R&D Engineer 1/2 | Los Alamos, NM | Los Alamos National Laboratory

R&D Engineer 1/2

What You Will Do

This position is open for external candidates only to apply.

This position will be filled at either the R&D 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.

Located in northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is primarily responsible for monitoring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile and conducting advanced research in numerous areas related to national security. Additionally, it is a center for research in a wide range of scientific disciplines, including space exploration, geophysics, renewable energy, supercomputing, medicine, and nanotechnology.

The SPM-SI organization at Los Alamos National Laboratory supports manufacturing innovation, production readiness, and mission-critical manufacturing capabilities. The selected candidate will join a multidisciplinary team focused on advancing manufacturing processes, improving producibility, and ensuring readiness to meet programmatic needs. This role will work closely with engineering, production, and quality organizations to transition concepts into manufacturable solutions.

The successful candidate will apply fundamental engineering and manufacturing principles to evaluate, develop, and improve manufacturing processes across a variety of materials and production environments. Additionally, this role will contribute to building organizational capability through training development and technical knowledge sharing.

R&D Engineer 1 ($96,600 - $158,000)

R&D Engineer 2 $106,400 - $176,000

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

Technical Expertise
  • Working knowledge of engineering fundamentals and their application within a manufacturing or production environment.
  • Familiarity with a range of manufacturing processes or systems (e.g., machining, fabrication, assembly, additive manufacturing, or related areas).
  • Ability to apply engineering principles to analyze problems, identify solutions, and support process improvements.
  • Familiarity with interpreting engineering drawings and technical requirements, including basic understanding of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
  • Experience with engineering tools such as CAD software (e.g., Creo, SolidWorks, NX, CATIA, Inventor) or similar design/analysis platforms.

Manufacturing & Process Support
  • Understanding of design for manufacturability, production, or process development concepts.
  • Ability to support the development, evaluation, or improvement of manufacturing processes, systems, or workflows.
  • Exposure to manufacturing operations, inspection methods, or production environments is desirable.
  • Ability to assist in evaluating new tools, technologies, equipment, or processes to enhance manufacturing capability.

Training & Capability Development
  • Ability to support the development, coordination, or delivery of technical training related to manufacturing, engineering processes, or workforce development.
  • Ability to collaborate with subject matter experts (SMEs), vendors, and internal stakeholders to identify and address capability gaps.

Problem Solving & Execution
  • Ability to support troubleshooting and resolution of manufacturing or engineering challenges.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage assigned tasks, prioritize work, and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.

Communication and Teamwork
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey technical information to a range of audiences.
  • Ability to work effectively in a team environment across engineering, production, and quality organizations.
  • Demonstrated reliability, accountability, and commitment to organizational goals.

Education/Experience at Level 1: Position requires a bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited institution related to the occupation combined with 2 years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and technical experience directly related to the occupation.

Candidates that meet the degree requirement, but who do not meet the two-year experience requirement, are encouraged to apply and may be considered for hire through an allowable variance.

In addition to the requirements outlined at Level 1:
  • Demonstrated experience in manufacturing process development, implementation, and optimization.
  • Strong working knowledge of GD&T and its application to manufacturing and inspection.
  • Experience with metrology systems and/or

CMM programming, operation, or oversight.
  • Demonstrated experience evaluating, selecting, and implementing new manufacturing technologies, equipment, and process capabilities.
  • Experience developing and/or delivering technical training programs in manufacturing-related disciplines (e.g., metrology, GD&T, CMM programming).
  • Ability to provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers and technical staff.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead defined tasks or small projects, including planning, execution, and coordination across stakeholders.
    Education/Experience at Level 2: 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.

Desired Qualifications:
  • Experience supporting manufacturing innovation or production readiness initiatives.
  • Familiarity with advanced manufacturing technologies (e.g., additive manufacturing, automation, digital manufacturing tools).
  • Experience developing or delivering technical training content.
  • Advanced knowledge of metrology systems, CMM programming, or dimensional inspection techniques.
  • Knowledge of quality systems, Lean manufacturing, or Six Sigma methodologies.
  • Experience evaluating or implementing new manufacturing equipment or technologies.
  • Experience working in highly regulated or high-consequence manufacturing environments.

Location: This position will be located in Los Alamos, NM.

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:
  • Official Laboratory travel will be required; approximately 1-3 separate occasions per month
  • For full consideration, please submit a comprehensive resume reflective of your relevant experience to the job requirements and desired skills stated above.
  • Evaluation of applicants will commence immediately.

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.

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.