System Engineer (Nuclear Facilities Engineer 1/2)

What You Will Do

This position will be filled at either the Systems Engineer (Nuclear Facilities Engineer) 1 or 2 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.

The Plutonium Infrastructure Engineering Division (PIE-DO) of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) develops, maintains, and applies a diverse set of engineering capabilities to provide innovative engineering solutions in support of the Laboratory's Plutonium Facilities. PIE-DO is responsible for implementing the Conduct of Engineering (COE) program on Division projects. The program elements include processes, standards, training, and qualifications that are applicable throughout the life cycle of a facility. The systems engineering group, PIE-3, is responsible for implementing the systems engineering program across technology domains including but not limited to nuclear, electrical, civil, and mechanical in a fast-paced, responsive development environment.

In PIE-DO, Systems Engineers are working on cutting-edge projects for new technologies and facilities critical to the LANL national security mission. The average day involves collaborating with project managers, a multidisciplinary team of engineers, quality experts, and subject matter experts to support project execution. The Systems Engineer will require a thorough understanding of systems engineering principles and have the aptitude to apply these principles in the execution of the job.

Systems Engineer 1 ($92,300 - $151,000)
As a Systems Engineer, you will be responsible for ensuring that the design solution fully meets its requirements and design intent. You will be expected to help develop and manage requirements, requirements traceability reports, Verification and Validation (V&V) plans, qualification plans, and test and acceptance documents.

  • Basic understanding of systems development and general engineering principles with an aptitude in reading and understanding engineering documents, drawings, and specifications.
  • Ability to effectively communicate engineering solutions across multiple roles and technology areas, including management, customers, craft personnel, and staff of varied technical expertise.
  • Aptitude in collaborative problem solving to resolve engineering issues on projects that include both nuclear and non-nuclear structures, systems, and components.

Systems Engineer 2 ($101,700 - $168,200)
In addition to what was outlined at the lower level, at this level the Nuclear Facilities Engineer 2 will:

  • Provide oversight and guidance to other systems engineers in PIE-3.
  • Have the ability to manage the functionality and performance of assigned nuclear facility systems and identify design requirements using a risk-based graded approach.
  • Demonstrate understanding of systems engineering principles and have applied these principles on the job.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements

  • Proficiency in MS Office products, including MS Word, Excel, Teams, and PowerPoint.
  • Knowledge of engineering work, planning, construction, control methods, and project/process engineering/ management practices.
  • Ability to prioritize tasks and work effectively under pressure.
  • Demonstrated ability to be receptive to feedback and committed to continuous improvement.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a proactive approach to collaboration.


Additional Job Requirements for Systems Engineer 2:
In addition to the requirements outlined above, qualification at the higher level requires:

  • Ability to work in an integrated project team to complete deliverables through delegation, communication, and leadership.
  • Demonstrated the ability to problem solve and develop engineering solutions with vague or hard to define problem sets, both independently and a group setting.
  • Demonstrated experience supporting design reviews and the understanding of a project lifecycle. Demonstrated history of maintaining and building up a proactive culture of collaboration both internally and externally to the organization.

Education/Experience at lower level: Position requires a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from an ABET-accredited college or university and 2 years of practical work experience necessary to perform the responsibilities outlined above. Advanced engineering or technical degree is highly desired.

Education/Experience at higher level: Position requires a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from an ABET-accredited college or university and a minimum of 3 years of practical work experience necessary to perform the responsibilities outlined above. Advanced engineering or technical degree is highly desired.

Desired Qualifications:

  • Experience in design, construction, or field engineering on facility operation projects.
  • Knowledge of LANL COE including administrative procedures and standards. LANL Engineering Standards Manual Chapter 20 is of particular interest.
  • Familiarity with relevant industry, regulatory, or Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) codes and standards. Relevant codes and standards include but are not limited to:
  • International Building Code
  • National Fire Protection Association Life Safety (NFPA 101)
  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers Nuclear Quality Assurance (ASME NQA-1)
  • Department of Energy Standard 1073 Configuration Management
  • Competent in systems engineering, requirement traceability, Verification and Validation, risk analysis, and technical documentation.
  • Background with requirements traceability reports, verification/validation plans, qualification plans, and other design documentation that ensure the design meets project requirements.
  • Current registration as an Engineer in Training (EIT) and/or Professional Engineer (PE) is highly desirable.
  • Systems Engineering Certificates from other academic or professional institutions.
  • Have experience with SE requirement management and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) software such as Innoslate or Magic Cyber-Systems Engineer, formerly known as CAMEO.
  • Systems Engineering Professional Certification from INCOSE at the Associate or Certified level or equivalent.
  • Broad and/or unique knowledge of nuclear facility engineering systems, processes, and calculations; application of nuclear facility engineering methods; and application of technology aided nuclear facility engineering tool to nuclear facility engineering problems.

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 1 year.

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 maternity 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.

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 and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to 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 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 1-505-664-6947 option 2 and then option 3.