System Engineer - Q Cleared

GEM; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 95,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

GEM Technologies, Inc. (GEM) seeks a System Engineer with an active DOE Q clearance to join our team at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

The role involves hands-on support for machining centers, equipment maintenance, and engineering documentation in a nuclear-regulated environment. Responsibilities include installation, startup, and operation of machining production equipment, configuration management, and performance improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from an ABET accredited school with 5+ years of relevant experience.
• U.S. citizenship and active or recently active DOE “Q” clearance or DoD “Top Secret” clearance.
• Machining or machine tool experience required.
• Experience supporting machining centers, manufacturing equipment, or production operations.
• Strong troubleshooting, maintenance, and system improvement experience.
• Knowledge of configuration management and engineering documentation processes.
• Experience in a DOE- or NRC-regulated environment preferred.
• Understanding of Conduct of Engineering, Conduct of Operations, and Conduct of Maintenance within a nuclear environment.
• Strong technical, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication; ability to work with engineering, production, maintenance, management, and craft personnel.
• Willingness to work in an active industrial/manufacturing production environment.

Responsibilities

• Support installation, startup, and operation of machining centers and production equipment.
• Provide engineering support for configuration management activities and documentation.
• Perform troubleshooting and evaluations to resolve production and reliability issues.
• Support preventive and corrective maintenance for machining systems.
• Diagnose and resolve complex system and equipment issues with mechanical and electrical expertise.
• Coordinate technical solutions with multiple disciplines.
• Evaluate equipment performance and recommend reliability improvements.
• Follow Conduct of Engineering/Operations/Maintenance per nuclear requirements.
• Provide hands-on engineering support in a machining environment.

Skills

Machining centers experience

Equipment troubleshooting

Analytical problem solving

Strong communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

ABET-accredited Engineering Degree

Job description

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are seeking a System Engineer with an Active Q clearance to join our team supporting the DOE's Y-12 National Security Complex! This position is full-time and will be based out of Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Responsibilities

• Support the installation, startup, and operation of new machining centers and existing machining production equipment.
• Provide engineering support for configuration management activities, technical documentation, work packages, and other required paperwork.
• Perform equipment troubleshooting, technical evaluations, and improvement activities to resolve production and reliability issues.
• Support preventive and corrective maintenance activities for machining systems and associated equipment.
• Apply mechanical, electrical, and equipment expertise to diagnose and resolve complex system and equipment issues.
• Coordinate technical solutions with engineering, production, maintenance, operations, and other supporting disciplines.
• Evaluate equipment performance and recommend modifications or improvements to enhance reliability, maintainability, and production capability.
• Support engineering activities in accordance with Conduct of Engineering, Conduct of Operations, and Conduct of Maintenance requirements.
• Ensure work is performed in accordance with applicable nuclear facility requirements, procedures, safety standards, and configuration controls.
• Provide hands‑on engineering support within an active machining and production environment.

Requirements

• Education & Years of Experience – Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from an ABET accredited school and 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Citizenship – To be considered, you must be a United States (U.S.) citizen due to the federal nature of the work.
• Clearance – To be considered, you must have an active or very recently active DOE “Q” Clearance or DoD “Top Secret” Clearance.
• Demonstrated machining or machine tool experience required.
• Experience supporting machining centers, manufacturing equipment, or production operations.
• Strong experience with equipment troubleshooting, maintenance, and system improvements.
• Knowledge of configuration management and engineering documentation processes.
• Experience in a DOE- or NRC-regulated environment preferred.
• Understanding of Conduct of Engineering, Conduct of Operations, and Conduct of Maintenance within a nuclear environment.
• Strong technical, analytical, and problem‑solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work effectively with engineering, production, maintenance, management, and craft personnel.
• Ability and willingness to work in an active industrial/manufacturing production environment.

Desired Skills

• Experience with mechanical and electrical systems and equipment preferred.
• Knowledge of Integrated Safety Management (ISM) principles is a plus.

About the Site

The NNSA's Y-12 National Security Complex, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is the nation’s only source of enriched uranium nuclear weapon components and provides enriched uranium for the U.S. Navy as well as excels in materials science, precision manufacturing, and stores enriched uranium. Y-12 supports efforts to reduce nuclear proliferation risk and performs work for other government agencies (energy.gov).

ABOUT GEMGEM Technologies, Inc. (GEM)

GEM Technologies, Inc. (GEM) is an award‑winning federal contractor with more than 30 years of experience providing environmental, construction, facility management, and technical services to federal agencies, state and local governments, and commercial organizations. Founded in 1994 as a nuclear engineering firm to support federal operations in East Tennessee, GEM has since expanded into a nationwide, multi‑disciplinary provider with over 270 employees and a diverse portfolio of contracts in the environmental, nuclear, and defense sectors.

Some reasons to join GEM are:

• Our philosophy – We believe in the power of effective collaboration and recognize that good partnerships are the building blocks to success.
• Our relationships – Partnering with federal clients, we solve complex problems, exceed expectations, and advance critical missions.
• Our team – We are committed to managing a cohesive workforce and cultivating a supportive workplace for our employees on contracts and in‑office.
• Our community involvement – Supporting our communities, we invest time and money in local schools and non‑profit organizations.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

GEM’s offered compensation is dependent on candidates’ education, qualifications, and relevant years of experience. To recruit and retain our exceptional staff, we offer the opportunity to elect benefit packages that best suit our employee’s needs; this includes, but is not limited to, a competitive Salary, Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance (including HSA & PPO options), Paid Time Off (PTO), Paid Holidays, Life Insurance, and a matching 401(k) Retirement Plan.

Please Note: With the exception of mandated state requirements, GEM does not publish salary information on external job boards; as such, most ranges listed are estimates made by vendors and not actual salary ranges.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

GEM Technologies, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition, or any other basis protected by law.