What You Will Do
This position will be filled at either the R&D Engineer 2 or R&D Engineer 3 level depending on the skills and experience of the selected candidate. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level.
The Weapons Engineering Verification and Validation Division (V-Division) ensures that weapon designs meet all requirements and perform as intended. The division verifies design compliance and validates performance through a combination of investigations, qualification tests, and evaluations. This mission is accomplished through close collaboration with organizations across the Weapons Engineering Directorate and the broader Nuclear Security Enterprise. V-Division carries out its work through assembly, non-destructive evaluation, test design and planning, test execution, and data analysis, all aimed at confirming the reliability and effectiveness of weapon systems.
The Weapons Test Execution Group (V-21) serves as the laboratory's center of excellence for complex weapon experimentation and system-level testing. V-21 is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing experiments ranging from component-level evaluations to full-scale integrated tests. These activities support weapon development, qualification, surveillance, stockpile assessment, and future modernization efforts. The group routinely collaborates with engineering, physics, manufacturing, and operations organizations across Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the Nevada National Security Site, and other national security partners.
This position may be assigned to one of four V-21 teams:
- Flight Systems Team - Supports qualification, development, and surveillance testing of weapon flight systems and associated environments.
- Material Compatibility - Supports development, qualification, and surveillance testing to evaluate material compatibility, aging, and performance in weapon systems and relevant environments.
- Stockpile Survivability Team - Evaluates system performance and survivability under demanding mechanical, thermal, and operational environments.
- Physics Validation Team - Supports integrated weapon experiments, hydrodynamic testing, and other experimental programs that provide critical validation data for stockpile stewardship.
As a Test Lead/Device Engineer, you will help develop, plan, execute, and analyze experiments that provide essential data supporting the nation's nuclear deterrent. You will work closely with interdisciplinary teams to define test objectives, coordinate resources, evaluate technical requirements, execute complex tests, and communicate results to customers and stakeholders. This role offers unique opportunities to engage in challenging national security work while developing expertise across multiple scientific and engineering disciplines.
R&D Engineer 2 $106,400 - $176,000
At the R&D Engineer 2 level, you will function in the test lead role in support of a development, qualification, or surveillance test for LANL systems groups of other nuclear security enterprise partners. You will interface regularly with your customer, plan and schedule work in support of the goals of the test, participate in the execution of the test, and prepare test evidence in the form of data packages and final reports.
R&D Engineer 3 $128,000 - $215,900
In addition to what was outlined at the lower level, at this level you will be required to provide technical leadership and mentorship to other test leads on the team and interface with customers to engage in strategic planning for future tests.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
Communication Skills
- Experience communicating effectively with customers in one or more of the following (both oral and written format): schedule communication, project/program status updates, or spending/budget reports
- Experience authoring and publishing formal test related documents, such as test requirements (TR), test plan (TP) and test reports (TR) and/or peer reviewed publications.
- Ability to explain technical ideas, concepts, procedures, and requirements to employees of all experience levels.
Leadership Skills
- Experience designing experiments or projects leveraging principles of the scientific method.
- Demonstrated experience in test execution.
- Demonstrated experience interfacing with and integrating the efforts of interdisciplinary teams to achieve program milestones and deliverable due dates.
- Ability to effectively manage and understand technical details over a large range of STEM fields.
Additional Job Requirements for R&D Engineer 3:
In addition to the requirements outlined above, qualification at the higher level requires:
- Direct experience in the test, qualification, product realization team (PRT) lead role or equivalent lead role at LANL or in the defense or manufacturing industry.
- Experience developing budget estimates, project and program schedules, and delivery of regular status, schedule, and/or budget reports to customers.
- Demonstrated ability to work largely independently and provide mentorship to staff newer to the test lead role.
Education/Experience at lower level: 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.
Education/Experience at higher 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. At this level a Ph.D. may be preferred.
Desired Qualifications:
- Familiarity with LANL design agency quality (DAQ) policy documents.
- Experience in the development of complex systems and knowledge of the system engineering process, including model-based system engineering (MBSE)
- Experience working with or around hazardous materials including participation in the development or authorship of safety bases.
- Experience mentoring new and/or junior staff or students.
- Active Q clearance
- Experience reviewing/approving engineering drawings with focus on GD&T
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: 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 applyhelp@lanl.gov or call (505)-664-6947.
