Research & Development Engineer (Mechanical/Thermal) (R&D Engineer 1/2)
Los Alamos National Laboratory
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Job summary
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is seeking an early- to mid-career engineer to contribute to challenging mechanical and thermal engineering projects in the Mechanical & Thermal Engineering Group (E-1) within the Engineering Technology & Design Division.
The role spans concept development through fabrication, integration, testing, and documentation, with responsibilities aligned to project needs and group requirements.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited institution; two years of related experience for Engineer 1, or four years for Engineer 2.
- Demonstrated knowledge in mechanical design, thermal/fluids, and computational analysis.
- Experience with experimental engineering, test planning, data collection, and interpretation.
- Ability to communicate technical information clearly through documents, presentations, and discussions.
Responsibilities
- Translate customer needs into practical engineering solutions across concept development, analysis, fabrication, integration, testing, and documentation.
- Collaborate with engineers, scientists, technologists, and technicians on challenging mechanical and thermal projects.
- Support safety, quality, and documentation standards and work within established procedures.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
This position is open for external candidates only to apply.
This position will be filled at either the R&D Engineer 1 or R&D Engineer 2 level, depending on the qualifications of the selected candidate. Additional responsibilities will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level.
The Mechanical & Thermal Engineering Group (E-1), within the Engineering Technology & Design Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), develops and delivers engineering solutions that support national security missions. Our multidisciplinary teams provide mechanical design, thermal and fluid analysis, experimental testing, systems development, and specialized engineering support for weapons, scientific research, and technology development programs. E-1 is seeking a motivated early- to mid-career engineer to collaborate with engineers, scientists, technologists, and technicians on challenging mechanical and thermal engineering projects.
You will help translate customer needs into practical engineering solutions, contributing to activities ranging from initial concept development and analysis through fabrication, integration, testing, and documentation. Project assignments will reflect your skills and experience and the needs of the group.
Minimum Job Requirements:
- Demonstrated knowledge through coursework, research, or professional experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Mechanical Design: Design and evaluation of mechanical components, assemblies, fixtures, or experimental hardware using engineering calculations and computer-aided design tools.
- Thermal and Fluid Engineering: Application of heat transfer, thermodynamics, or fluid mechanics to evaluate and improve engineering systems.
- Computational Analysis: Development and interpretation of numerical models, such as finite element analysis or computational fluid dynamics, with consideration of assumptions, boundary conditions, and model limitations.
- Experimental Engineering: Development or execution of engineering tests, including test planning, instrumentation, data collection, and interpretation of results.
- Systems Development and Integration: Integration of components and subsystems into functional hardware, including assembly support, troubleshooting, and performance evaluation.
- Demonstrated ability to apply engineering fundamentals to technical problems, evaluate potential solutions, and support recommendations with calculations, analysis, or experimental evidence.
- Experience contributing to technical work as part of a team. Ability to coordinate with others, communicate progress and challenges, and work toward shared milestones and deliverables.
- Ability to communicate technical information clearly through written documentation, presentations, and discussions. Ability to explain engineering methods, assumptions, results, and recommendations to colleagues and project partners.
- Safe and Responsible Work Practices
- Demonstrated ability to follow established procedures and recognize the importance of safety, security, quality, and accurate documentation when performing engineering work.
In addition to the requirements outlined above, qualification at the higher level requires:
- Independent Technical Execution: Demonstrated experience completing engineering assignments with limited direction, including defining an approach, evaluating results, and delivering documented technical outcomes.
- Technical Leadership: Experience leading defined technical efforts, coordinating contributions from others, and establishing work direction to achieve project objectives.
- Customer and Project Coordination: Experience working with customers or stakeholders to clarify requirements, communicate technical tradeoffs, and manage expectations.
- Mentorship and Technical Review: Demonstrated ability to guide less experienced staff or students and provide constructive reviews of engineering work.
Education/Experience at R&D Engineer 1: Position requires a bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited institution related to the occupation and two years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and technical experience directly related to the occupation.
Education/Experience at R&D Engineer 2: Position requires a bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited institution related to the occupation and four years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and technical experience directly related to the occupation.
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Three-dimensional CAD modeling and preparation of engineering drawings using tools such as Creo or SolidWorks.
- Thermal, fluid, or structural analysis using tools such as ANSYS, Fluent, or comparable engineering software.
- Engineering calculations, data analysis, or workflow automation using MATLAB, Python, or similar tools.
- Verification and validation of computational models through analytical methods or comparison with experimental data.
- Design and testing of thermal management systems, pressure systems, test fixtures, or specialized experimental equipment.
- Hands‑on fabrication, assembly, instrumentation, troubleshooting, or laboratory testing.
- Application of engineering standards, design reviews, configuration management, or quality assurance practices.
- Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to deliver hardware or analysis supporting research, development, or national security programs.
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.
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 2 years.
Note to Applicants:
In addition to a resume, each applicant must provide a cover letter explaining how you meet each of the minimum requirements and any of the desired qualifications.
Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China‑including the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau‑as well as citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (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.
- 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)
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.
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.
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.
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 applyhelp@lanl.gov or call (505)-664-6947.
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