R&D Engineer 2/3

Los Alamos National Laboratory; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 106,000 - 216,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental and vision insurance

Paid time off

401(k) matching

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, NM, seeks an R&D Engineer at levels 2 or 3 to design, develop, and qualify mechanical components for nuclear weapons systems in a high-tech, secure setting.

Responsibilities include CNC tooling design, hazard analyses, and cross-functional collaboration with machinists, technologists, and scientists. A Bachelor's in engineering and relevant experience are required; Q clearance eligibility is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering required; 4 years of relevant experience, or equivalent.
• Master's degree plus 6 years of relevant experience; Ph.D. may be preferred at the higher level.
• Experience with CNC machine tools and high-precision environments; knowledge of radiological/hazardous materials is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Design mechanical components, tooling, and fixtures for CNC machining and related processes.
• Support fabrication of plutonium and actinides in glovebox environments.
• Collaborate with machinists, technologists, project managers, and scientists.
• Lead hazard analyses, readiness reviews, and quality assurance activities.
• Troubleshoot and maintain complex equipment; integrate new capabilities on the floor.
• Optimize processes to improve yield and throughput.

Skills

Engineering design

R&D processes

CNC machining

Hazard analyses

3D CAD/CAM (Creo/SolidWorks)

Troubleshooting

Cross-functional collaboration

Project leadership (lower/upper)

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Master's degree in engineering

Ph.D. preferred

Tools

Creo

SolidWorks

ANSYS/COMSOL

GD&T knowledge

Job description

What You Will Do

This position will be filled at either the R&D Engineer 2 or R&D Engineer 3 level, depending on the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate. Additional responsibilities will apply at the higher level. Located in northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is the nation's premier plutonium center of excellence. We are a leader in safeguarding the U.S. nuclear stockpile while pushing the frontiers of science and technology across national security, space exploration, geophysics, renewable energy, supercomputing, medicine, and nanotechnology.

The Pit Technologies (PT) Division, part of the Associate Laboratory Directorate for Weapons Production (ALDWP), is at the forefront of delivering world‑class plutonium pit‑related products and services. The PT Division ensures high‑consequence manufacturing operations meet rigorous compliance, safety, and quality standards.

As part of the PT‑2 Machining Group, you will contribute your expertise in precision machining and mechanical engineering to support national security objectives. You will design, develop, and qualify critical components for nuclear weapons systems and experimental platforms in a high‑tech, secure, and mission‑driven environment.

Key responsibilities include

• Design mechanical components, tooling, and fixtures for CNC machining, EDM, turning, drilling, and other advanced manufacturing processes.
• Support the fabrication and handling of plutonium and other actinides in a glovebox and hazardous material environment.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with machinists, technologists, project managers, and scientists.
• Lead and participate in hazard analyses, readiness reviews, and quality assurance activities.
• Troubleshoot and maintain complex machinery and integrate new equipment and capabilities into the manufacturing floor.
• Optimize manufacturing processes to improve yield, reduce cycle time, and enhance throughput.

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

• Engage in hands‑on mechanical design and fabrication support.
• Contribute to the development and integration of manufacturing processes.
• Solve complex problems with innovative engineering solutions.

R&D Engineer 3 $128,000 - $215,900

In addition to the responsibilities at the lower level, a candidate selected at this level will:

• Lead multidisciplinary engineering efforts and guide high‑rigor mechanical system development.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in design, analysis (including stress analysis and tolerance stack‑ups), and process integration.
• Mentor junior engineers and influence project strategy.
• Represent LANL in internal and external technical collaborations.

Shiftwork

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in an engineering discipline.
• Comprehensive knowledge of designing, planning, and executing research and development projects.
• Experience with CNC machine tools, inspection equipment, or experience in a high‑precision environment.
• Familiarity working with hazardous materials e.g., radioactive, pyrophoric, or toxic substances.
• Strong troubleshooting skills.
• Awareness of 3D CAD/CAM software (e.g., Creo, SolidWorks) and ASME Y14.5 GD&T.
• Knowledge of machining operations.
• Experience with basic inspection and metrology tools (e.g., calipers, micrometers).
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills in multidisciplinary environments.
• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain a Q clearance.

In addition to the requirements outlined above, qualification at the higher level requires:

• Thorough knowledge of and experience in engineering disciplines
• Excellent project management skills, including the ability to plan and execute R&D projects
• Demonstrated leadership in engineering design and manufacturing integration.
• Track record of leading technical projects with defined scope, schedule, and deliverables.
• Experience in mentoring and technical leadership.
• Innovation in design, manufacturing methods, or systems engineering.
• Strong technical writing and presentation skills.

Education/Experience at lower level: Bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited institution and 4 years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Education/Experience at higher level: Master's degree in engineering from an accredited institution and 6 years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. A Ph.D. may be preferred at this level.

DOE Order 426.2A: Requires a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering or related science or technology, 2 years of job‑related experience, and 1 year of nuclear experience.

Desired Qualifications:

• Active Q clearance and participation in the Human Reliability Program (HRP).
• Experience working in nuclear or radiological environments and glovebox operations.
• Experience leading process hazard analyses and audit activities.
• Familiarity with NQA-1 or equivalent quality assurance frameworks.
• Experience in mechanical design and drafting, machine design.
• Use of simulation tools (ANSYS, COMSOL) for thermal or mechanical analysis.
• Certification in Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
• Lean Six Sigma.
• Manufacturing metrics.
• Understanding of machine dynamics and kinematics.
• Background in CNC programming, additive manufacturing, or custom tooling design.
• Machining process optimization.
• Materials science characterization and analysis.

Work Schedule:

This position requires 24/7 coverage and therefore may require working a rotating shift schedule that includes nights and weekends.

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 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.

Note to Applicants: This position requires 24/7 coverage and therefore may require working a rotating shift schedule that includes nights and weekends.

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). 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.

HRP

• 712.11. These requirements include on going 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.

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.

Tyler Daniel: [e-mail]

Alex Wroblewski: [e-mail]