Nuclear and Hazardous Materials Technician (Tec) 2/3

What You Will Do

This position will be filled at either the Nuclear and Hazardous Tec 2/3 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.

At Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), we solve national security challenges through simultaneous excellence! The Plutonium Capability Transuranic Waste Management group, Nuclear Process Infrastructure-6 (NPI-6) is looking for highly motivated individuals to serve as Nuclear & Hazardous Materials Technicians level 2/3 and join our TA-55 TRU Operations Team. NPI-6 ensures safe, efficient, and compliant waste management generated at the TA-55 Plutonium Facility, the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research (CMR) building, the TA-50 Radioactive Liquid Waste Treatment Facility (RLWTF), and the Radiological Laboratory Utility Office Building (RLUOB). We also provide ample opportunities to learn new skillsets and maintain a supportive environment when challenges arise. How we do our work is just as important as what we do. Our team members comply with a variety of nuclear management related requirements; work independently on challenging concurrent projects requiring close cooperation, adaptability, initiative, and willingness to provide support wherever needed to meet LANL's National Security Mission.

The Nuclear and Hazardous Materials Tec will interface with teams within the NPI division, with other groups within TA-55 and the Laboratory. The Tecs also provide support to move, load, transport, and store hazardous containers and/or waste material. As well as perform and review inspection and characterization information on containers to insure proper handling and storage. Specific duties may include but are not necessarily limited to: technical assistance in fabrication, assembly, inspection, testing, analytical instrumentation, handling drums and/or other containers of hazardous materials or hazardous wastes, operating forklifts and/or other mechanical loading/handling equipment, and performing nuclear material move transactions.

Nuclear and Hazardous Materials Tec 2 $53,700 - $82,500
  • Performs work at the semi-skilled technician level.
  • Monitors VI/VE activities to prevent prohibited items, sort, segregate and repackage waste items.
  • Understands and adheres to all Laboratory and industry regulatory guidance and governance specific to the management of hazardous wastes and hazardous materials.
  • Operates forklifts and/or other machinery to aid in the handling and/or loading of waste containers.

Nuclear and Hazardous Materials Tec 3 $64,700 - $101,400

In addition to what was outlined at the lower level, at this level:
  • Ensure all work, materials, processes and final product meet quality specifications.
  • Performs the upkeep and maintenance of records reflecting storage area, inventory and inspections, waste profiles, disposal requests, shipping paperwork, and waste characterization information.
  • May serves as the point-of-contact or SME for waste or manufacturing activities.
  • Assists in conducting research, investigating alternative solutions, and recommending solutions on problems affecting material handling, waste handling or manufactured items

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

Regulations: Basic knowledge of applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations relating to the handling of waste and hazardous material. Basic skill in understanding work hazards, safety practices, and operating configurations. Knowledge of the Laboratory's fissile material handler, material handling and or waste handling policies, practices, and procedures for the work assigned.

Communication: Ability to follow detailed procedures effectively, both orally and in writing and demonstrated experience in aiding in the preparation of reports.

Skills/Expertise: Ability to operate mechanical equipment such as forklifts or other types of mechanical lifting devices. Ability to work with radioactive or other hazardous materials as dictated by programmatic needs. Basic knowledge with handling and/or transporting hazardous wastes and hazardous materials. Ability to understand inspection and/or characterization data on waste containers.

Teamwork: Understands success in a team environment and the need for collaborative behavior.

Additional Job Requirements for a Nuclear and Hazardous Materials Tec 3:

In addition to the requirements outlined above, qualification at the higher level requires:

Skills/Expertise: Possesses demonstrated experience in emerging technical specialty.

Communication: Ability to communicate safety, security, and quality assurance practices for the work assignment, including calibration concepts and protocols.

Education/Experience at lower level: Position requires a High School diploma and a minimum of 3 years of related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Education/Experience at higher level: Position requires an Associate's Degree and 3 years of related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

DOE Order 426.2: DOE Order 426.2 requires high school diploma.

Desired Qualifications:
  • Knowledge of TA-55 facility operations and NPI mission.
  • Experience working within LANL policies and procedures.
  • Familiarity or experience working in support of hazardous waste management and/or within a nuclear facility.
  • Knowledge of and/or experience with hazardous material shipping and the hazardous waste processes
  • An active Q clearance with HRP.

Note to Applicants:
  • For full consideration please provide a comprehensive resume that addresses the key requirements, job skills, and desired qualifications of the position.
  • May require extended work hours.
  • While the posted salary range for this position is broad, it is highly unusual for selected applicants to be hired at the top end of the range and more common for selected candidates to grow into the full salary band over time.
  • Occasional travel may be required.
  • May work in areas involving high consequences for safety, e.g., high explosives, high power lasers, high magnetic fields, accelerators, high energy capacitor banks, gas guns, or X-ray systems.

• Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of 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.

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.

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.

HRP: This position is subject to the requirements of the DOE Human Reliability Program as specified in 10 Code of Federal Regulation, Part 712, §712.11. These requirements include on going drug and alcohol testing, as well as periodic medical and psychological evaluations.

426.2: This position is subject to DOE Order 426.2, Personnel Selection, Training, and Qualification Requirements for DOE Nuclear Facilities, which establishes entry-level requirements to ensure candidates selected for specific positions can successfully perform the requirements of the job.

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 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 applicable 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 opt. 3.