Inspector (Quality Engineer 3) | Los Alamos, NM | Los Alamos National Laboratory

Inspector (Quality Engineer 3)

What You Will Do

Are you a talented and driven engineer looking to develop, maintain, and apply a diverse set of engineering capabilities to provide innovative engineering solutions? Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is seeking a skilled professional with construction and facility inspection experience to join our Engineering Services (ES) Division as an Inspector (Quality Engineer 3). As a vital member of the ES-DO team you will use your broad, extensive knowledge of National Consensus Codes and skills to contribute towards the development of objectives and principles to achieve engineering goals in effective ways. You will create formal networks involving coordination among groups and other key decision makers, and regularly interact with other resources (internal and external) to the organization. If you're eager to support the Laboratory's scientific and national security mission, this opportunity is for you!

As an Inspector, you will work within a team of individuals to support the Laboratory mission to deliver world-class facilities and infrastructure. Individuals with experience and certifications in Mechanical, Welding, Fire Protection, Civil, and Structural inspections are currently in high demand. This position will perform inspections to verify construction and maintenance comply with code and design requirements. In this role you will work within the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Engineering Services - Division Office (ES-DO) group and will report to the LANL site Chief Inspector. Key responsibilities include, but are not necessarily limited to:

Quality Engineer 3 ($106,400- $176,000)

Inspections & Code Compliance
  • Performing inspections to verify compliance with building codes and standards, including the International Building Code (IBC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Uniform Mechanical and Plumbing Codes (UMC and UPC) and other consensus codes and standards
  • Perform inspections within multiple disciplines
  • Conduct audits, assessments, and surveillances of programs and activities against QA and QC requirements applicable to the program or activity being assessed
Certifications & Technical Competencies
  • Obtaining and maintaining commercial inspection certifications associated with specific disciplines (e.g., International Code Council (ICC), American Concrete Institute (ACI) or other relevant commercial certifications)
  • Reading, understanding and interpreting construction drawings and specifications
  • Reviewing engineering and procurement documents to assure the inclusion of applicable inspection, testing and quality requirements
  • Perform quality-engineering reviews of design documents
Documentation & Reporting
  • Documenting inspection results to demonstrate that technical and quality requirements of installations are met
  • Review and approve inspection reports
  • Initiates, validates, and closes non-conformance reports
  • Review submitted inspection reports, certificates of compliance and conformance and related test reports to determine validity
Oversight & Quality Management
  • Oversight of subcontracted inspection and test agency personnel to ensure compliance with LANL inspection and testing requirements
  • Provide guidance to junior staff in the development and operation of quality control systems
Collaboration & Stakeholder Management
  • Working with project designers, project stakeholders, clients, and other Quality Control Inspection organization personnel to ensure that specifications, National Consensus Code inspections, and test requirements are met
  • Interface with project personnel, e.g., project management, engineering, construction, subcontractors, etc., to ensure project activities meet QA, QC, and customer requirements
Mentoring & Leadership
  • Provide guidance, mentoring, and oversight to Quality Engineer 2 Inspectors
  • Mentor less senior quality engineers or quality specialists in the development, implementation, and understanding of QA programs, procedures, and processes
  • Foster a mutually respectful work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment
Safety & Security
  • Safety and security are a primary responsibility for all Laboratory employees. Assures safety and security compliance, maintains required safety and security training, and makes safety and security an integral part of every task, including taking the necessary steps to stop work if continuing the job is unsafe or compromises security

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

QA Knowledge & Compliance
  • Expert level knowledge of and experience with QA activities including, but not limited to, system and/or performance audits, assessments, and surveillance, recommending and implementing corrective actions, providing thorough and accurate documentation of technical and/or statistical reports, and ensuring QA compliance
  • Extensive knowledge of and experience with QA regulations, policies, and procedures
Standards & Regulatory Expertise
  • Expert level knowledge of national consensus standards of QA, such as ASME, ISO, ANSI/ASME NQE-1 and U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulatory guide series
  • Expert level knowledge of construction codes and standards, and applying quality requirements to construction projects, where applicable
Technical Skills & Document Interpretation
  • Readily understands and interprets various physical, mechanical, and electrical documents, blueprints, drawings, and schematics
Problem-Solving & Analysis
  • Expert level experience and demonstrated skill in conducting research, investigating alternative solutions, and recommending solutions on problems affecting QA
Communication & Collaboration
  • Expert level skills to conceptualize and communicate QA concepts and applications to both technical and non-technical personnel
Leadership & Mentorship
  • Expert-level ability to mentor personnel in their area of expertise
  • Recognized as an advanced-level knowledge in their area of focus
Project & Business Management
  • Expert level knowledge of project management methodologies and applying quality requirements to project being managed through a formal project management process
  • Expert level knowledge of various business systems and functional organizations across the Laboratory, how they are related, and the ability to apply quality requirements across these organizations in a consistent, integrated manner
Education/Experience: Position requires a Bachelor's degree in Engineering, QE or Industrial Systems Engineering or a related field and 8 year of related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Desired Qualifications:
  • Demonstrated experience with the application of National Consensus Codes and standards applicable to nuclear facilities or a similar highly regulated field
  • National Certification by ICC, AWS or other recognized accredited agency
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.

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.

For full consideration, applicants must submit a cover letter that addresses the key requirements of the position, along with a resume.

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.

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.