R&D Engineer 1/2 (Welding Engineer)

Los Alamos National Laboratory; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 97,000 - 176,000; Full time

Job summary

Los Alamos National Laboratory is seeking an R&D Engineer to support manufacturing process development and execution for GTA welding and other high energy density processes. The role emphasizes safety and security as core responsibilities and requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering with related experience.

The position includes responsibilities across design, testing, verification, and validation of engineering solutions, with opportunities to lead technical work, mentor staff, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited institution and 2 years of related experience.
• Experience in welding/joining processes and testing to meet detailed specifications.
• Demonstrated written communication abilities and ability to work in teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and perform research, design, testing, analysis, verification, and validation of engineering solutions for R&D initiatives.
• Develop innovative concepts, theories, and methods to address specialized problems and extend project scope.
• Mentor junior staff and contribute to technical proposals and business development.

Skills

Welding engineering

Mechanical engineering

Materials science/engineering

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Job description

What You Will Do

You will participate in manufacturing process development and execution for gas tungsten arc (GTA) welds, and other high energy density welding processes (laser and electron beam welding) for various materials used in component manufacturing. Safety and security are a primary responsibility for all Laboratory employees. The R&D Engineer 1/2 assures safety and security compliance, maintains required safety and security training, and makes safety and security an integral part of every task, including taking the necessary steps to stop work if continuing the job is unsafe or compromises security. The selected candidate assists in the research, design, testing, analysis, verification, and validation of engineering and technology solutions in support of manufacturing operation initiatives. Develop a technical approach, using judgment within defined practices and procedures, and makes technical decisions to implement solutions to complex problems, improve production cycle times, and/or maximize production yield rates.

Shiftwork

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements

This position will be filled at either the R&D Engineer 1 or the R&D Engineer 2 level, depending on the skills of the selected candidate. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the high level.

R&D Engineer 1 ($96,600-$158000)

The successful level 1 candidate will perform the following duties and responsibilities:

• Demonstrated experience in one or more of the following engineering disciplines: welding engineering, mechanical engineering, or materials science/engineering.
• Basic knowledge of welding and joining procedures.
• Basic knowledge or experience troubleshooting welding/joining processes and production of products to meet detailed technical specifications
• Basic knowledge of professional engineering concepts, principles, practices, and procedures, as demonstrated by experience researching, designing, testing, analyzing, verifying, and validating mechanical engineering solutions
• Demonstrated knowledge of welding/joining processes used in manufacturing as well as processes or approaches used to optimize welding processes.
• Demonstrated written communication abilities.

R&D Engineer 2 ($106,400-$176,000)

The successful level 2 candidate will perform the additional following duties and responsibilities:

• Leads the research, design, testing, analysis, verification, and validation of novel engineering and technology solutions in support of R&D initiatives.
• Develops innovative advanced concepts, theories, methods, techniques and approaches to address specialized problems. May contribute to the development of industry standards.
• Develops new technical capabilities and creates opportunities to extend R&D engineering through the expansion of existing efforts.
• Leads the development of technical products such as journal papers, reports, presentations, and concept papers,
• Influences organizational, project, and program strategies and directions.
• Leads technical decision-making at task level within a project. Makes decisions and/or recommendations that influence the achievement of key programmatic objectives.
• Uses project assignments to further organizational goals. Develops and implements project management plans, including scope, schedule, and budget, for small to moderate projects and/or major project tasks. Defines deliverables at the project or major task level.
• Leads peer review of the work of others within his/her own organization and participates in peer review across organizations or disciplines.
• Actively mentors and trains junior staff.
• Develops and/or contributes ideas for new proposals and business development opportunities. Leads development of technical section of small to moderate proposals. Acquires internal/external funding for self.
• Contributes to developments in industry and develops new skills consistent with state-of-the-art. May attain additional certifications, qualifications, and/or recognition to grow in field.

Education/Experience

Position requires a bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited institution and 2 years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Education/Experience at higher level

Position requires a bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited institution and 4 years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

DOE Order 426.2

Requires a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering or related science, 2 to 4 years job related experience, and 1 year of nuclear experience.

Active Q Clearance And HRP Are Required.

Desired Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge of laser, gas tungsten arc (GTA), and/or electron beam welding methods
• Demonstrated knowledge of, or experience assessing the effects of beam profiles, power levels, and alignment on welding systems
• Knowledge and experience with nondestructive analysis methods
• Experience in project development, reporting, and presentation to management and sponsors

Additional Details

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. This position may require 24/7 coverage, which could involve working a shift/weekend schedule. Employees may be eligible for the shift differential pay when assigned by their manager. Shift/weekend assignments are at the discretion of the manager.

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 2 years.

Notes to Applicants

• Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea, and the Russian Federation, who are not Lawful Permanent Residents ("green card" holders) 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.
• For full consideration, applicants must submit a comprehensive resume that addresses the key requirements of the position.
• Review of resumes will commence immediately.
• While the posted salary range for this position is broad, it is highly unusual for selected applicants to be hired at the top end of the range and more common for selected candidates to grow into the full salary band over time.

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: Q

Position will be cleared to this level. The selected applicants will be subject to a federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements* for access to classified matters. This position requires a Q clearance which requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Dependent upon position, additional authorization to access nuclear weapons information may be required that may or may not be available to dual citizens depending on the circumstances.

• 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.

HRP

This position is subject to the requirements of the DOE Human Reliability Program as specified in 10 Code of Federal Regulation, Part 712,

• 712.11. These requirements include ongoing drug and alcohol testing, as well as periodic medical and psychological evaluations.

426.2a

This position is subject to DOE Order 426.2a, Personnel Selection, Training, and Qualification Requirements for DOE Nuclear Facilities, which establishes entry-level requirements to ensure candidates selected for specific positions can successfully perform the requirements of the job.

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 applicable 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 accommodation, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request a disability accommodation, email [e-mail] or call [phone], opt. 3.