What You Will Do
This position is open for external candidates only to apply.
Join the Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) Design Engineering team, a hub for expertise in radioisotope power system design, where you will contribute to advancing the nation's capabilities in actinide chemistry, materials science of ceramics, high-temperature metallurgy, composite engineering, thermal and structural analysis, re-entry and impact modeling, systems engineering, and safety analysis. The RPS Design Engineering Team is a part of the Product Realization and Reliability Office (PRRO) in Nuclear Production Operations. The PRRO consists of a multidisciplinary group of engineers and scientists that support plutonium programs (i.e., pit production, surveillance, research & development, and subcritical experiments) across the entire Nuclear Production Operations organization.
As a member of our RPS Design Engineering Team, you'll work alongside a talented group of engineers and scientists supporting plutonium programs across the organization. You'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in radioisotope power system design and contribute to the nation's technical expertise.
In this role, you will be responsible for:
- Optimization of the formation of ceramic solids by hot-pressing and characterization of these ceramic solids. Measurement and analysis of powder characteristics affecting coherence of hot-presses solids, including particle size distribution, surface area, and surface energy, and relating these characteristics to characteristic of the ceramic solid.
- Working with radioactive materials or hazardous materials
- Applying scientific or engineering principles, practices, and tools to continuously improve manufacturing processes.
- Contributing to the successful completion of technical projects by assisting in the analysis, validation, implementation, and verification of practical solutions, and applying novel problem-solving methods to solve engineering problems
- Assisting in the writing of technical documents and presenting technical work at internal and external meetings, seminars, and conferences.
- Working with radioactive materials or hazardous materials
We value diverse skills and experience, so don't hold back. Your specific qualification could add tremendous value to our team. Our production partners come from all different backgrounds, and so do our employees. If you're passionate about what you could accomplish here, we'd love to hear from you.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
- Training and experience in ceramic engineering or ceramic fabrication, as demonstrated by experience in research, analysis, and publications in the field.
- Analytical thinking skills, including demonstrated experience in the analysis, manipulation, and interpretation of data.
- Demonstrated ability to document technical results in a formal method/format
- Excellent communication and teamwork skills
- Strong presentation skills
- Ability to obtain a Q clearance, which requires US citizenship
Education/Experience: Position requires a Bachelor's degree in a STEM field from an accredited institution and 4 years of related experience, typically with post-doctoral research experience at a university or national lab or equivalent experience directly related to the occupation.
Desired Qualifications:
- Demonstrated experience in designing and executing experiments to evaluate the performance of hot-pressing of actinide oxide solids and to improve the quality of manufacturing processes.
- Experience with gas management in nuclear fuels
- Experience with modelling of density gradients and thermal loading in ceramic solids, in particular nuclear fuels.
- Post-doctoral degree in a STEM field
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.
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 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 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)
- 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 or preference, 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
[email protected] or call 1-505-665-4444 option 1.
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