Structural Cognizant System (WETF) Engineer 3/4
- Req. Number: IRC142742
- Organization : ES-WFO/Engineering Services - Weapons Facilities Operations
- City, State: Los Alamos, New Mexico
- Recruiter Name: Jacquez, Timothy
- Recruiter Email: tjacquez@lanl.gov
What You Will Do
The Engineering Services (ES) Division of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) develops, maintains, and applies a diverse set of engineering capabilities to provide innovative engineering solutions that enable the Laboratory's scientific and national security mission. ES Groups are responsible for implementing the Conduct of Engineering (COE) program at Los Alamos National Laboratory in support of systems, structure and component modifications and new installations, as well as supporting existing systems, modifications and customers occupying the facilities.
This position is within the Engineering Services - Weapons Facilities Opearations (ES-WFO) Group and supports the Weapons Engineering Tritium Facility (WETF) as a Structural Cognizant System Engineer to serve as owner of multiple accredited facility systems. As a part of the Cognizant System Engineering Team, systems you support will include tritium process systems, structural fire protection systems, and various other systems needed to operate a leading research and development Hazard Category 2 nuclear facility.
Note: This position will be filled at either the Nuclear Facilities Engineer 3 or 4 level depending on the skills and/or experience of the selected candidate. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level.
Nuclear Facilities Engineer Level 3 ($128,000 - $215,900)
As a Nuclear Facilities Engineer with Engineering Services, you will function as a Cognizant System Engineer (CSE) assigned to Vital Safety Systems at WETF. WETF is part of the portfolio of facilities located within LANL's Weapons Facilities Operations (WFO). WFO works hand-in-hand with nuclear weapons R&D groups to develop and maintain the nation's weapons stockpile. As a CSE you will serve as the best integrated source of expert knowledge for a given system or component in your assigned facilities and therefore are responsible for a wide range of support activities. You will provide a technical interface to existing facility systems and components in the assigned facilities and control and maintain the technical baseline and master equipment list of the assigned systems. You will review and concur with design modification outputs as requested by the FDAR and evaluate, maintain, troubleshoot, and replace facility support equipment, as well as coordinate with multiple disciplines. In this role you will support configuration management of assigned systems.
You will apply broad, in-depth knowledge of DOE Orders, nuclear safety requirements, and national consensus codes-including ASCE, ACI, AISC, NFPA, and IBC-to develop engineering solutions that uphold the highest standards of safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance. Engineers at this level serve as technical authorities, lead portions of project and design work, guide system performance, and contribute to engineering strategies that ensure mission execution across complex, high-consequence facilities.
The level 3 role serves as a Senior Engineer and includes the following job opportunities:
In addition to what was outlined at the lower level, at this level you will have experience identifying and/or leading activities within a nuclear facility engineering discipline, demonstrating initiative, technical depth, and leadership in complex project environments. You must be able to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team, applying broad and diversified knowledge of nuclear facility engineering principles and practices in the preparation and execution of nuclear facility engineering deliverables. This includes utilizing nuclear engineering technology to accomplish work safely and efficiently while continuously improving engineering and work processes to meet evolving customer and mission needs. As the ideal candidate you will bring a strong technical foundation, sound judgment, and the ability to integrate requirements across multiple systems and disciplines to ensure safe, compliant, and reliable facility operations.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
Education/Experience at Nuclear Facilities Engineer 3: Position requires a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from an ABET-accredited college or university and a minimum of 6 years practical work experience to the degree necessary to perform the responsibilities outlined above. Advanced engineering or technical degree is highly desired. Current registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) is highly desirable.
Education/Experience at Nuclear Facilities Engineer 4: Position requires a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from an ABET-accredited college or university and a minimum of 12 years of practical work experience necessary to perform the responsibilities outlined above. Advanced engineering or technical degree is highly desired. Current registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) is highly desirable.
Desired Qualifications:
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.
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:
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.
DOE 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 P701 for applicant eligibility requirements.
Incentive Compensation Program: Position at the higher level is eligible to participate in the Triad Incentive Compensation Program. You must be in an eligible position for a minimum of 3 months, before July 1st and remain in an eligible position as of the end of the fiscal year, September 30th. The annual distribution is prorated based on the number of months in the eligible position.
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.
The Engineering Services (ES) Division of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) develops, maintains, and applies a diverse set of engineering capabilities to provide innovative engineering solutions that enable the Laboratory's scientific and national security mission. ES Groups are responsible for implementing the Conduct of Engineering (COE) program at Los Alamos National Laboratory in support of systems, structure and component modifications and new installations, as well as supporting existing systems, modifications and customers occupying the facilities.
This position is within the Engineering Services - Weapons Facilities Opearations (ES-WFO) Group and supports the Weapons Engineering Tritium Facility (WETF) as a Structural Cognizant System Engineer to serve as owner of multiple accredited facility systems. As a part of the Cognizant System Engineering Team, systems you support will include tritium process systems, structural fire protection systems, and various other systems needed to operate a leading research and development Hazard Category 2 nuclear facility.
Note: This position will be filled at either the Nuclear Facilities Engineer 3 or 4 level depending on the skills and/or experience of the selected candidate. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level.
Nuclear Facilities Engineer Level 3 ($128,000 - $215,900)
As a Nuclear Facilities Engineer with Engineering Services, you will function as a Cognizant System Engineer (CSE) assigned to Vital Safety Systems at WETF. WETF is part of the portfolio of facilities located within LANL's Weapons Facilities Operations (WFO). WFO works hand-in-hand with nuclear weapons R&D groups to develop and maintain the nation's weapons stockpile. As a CSE you will serve as the best integrated source of expert knowledge for a given system or component in your assigned facilities and therefore are responsible for a wide range of support activities. You will provide a technical interface to existing facility systems and components in the assigned facilities and control and maintain the technical baseline and master equipment list of the assigned systems. You will review and concur with design modification outputs as requested by the FDAR and evaluate, maintain, troubleshoot, and replace facility support equipment, as well as coordinate with multiple disciplines. In this role you will support configuration management of assigned systems.
You will apply broad, in-depth knowledge of DOE Orders, nuclear safety requirements, and national consensus codes-including ASCE, ACI, AISC, NFPA, and IBC-to develop engineering solutions that uphold the highest standards of safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance. Engineers at this level serve as technical authorities, lead portions of project and design work, guide system performance, and contribute to engineering strategies that ensure mission execution across complex, high-consequence facilities.
The level 3 role serves as a Senior Engineer and includes the following job opportunities:
- Qualify as a Cognizant System Engineer (CSE) at one of our nation's top scientific laboratories
- Assess, maintain, and upgrade systems at WETF to support facility operations and programmatic needs
- As system owner's representative this position will support the following focus areas: Configuration Management, Technical Support to Operations and Maintenance, System Health Status and Performance, and Technical Support to Programs and Projects
- Lead in research, assembles, and/or evaluates information or data regarding nuclear facility practices or applicable regulatory changes affecting nuclear facility engineering policies or programs; recommends sound, practical solutions to moderately complex issues
- Recognized as a contributing figure for nuclear facility engineering issues, communicating with stakeholders across most areas of the project.
- Expected to lead significant portions of nuclear facility engineering projects or teams in support of meeting mission deliverables
- Represent Engineering Services Division as a leader in effective and efficient project execution
- Review and approve conceptual and detailed designs that ensure third-party designs are code-compliant and meet our customer's needs
- Mentor lower-level System Engineers
- Assess the condition of existing facilities and infrastructure systems
- Expertly apply engineering judgement to engineering challenges
- Work to scope both internally and externally executed design projects
- Review high-level design deliverables including drawings, specifications, test and inspection plans (TIPs), statements of special inspections (SSIs), and calculations
- Assist in annual preventative maintenance and in-service inspections
- Adhere to LANL's Engineering Standards, Conduct of Engineering, prevailing codes and standards
- Support organizational initiatives for improvements of design and business practices
- Identify and/or lead activities within structural engineering in support of facility design, operation and maintenance
In addition to what was outlined at the lower level, at this level you will have experience identifying and/or leading activities within a nuclear facility engineering discipline, demonstrating initiative, technical depth, and leadership in complex project environments. You must be able to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team, applying broad and diversified knowledge of nuclear facility engineering principles and practices in the preparation and execution of nuclear facility engineering deliverables. This includes utilizing nuclear engineering technology to accomplish work safely and efficiently while continuously improving engineering and work processes to meet evolving customer and mission needs. As the ideal candidate you will bring a strong technical foundation, sound judgment, and the ability to integrate requirements across multiple systems and disciplines to ensure safe, compliant, and reliable facility operations.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
- Demonstrated broad-based, engineering experience with projects involving structural design for facility modifications
- Experience mentoring others, providing technical direction, and coordinating engineering activities
- In-depth understanding of safety principles and hazard mitigation in nuclear or industrial facility operations
- Working experience with engineering principles, codes, and standards (ASCE, ACI, AISC, NFPA, and IBC)
- Working experience in the development of engineering drawings, specifications, calculations, test and inspection plans (TIPs), and statements of special inspection (SSIs)
- Working experience in scoping of complex projects to produce an estimate of engineering costs for both design and construction activities
- Assist in defining maintenance requirements involving corrective maintenance and the tracking and trending of system performance
- Review design outputs for impact to technical baseline and master equipment lists
- Experience in a nuclear facility environment
- Working knowledge of industry, regulatory, or Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) complex codes, standards, and criteria pertinent to the particular engineering discipline
- Ability to articulate concepts through various oral and written communication media, using a diverse range of technical and business acumen
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical issues to diverse audiences
- Experience performing system engineering, design engineering, or project engineering functions within complex facility environments
- Ability to manage configuration, operability, and performance of assigned systems using a graded and risk informed approach
- Extensive knowledge and experience in nuclear facility engineering processes, maintenance techniques, work planning and control development, Quality, Safety Basis and other Nuclear Facility safety management programs
- Demonstrated experience working with industry, regulatory, or Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) complex codes, standards, and criteria pertinent to the nuclear facility engineering discipline. Including Expert knowledge of nuclear facility engineering principles and procedures, guides, and administrative practices
- Extensive knowledge of and demonstrated technical experience in preparing and reviewing technical reports and studies as part of establishing and maintaining Technical Baseline for new and existing facility structural systems
- Extensive knowledge of and demonstrated technical experience in defining and collecting metrics on the usage, process, safety, and other parameters of interest for the structure, system, or components
- Extensive knowledge of and demonstrated technical experience in evaluating and trending system health
- Demonstrated ability to interface and coordinate with other engineering disciplines and the customer during the development of the design as the Structural SME
- Demonstrated ability to mentor engineering interns and other engineers
- Extensive expertise in nuclear facility engineering processes, maintenance techniques, work planning and control, quality assurance, safety basis, and other nuclear facility safety management programs
- Demonstrated experience applying and interpreting DOE/NNSA, industry, and regulatory codes, standards, and criteria relevant to nuclear facility engineering
- Expert knowledge of nuclear facility engineering principles, procedures, guides, and administrative practices
- Extensive experience evaluating and trending system health to ensure long-term reliability and compliance
- Proven ability to mentor and develop engineering interns and junior engineers, fostering technical excellence and professional growth
- Recognized for strategic decision-making, effective communication, and technical oversight across multidisciplinary engineering teams
Education/Experience at Nuclear Facilities Engineer 3: Position requires a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from an ABET-accredited college or university and a minimum of 6 years practical work experience to the degree necessary to perform the responsibilities outlined above. Advanced engineering or technical degree is highly desired. Current registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) is highly desirable.
Education/Experience at Nuclear Facilities Engineer 4: Position requires a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from an ABET-accredited college or university and a minimum of 12 years of practical work experience necessary to perform the responsibilities outlined above. Advanced engineering or technical degree is highly desired. Current registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) is highly desirable.
Desired Qualifications:
- Current Professional Engineering (PE) License is preferred
- An advanced degree in a related field is preferred
- Facility operations or engineering experience within a nuclear facility
- Design experience in nuclear, accelerator or industrial facility operations
- Knowledge of DOE and LANL Engineering Standards and Conduct of Engineering principles and procedures
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.
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.
DOE 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 P701 for applicant eligibility requirements.
Incentive Compensation Program: Position at the higher level is eligible to participate in the Triad Incentive Compensation Program. You must be in an eligible position for a minimum of 3 months, before July 1st and remain in an eligible position as of the end of the fiscal year, September 30th. The annual distribution is prorated based on the number of months in the eligible position.
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.
