Production Liaison Engineer (R&D Engineer 3)

Los Alamos National Laboratory; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental and vision insurance

401(k) with employer matching

Tuition assistance

Flexible schedules and PTO

Job summary

Los Alamos National Laboratory is seeking an experienced R&D Engineer Level 3 to serve as a Design Agency representative to the Nuclear Security Enterprise production plants. The role ensures that production activities meet design requirements and intent.

Responsibilities include supporting B61, W76, W78, W88, and W93 weapons production, resolving issues, and maintaining records. A master's degree in engineering and Q clearance are mandatory for this on-site position in Los Alamos, NM.

Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of engineering principles.
• Interpret mechanical drawings and specifications.
• Experience with nuclear weapons production required.
• Active Q clearance is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Support production activities for weapons programs.
• Assist with hardware provisioning for tests.
• Resolve issues related to nuclear weapon integrity.
• Maintain document configuration management.

Skills

Engineering principles in material science

Problem solving

Technical leadership

Teamwork

Education

Master's degree in engineering

6 years of related experience

Tools

ThingWorx

Footprints

PDM Link

Job description

Overview

The Weapon Systems Engineering (W) Production Liaison Group (W‑8) seeks an experienced R&D Engineer Level 3 to serve as the Design Agency representative to the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) production plants. The role ensures that weapon production activities at LANL, Kansas City National Security Campus, Pantex Plant, and Y‑12 National Security Complex meet design requirements and intent. The position will be filled under a regular appointment with a one‑year commitment.

Responsibilities

• Support production activities for the B61, W76, W78, W88, and W93 weapons programs at the PA.
• Assist with hardware provisioning for local, joint, flight, and hydro tests and provide system engineering support for product definition.
• Collaborate with the PA to resolve issues related to nuclear weapon production and integrity.
• Participate in site reviews, approve PA procedures and process changes, and act as the technical interface between the PA and LANL systems engineering and physics communities.
• Represent LANL at programmatic meetings and support any special projects required by LANL management.
• Maintain ALDW records stewardship through document configuration management (DCM) and facilitate site‑to‑site communications via engineering authorizations (EA).

Minimum Job Requirements

• Thorough knowledge of engineering principles in material science, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, or related fields.
• Ability to interpret mechanical drawings and specifications.
• Functional knowledge of the B61, W76, W78, W88, and W93 Weapon Systems concerning production and operation.
• Experience with nuclear weapons production, certification of special nuclear materials, and related components.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent projects, meet schedules, and deliver results.
• Strong technical leadership, problem solving, and teamwork skills.
• Master’s degree in engineering from an accredited institution and six years of related experience (or equivalent combination).
• Active Q clearance.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with the engineering authorization system and document configuration management systems (e.g., ThingWorx, Footprints, PDM Link).
• Experience interacting with NSE Production Agencies.
• Knowledge of non‑destructive evaluation techniques and dimensional inspection methods.
• Understanding of the Defense Programs Business Process System (DPBPS).
• Derivative Classifier (DC) experience.
• Mentoring experience with early‑career engineers and technicians.

Work Location

Onsite in Los Alamos, NM. Travel to Los Alamos and production locations is required for training and other activities.

Benefits

• Medical (PPO or high deductible with nationwide network)
• Dental and vision insurance
• Basic life and disability insurance
• Paid childbirth and parental leave
• 401(k) with employer matching
• Tuition assistance and learning opportunities
• Flexible schedules and PTO
• Onsite gyms and wellness programs
• Relocation packages for locations beyond 50 miles

Equal Opportunity and Accommodations

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 citizenship. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations upon request.

Security Clearance

Position requires a Q clearance. Eligibility requires U.S. citizenship, except under rare circumstances. Additional access authorization may be required for classified information.

Application Requirements

Submit a resume/CV and a detailed cover letter addressing all required and desired skills. Foreign nationals and specific nationalities may be excluded per federal restrictions.

Other Information

New‑Employment Drug Test is required. The Laboratory maintains a substance abuse policy and performs random drug testing. Positive results for marijuana lead to termination, regardless of state legality.