Science/Engineering Project Leader 3

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

Benefits offered by this job

PPO or high deductible medical insurance

Dental and vision insurance

Paid childbirth and parental leave

401(k) matching

Flexible schedules

Job summary

Los Alamos National Security LLC is seeking an experienced Science/Engineering Project Leader 3 to oversee manufacturing readiness and production execution. You will manage production integration initiatives, ensuring cooperation across multiple organizations and compliance with safety and quality standards.

The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background and excellent stakeholder management skills. This role is located in Los Alamos, NM and offers a wide range of benefits including healthcare and retirement plans.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience independently managing complex technical, manufacturing, or production projects.
• Proven ability to identify, assess, and mitigate production and schedule risks.
• Experience leading cross‑functional teams in a production or operations environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage integrated production execution plans and schedules aligned to programmatic requirements.
• Ensure production activities comply with safety, security, and quality requirements.
• Anticipate and mitigate production impacts related to changes or constraints.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Technical project management

Cross-functional team leadership

Education

Advanced degree in engineering, science, operations, or related discipline

PMP or equivalent project management certification

Job description

What You Will Do

This position will be filled the Science/Engineering Project Leader 3 level.

The DP-5 Production Integration Group is seeking an experienced Science/Engineering Project Leader to support manufacturing readiness and production execution across the Detonator Production Enterprise. The Project Leader Team plans and coordinates manufacturing readiness activities to ensure the timely delivery of the highest quality detonation products and services to our customers. We translate programmatic requirements into executable shop‑floor plans/schedules and drive cross‑functional collaboration to ensure safe, secure, and reliable production performance.

Science/Engineering Project Leader 3

At the Project Leader 3 level, you will independently lead complex manufacturing readiness efforts and production integration initiatives that span multiple organizations. You will serve as the integration point between program management, engineering, manufacturing, quality, safety, and operations to ensure production commitments are executable and aligned with enterprise priorities.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and manage integrated production execution plans and schedules aligned to programmatic requirements
• Translate high‑level program scope into detailed, shop‑floor executable work packages
• Lead cross‑functional teams to resolve production readiness gaps, technical constraints, and resource conflicts
• Manage scope, schedule, risks, and interfaces across multiple organizations
• Anticipate and mitigate production impacts related to engineering changes, material availability, staffing, or facility constraints
• Provide clear status reporting and decision‑quality information to program and line leadership
• Ensure production activities comply with safety, security, and quality requirements

At this level, you are expected to operate with minimal direction and exercise independent judgment in resolving complex production integration challenges.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements

• Demonstrated experience independently managing complex technical, manufacturing, or production projects
• Advanced ability to develop integrated project plans, work breakdown structures, and executable production work packages
• Experience coordinating across engineering, manufacturing, quality, security, and program organizations
• Proven ability to identify, assess, and mitigate production and schedule risks
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
• Experience leading cross‑functional teams in a production or operations environment
• Working knowledge of safety, security, and quality requirements in regulated environments

Desired Qualifications

• Advanced degree in engineering, science, operations, or related discipline
• PMP or equivalent project management certification
• Experience in high‑consequence manufacturing or safety‑critical production environments
• Experience in DOE, NNSA, or other federal production environments
• Active DOE security clearance
• Demonstrated experience managing multi‑million‑dollar production efforts
• Experience with formal change control and configuration management processes
• Lean manufacturing, production systems, or continuous improvement experience

Note to Applicants

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—and 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.

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.

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.

Benefits

• 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. 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

Term status Laboratory employees applying for regular‑status positions