking a motivated and technically skilled Operator to join our Data Center Facilities team. This is more than a facilities operations role-it's an opportunity to work on the critical infrastructure that enables world-class science, national security, and groundbreaking research at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

As an Operator, you'll be at the center of mission-critical operations, ensuring our facilities remain safe, reliable, and fully operational 24/7. You'll work alongside engineers, maintenance professionals, safety professionals, project teams, and customers to solve real-world challenges, respond to dynamic operating conditions, and keep complex systems performing at their best.

If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, enjoy troubleshooting sophisticated facility systems, and take pride in making a visible impact every day, this is the opportunity for you.

What You\'ll Gain

Beyond the daily impact, this role builds elite technical expertise in complex, high-reliability facility systems-skills that translate directly across data centers and critical infrastructure industries nationwide. You'll sharpen crisis-ready judgment through hands-on emergency response and develop the collaborative influence that comes from coordinating across disciplines and driving accountability in the field. For those ready to step up, the Operator 4 track offers direct project involvement-guiding upgrades, shutdowns, and mentoring subcontractors-building the track record for future engineering or leadership roles. It\'s career-defining experience and credibility that few opportunities can match.

This position will be filled at either the Operator 3 or Operator 4 level, depending on the skills of the selected candidate. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level.

Operator 3 ($66,100 - $103,600)

• Performs routine facility walkdowns, procedures reviews, and inspections to ensure safety and efficient operation of the facilities, maintain awareness of conditions, ongoing work, and potential risks
• Identifies and communicates facility issues, hazards, equipment performance, or configuration concerns in a timely manner
• Supports configuration management by maintaining awareness and control of facility systems and changes, routinely performing equipment rotations
• Supports planning and execution of scheduled work by ensuring coordination between operations, maintenance, engineering, customers, and subcontractors
• Drives accountability in the field by ensuring work is performed as planned and within established controls
• Participates in technical aspects related to facility construction, design, and/or start-up activities
• Responds to unexpected operating conditions and troubleshoot equipment and systems to maintain operability
• Serves on a periodic and rotating on-call team, respond to abnormal and emergency events during off-shift hour
• Supports Building Managers by identifying required work scope, verifying work status, and confirming work completion
• Performs escorting duties in support of maintenance or project activities

Operator 4 ($72,800 - $115,400)

In addition to the responsibilities outlined at the lower level, Operator 4 position:

• Contributes to the development of new principles, concepts and operational improvements
• Maintains involvement in project implementation and verification that the product meets expectations and requirements
• Makes recommendations regarding facility operating equipment and/or systems
• Coordinates and manages equipment shutdowns, upgrades, and/or installations and provides guidance to support maintenance and service subcontractors

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

• Proficient knowledge and experience in a wide variety of facility operations and maintenance activities including, but not limited to, mechanical, electrical, computing, or chemical processing systems
• Ability to understand and identify work hazards, safety practices, operating configuration, and experience with lock-out/tag-out policies and procedures
• Ability to communicate effectively through operations, maintenance, engineering, safety and customers
• Ability to evaluate and recommend solutions to problems regarding facility equipment maintenance and operations
• Proficient knowledge and experience using computer software to facilitate work processes
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
• Ability to understand and interpret various engineered facility or project documents, drawings, and schematics
• Ability to exercise judgment in facility operations where procedures may not fully define the response
• Ability to obtain DOE Q Clearance

Additional Job Requirements for Operator 4

• Independently conceptualizes and communicates major elements of facility equipment and maintenance and/or upgrade activities
• Extensive knowledge with facility work control computerized work management systems
• Knowledge of legal requirements and environmental impacts affecting facility maintenance and operations
• Extensive knowledge and ability to identify work hazards, safety practices, operating configuration

Education/Experience

Education/Experience at lower level: Associate\'s degree and 3 years of related experience; or equivalent combination.

Education/Experience at higher level: Associates Degree and 5 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination.

Desired Qualifications

• Knowledge and experience operating in data centers and/or with facility systems such as emergency backup equipment, chillers, building automation or PLCs, cooling towers, water systems, chemical treatment, etc.
• Experience in responding to facility emergencies and abnormal conditions.
• Experience documenting field observations, issues, and work status clearly and accurately
• Experience working in a team-based operational environment with competing priorities
• Experience working in a high-consequence, mission-driven, or regulated operational environment
• Active Q Clearance

Work Environment

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 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 maternity and parental leave
• Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
• Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
• Flexible schedules and time off (paid sick, vacation, 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

Regular appointment employees 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.