Weapon Systems Surveillance Engineer (R&D Engineer 3)

Los Alamos National Security LLC; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 128,000 - 215,900; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental and vision insurance

Paid childbirth and parental leave

401(k) with matching

Tuition assistance

Flexible schedules

Onsite gyms

Relocation packages

Job summary

Los Alamos National Security LLC is seeking a Weapon System Surveillance Engineer in Los Alamos, NM. The role involves executing surveillance activities for stockpile-return components, evaluating data, and communicating results to stakeholders.

Applicants should possess a Master’s Degree in Engineering and demonstrate strong technical leadership, problem-solving skills, and effective communication. Benefits include medical insurance, 401(k) matching, and flexible scheduling opportunities.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated engineering principles knowledge for complex systems.
• Ability to lead projects and manage deliverables effectively.
• Experience in evaluating technical data and trends.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute surveillance activities for stockpile-return components.
• Evaluate surveillance data and communicate results.
• Lead investigations of reported anomalies.

Skills

Technical Leadership

Data Evaluation

Technical Documentation

Communication

Problem Solving

Education

Master’s Degree in Engineering

Job description

What You Will Do

The Weapon Systems Engineering (W) Division provides systems engineering, technical leadership and program management to ensure the safety, reliability, and security of our nation's nuclear stockpile throughout its life cycle. Within the W Division, the Weapon Systems Surveillance Group (W‑9) supports stockpile surveillance and assessment by establishing test requirements, coordinating surveillance activities across the Nuclear Security Enterprise, evaluating results, and communicating technical findings that inform annual assessment and long‑term health decisions.

The successful candidate will serve as a Weapon System Surveillance Engineer for the W88 system. In this role, you will help plan and execute surveillance activities for stockpile‑return components and materials, coordinate with production agencies and design stakeholders, evaluate surveillance data and communicate results to engineering, physics, programmatic, and federal partners. This position offers a high degree of technical independence, broad interaction across LANL and the Nuclear Security Enterprise, and the opportunity to contribute directly to decisions that support the continued safety and reliability of the nuclear stockpile.

• Translate Design Agency surveillance requirements into executable test direction, sample‑selection instructions, engineering authorization documents, and production agency guidance.
• Lead or support qualification of new and existing surveillance tests, including development of test requirements, experimental methods, procedures, work packages, and supporting documentation.
• Evaluate surveillance data from components, materials, production agency reports, and other data streams to assess system health, identify aging trends, and support engineering judgment.
• Prepare annual surveillance summaries, briefings, and inputs to the W88 Annual Assessment process, including communicating technical results to engineering, physics, management and federal stakeholders.
• Lead or support investigations of anomalous observations reported during surveillance.
• Coordinate with component surveillance engineers and program partners to identify knowledge gaps, evaluate new diagnostic or test capabilities and recommend improvements to surveillance methods.
• Represent the surveillance program in technical meetings, planning committees, reviews and stakeholder briefings, including advocating for recommendations.
• Maintain and improve surveillance program requirements, documentation, schedules, and records to ensure a healthy, comprehensive, and defensible surveillance program.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements

R&D Engineer 3 ($128,000 - $215,900):

Engineering Experience: Demonstrated knowledge of engineering principles relevant to complex systems, components, materials, testing, reliability, production, or surveillance. Relevant experience may include nuclear weapon systems, aerospace, defense, nuclear, high‑consequence operations, manufacturing, quality, or other regulated technical environments.

Technical Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead technical tasks or projects, coordinate contributors across organizations, manage milestones and deliverables, risks and recommendations.

Data Evaluation and Problem Solving: Demonstrated ability to evaluate technical data, identify trends or anomalies, integrate information from multiple sources, and develop defensible conclusions or recommendations.

Technical Documentation and Requirements: Experience developing, reviewing or maintaining technical requirements, procedures, work instructions, test plans, reports or other formal technical documentation.

Communication and Teamwork: Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively through written documentation, briefings, and technical discussions with coworkers, management and customers. Proven record of working effectively as a team member. Demonstrated ability to seek technical input from experts.

Education/Experience at lower level: 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. A Ph.D. may be preferred.

Desired Qualifications

• General knowledge of the engineering authorization system and document management systems.
• Experience with surveillance, reliability, sustainment, aging, qualification, or lifecycle management programs.
• Experience with anomaly resolution, nonconformance evaluation, causal analysis, or risk assessment processes.
• Working experience at one or more of the NNSA design labs or production plants.
• Working experience with classified computing systems and classified documents.

Work Location

Los Alamos, NM (onsite).

Position Commitment

Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position to be eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required time, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with documented approval of their Division Leader. The position commitment for this position is 1 year.

Note to Applicants

• Submit a detailed cover letter with your resume addressing all required and desired skills.
• Candidates from a variety of technical backgrounds are encouraged to apply. While direct nuclear weapons or stockpile surveillance experience is valuable, relevant experience may also come from aerospace, defense, nuclear energy, manufacturing, quality, reliability, systems engineering, test engineering, production support, or other highly regulated technical environments.
• Applicants must currently hold a Q Clearance with Sigma‑15 authorization, or have the ability to obtain a Q clearance and Sigma‑15 authorization.

Where You Will Work

Los Alamos National Laboratory is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security.

Benefits

• PPO or high‑deductible medical insurance with a nationwide network.
• Dental and vision insurance.
• 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).

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, to participate in the application and hiring process.