Space Instrument Electrical Engineer (R&D Engineer 1/2)
Los Alamos National Security LLC
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Los Alamos National Laboratory seeks an R&D Engineer 1 or 2 to define specifications, design, model, fabricate, and test space instrumentation. You will join a multidisciplinary team advancing high-quality measurement systems deployed on ground, suborbital rockets, or in space for national security and NASA missions.
The role offers growth toward self-sufficiency, leadership opportunities, and collaboration with scientists, engineers, and technicians in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
Qualifications
- Demonstrated coursework or design experience in electronics engineering focus areas: analog, digital, cross-domain, power, RF/microwave.
- Experience with design and analysis tools such as schematic capture, MATLAB, and PCB layout/signal integrity tools.
- Ability to work independently and in a team, with strong communication skills.
- Education: Bachelor's in Engineering with 2+ years related experience; or 4 years total for higher level.
Responsibilities
- Define specifications, design, model, fabricate, and test instruments.
- Work within multidisciplinary teams to develop space instrumentation.
- Lead subsystems for design verification and validation, mentor early career staff.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
This position will be filled at the R&D Engineer 1 or 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 higher level.
Come join our passionate team of R&D scientists and engineers supporting national security! The Space Electronics and Signal Processing (ISR-4) Group is seeking R&D Electrical Engineers to assist and lead the design and development of high-quality, innovative measurement systems followed by their deployment on ground, launched on suborbital rockets, or into space for national security applications and NASA missions. This job is the essence of "Cradle to Grave" engineering; once designed, built, and tested, you will often provide subject matter expertise for payload delivery, launch, and operations over the life of the mission whether in earth orbit for 10+ years, Mars, or deep space. ISR's 400+ instruments fly on over 200 satellites, including numerous NASA missions like Voyager, that has left our solar system, and the last two Mars Rovers. Many of the custom instrumentation we produce is utilized to solve significant issues for our nation's security - something we have been doing so since the early 1960's. For more information, see the ISR division webpage: m.lanl.gov/space
If you possess self-initiative and enjoy working in a small team environment of rapid prototype, high quality, low volume, electronics assemblies this is the job for you. ISR-4 is looking for a few highly motivated early to mid-career electrical engineers to assist in the development of custom instrumentation for various space-based detection systems. These systems can include:
- Satellite-based detectors for space monitoring programs in support of nonproliferation and nuclear event detection missions;
- Payloads for planetary science missions;
- Smallsat and Cubesat systems;
- Sub-orbital payload systems; and
- Ground-based test beds, system integration, radar, and deployed sensing systems.
R&D Engineer 1 $96,600 - $158,000
As a Space Instrument Electrical Engineer, you will work within a multidisciplinary team of scientist and engineers to define specifications, design, model, fabricate, and test the resulting instrument. As an R&D Engineer 1, you work on defined tasking with guidance and mentorship while growing toward self-sufficiency in execution and documentation. You seek out opportunities for growth, such as formal education and participation in professional societies.
R&D Engineer 2 $106,400 - $176,000
In addition to what was outlined at the lower level, as an R&D Engineer 2 you are self-sufficient in identifying tasking and applying advanced electrical engineering methodologies while ensuring this is done safely, securely, and at the quality dictated by space environments. You will continue to build on your strong communication skills through leadership opportunities, collaborations, and mentoring early career staff, as well as growing in responsibility, autonomy, and influence by proposing innovative solutions and taking on leadership for subsystems.
Minimum Job Requirements:
Demonstrated coursework or design experience in at least ONE of the following electronics engineering focus areas:
- Analog Design: Analog circuit design fundamentals; low-noise design principles; sensor interface circuits; signal conditioning and shaping; high-frequency analog design considerations.
- Digital Design: Synchronous digital design and FPGA development using VHDL or Verilog; synthesis, place-and-route, simulation, timing analysis, and testbench development; testing, troubleshooting, technical documentation, and digital circuit card design.
- Cross-Domain Design: Systems-level approach to engineering problems involving multiple technical disciplines; evaluation of trade-offs among analog, digital, firmware, software, mechanical, thermal, or other design considerations; and development of integrated solutions that balance performance, reliability, manufacturability, and implementation constraints.
- Power Supply Design: Design and analysis of linear voltage regulators, DC/DC converters, switching power devices, filtering, protection circuitry, and gate-drive circuits; application of power supply control theory, control-loop stability analysis, simulation, testing, troubleshooting, and performance verification.
- RF/Microwave: Design, analysis, and application of RF/microwave components, antennas, and subsystems; understanding of amplifiers, receivers, synthesizers, filters, mixers, oscillators, transmission lines, impedance matching, S-parameters, noise, gain, linearity, antenna matching, radiation patterns, and system-level RF performance considerations.
Experience with advanced design & analysis tools, such as schematic capture tools, analog or digital simulation tools, electromagnetic design tools, MATLAB, and/or printed circuit board layout and signal integrity analysis tools.
Demonstrated ability to accomplish technical tasks while working independently as well as in a team environment with engineers, scientists, and technicians. Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills and interpersonal skills; strong organizational skills.
In addition to the requirements outlined above, qualification at the higher level requires:
- Advanced skills in one or more of the areas of Engineering Expertise, listed above.
- Ability to lead the research, design, verification and validation of electrical engineering solutions.
- Proven capability to understand the broader technical system, beyond the electrical design, and team seamlessly with other subject matter experts to make design decisions at a task level.
- Desire to influence organizational project or team strategies and direction.
Position requires a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from an accredited institution related to the occupation combined with 2 years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and technical experience directly related to the occupation. Candidates that meet the degree requirement, but who do not meet the two-year experience requirement, are encouraged to apply and may be considered for hire through an allowable variance.
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.
- Knowledge of configuration management tools and processes
- Experience with space-flight hardware development and testing methods desirable
- Experience debugging & troubleshooting circuits/prototypes
- Experience or knowledge of best practices for maintaining signal integrity in mixed analog/digital designs from circuit design to PCB layout
- For digital design candidates, knowledge of digital communication systems, digital signal processing, and/or knowledge of high-speed digital interfaces
Note to Applicants: In addition to providing a resume, applicants should also include a cover letter detailing their experience as applied to the job requirements.
- Physical movement between buildings located primarily within a half-mile radius, which may include movement across uneven and/or inclined ground.
- Physical movement within large interior facility spaces and corridors, which may require travel up and down stairs.
- Direct interaction with hardware, equipment, and instruments in office and laboratory environments.
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 1 year.
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-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.
Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged on 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)
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.
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.
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.
Term status Laboratory employees applying for regular-status positions are converted to regular status.
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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