Test Engineer (R&D Engineer 3)

Los Alamos National Laboratory; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Parental leave

401(k) matching

Tuition assistance

Flexible schedules

PTO and holidays

Onsite gyms

Job summary

Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, NM is seeking an R&D Engineer 3 to join the Detonation Science and Technology Group (Q-6). You will translate experiment objectives into technical requirements, develop hardware and diagnostics, and support test planning, verification, and execution.

This role emphasizes hands-on design, integration, and problem solving across multidisciplinary teams, with opportunities to lead experiments, mentor staff, and ensure safety, security, and quality in

Qualifications

• Fundamental knowledge of electrical, mechanical, or related engineering principles and their application to experimental hardware.
• Ability to interpret technical requirements, engineering drawings, schematics, and procedures.
• Hands-on experience through coursework, research, internships, or employment assembling, testing, or troubleshooting technical equipment.
• Ability to collect and analyze experimental data and document results clearly.
• Ability to contribute to fixture development, instrumentation setup, or diagnostic integration under technical guidance.
• Demonstrated teamwork, attention to detail, and commitment to following safety, security, and quality requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead experimental requirements development; resolve competing customer objectives and connect requirements to test methods, diagnostic measurements, and verification criteria.
• Lead research, design, testing, analysis, verification, and validation of engineering solutions for complex or ambiguous experimental problems.
• Develop improved methods, fixtures, diagnostics, and integration approaches; evaluate alternatives and establish design bases, component limitations, and acceptance criteria.
• Provide technical leadership for experimental configurations, hardware development, procurement, and fabrication; resolve interfaces and guide designs through review, inspection, and release.
• Support project planning and implementation, including scope, schedule, budget, resources, deliverables, and technical risk mitigation. Coordinate multidisciplinary contributions to meet commitments.
• Lead engineering readiness and technical problem resolution during test preparation and execution; verify configurations, evaluate system performance, and coordinate required approvals within assigned authority.
• Lead experimental data analysis and technical reporting; ensure data archiving and documentation closeout, and communicate conclusions and recommendations to customers.
• Lead internal technical peer reviews and participate in reviews across organizations or disciplines; resolve findings and incorporate lessons learned into methods and controlled documentation.
• Influence project and program technical direction; identify capability gaps, contribute proposal ideas, lead proposal technical sections, and pursue funding for assigned R&D work.
• Mentor and train junior staff, share engineering practices, and maintain technical expertise. Participate in professional activities, DOE/NNSA interactions, and external collaborations.
• Integrate safety and security into every task, maintain required qualifications, and stop work when conditions are unsafe or compromise security. Promote respectful, inclusive teamwork and disciplined operations.

Skills

Electrical engineering

Mechanical engineering

Engineering principles

Education

Master's Degree in Engineering

Job description

What You Will Do

This position will be filled at the R&D Engineer 3 level.

The Detonation Science and Technology Group (Q-6) serves the Laboratory and the Nation providing the knowledge base and component design responsibilities for the Nuclear Weapons Program and other critical national security areas. The Group's capabilities include design engineering for nuclear weapon detonators and detonator cable assemblies, design, fabrication, qualification, and installation of test fire control systems, pulse power engineering, advanced detonator design and testing, and applied problem solving. Additional capabilities include expertise in the detonation science and physics of detonator energetic materials, and engineering responsibility for the cradle to grave care of the detonators and detonator cable assemblies used by Los Alamos National Laboratory. Q-6 is also responsible for engineering, fabricating, or acquiring precision high explosives detonators for a diverse R&D customer base to meet present and future national security needs in a safe, secure, and efficient manner.

Q-6 is offering an opportunity to join the Detonation Science and Technology Group as an R&D Engineer supporting High Consequence Experiments, including hydrodynamic tests funded by the Los Alamos Design Agency. You will work with program managers, experimental teams, engineers, technologists, and technicians to translate experiment objectives into technical requirements, integrated timing and firing configurations, and diagnostic measurements. Your work will span experimental planning, hardware and fixture development, system verification and validation, deployment, and execution support across test sites. You will resolve technical interfaces, coordinate engineering readiness with site personnel, and document system performance and experimental results. We are seeking a hands‑on, collaborative engineer who enjoys solving complex integration problems and representing Q‑6's technical capabilities and testing practices within multidisciplinary experimental teams.

• Lead experimental requirements development; resolve competing customer objectives and connect requirements to test methods, diagnostic measurements, and verification criteria.
• Lead research, design, testing, analysis, verification, and validation of engineering solutions for complex or ambiguous experimental problems.
• Develop improved methods, fixtures, diagnostics, and integration approaches; evaluate alternatives and establish design bases, component limitations, and acceptance criteria.
• Provide technical leadership for experimental configurations, hardware development, procurement, and fabrication; resolve interfaces and guide designs through review, inspection, and release.
• Support project planning and implementation, including scope, schedule, budget, resources, deliverables, and technical risk mitigation. Coordinate multidisciplinary contributions to meet commitments.
• Lead engineering readiness and technical problem resolution during test preparation and execution; verify configurations, evaluate system performance, and coordinate required approvals within assigned authority.
• Lead experimental data analysis and technical reporting; ensure data archiving and documentation closeout, and communicate conclusions and recommendations to customers.
• Lead internal technical peer reviews and participate in reviews across organizations or disciplines; resolve findings and incorporate lessons learned into methods and controlled documentation.
• Influence project and program technical direction; identify capability gaps, contribute proposal ideas, lead proposal technical sections, and pursue funding for assigned R&D work.
• Mentor and train junior staff, share engineering practices, and maintain technical expertise. Participate in professional activities, DOE/NNSA interactions, and external collaborations.
• Integrate safety and security into every task, maintain required qualifications, and stop work when conditions are unsafe or compromise security. Promote respectful, inclusive teamwork and disciplined operations.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

• Fundamental knowledge of electrical, mechanical, or related engineering principles and their application to experimental hardware.
• Ability to interpret technical requirements, engineering drawings, schematics, and procedures.
• Hands‑on experience through coursework, research, internships, or employment assembling, testing, or troubleshooting technical equipment.
• Ability to collect and analyze experimental data and document results clearly.
• Ability to contribute to fixture development, instrumentation setup, or diagnostic integration under technical guidance.
• Demonstrated teamwork, attention to detail, and commitment to following safety, security, and quality requirements.

Education/Experience for R&D Engineer 3: Position requires a Master's Degree in Engineering from an accredited institution and 6 years of related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Desired Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience applying engineering principles to resolve complex problems involving experimental hardware or measurement systems.
• Experience independently planning, executing, and troubleshooting defined engineering experiments or subsystem activities.
• Experience translating test requirements into hardware configurations, diagnostic measurements, and acceptance criteria.
• Hands‑on experience designing, integrating, or validating fixtures, instrumentation, or electrical, mechanical, or optical hardware.
• Experience developing and maintaining technical documentation, including drawings, procedures, and test reports.
• Demonstrated ability to lead well‑defined technical tasks, coordinate contributors, and meet scope, schedule, and budget commitments.
• Experience applying safety, security, quality, and configuration‑control requirements in laboratory or experimental work.
• Active Q Clearance, which normally requires US Citizenship.

Essential Job Functions (can perform with or without reasonable accommodation):

• Ability to speak
• Reading vision

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 2 years.

Note to Applicants:

• For full consideration, a comprehensive cover letter addressing your qualifications against the minimum and desired skills requirements is required.

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.

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.

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 are converted to regular status.

Internal Applicants:

Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy P701 for applicant eligibility requirements.

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.