Graduate Student | Los Alamos, NM | Los Alamos National Laboratory

Graduate Student

What You Will Do

Located in northern New Mexico, LANL is the nation's premier uranium and plutonium center of excellence, leading the charge in:
  • Ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile
  • Pioneering research in national security, space, geophysics, renewable energy, medicine, supercomputing, and nanotechnology


Sigma-1, Fabrication Manufacturing Sciences, is looking for highly motivated machinists to work with existing staff to support R&D component manufacturing within the Machining and Inspection (M&I) Team on projects that are central to U.S. national security. The M&I Team boasts a fully equipped machine shop, including multiple new machines and an inspection lab. Highlights of the machine shop capabilities include manual and CNC turning, manual and CNC milling, wire electrical discharge machining, and 3D printing. The M&I Team supports the entire Sigma Division including Foundry, Thermomechanical Processing operations, and Welding & Joining among others. Sigma machinists perform manufacturing operations, primarily machining, on a wide range of materials, including some unique special materials with specific hazards (radiation, pyrophoric, etc.), to produce high quality components and subassemblies in support of production/experimental programs as well as special projects.

You will contribute to:
  • Fabricating and qualifying nuclear weapon prototype components
  • Performing technical machining on actinide materials
  • Supporting surveillance efforts to monitor and predict stockpile longevity

This tuition-supported internship offers a direct pipeline into full-time employment at LANL and includes:

  • Full reimbursement of tuition and fees
  • Hourly pay for:
  • Class time at SFCC
  • Time spent initiating security clearance
  • Completing LANL training
  • On-site internships at LANL
  • Transition to full-time employment upon graduation (contingent on eligibility)

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:


Minimum Job Requirements:
  • Complete employment application For Los Alamos National Laboratory

Include:
  • Resume
  • Cover Letter
  • High School transcripts
  • College transcripts (if applicable)
  • GPA: 3.0 minimum (HS or college)
  • Complete Enrollment application at Santa Fe Community College
  • Enrolled in Engineering Machining Technology AAS degree
  • Full-time student status at SFCC (12-18 credits)
  • Minimum WorkKeys scores:
  • Workplace Documents: 3
  • Applied Math: 3
  • Graphic Literacy: 3
  • Eligible for Q-level DOE security clearance
  • U.S. citizenship required


Training/Certifications: Successful candidates will be expected to complete the Laboratory's SMM Qualification Program upon hire.

Education/Experience: High school diploma or equivalent required. Completion of the AAS degree program in 2 consecutive years with a 3.0 GPA as determined by SFCC academic process.
Desired Qualifications:
Computer skills:
  • Mechanically inclined
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams


Work Location: Typical schedule will be in classroom instruction Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday at Santa Fe Community College and on-site internship at Los Alamos National Laboratory on Wednesday during Spring and Fall semesters. Summer and Winter breaks will require scheduled Internship at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Note to Applicants:

Fall & Spring Semesters:
  • In-class instruction at SFCC
  • On-site internship at LANL

Winter & Summer Breaks:
  • Full-time internship at LANL


Upon successful completion of the program, participants must commit to three years of employment at LANL's Sigma Division as a Special Materials Machinist. -- Failure to fulfill this commitment may result in repayment of tuition and fees to LANL.

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.