What You Will Do
The Actinide Analytical Chemistry (C-AAC) Group within Chemistry Division is looking for a Technologist 2 or 3 to join the Plutonium Assay/Interstitial Chemistry (PA/IC) team. The position serves the Laboratory's core national security mission areas of weapons science and threat reduction.
The successful applicant will perform analytical chemistry measurements on actinide materials, including plutonium, uranium and associated process materials. Responsibilities include sample pereparation, general wet chemistry, bulk dissolutions and solution aliquoting, chemical separations, analytical method implementation and development, data analysis, technical reporting, and troubleshooting of analytical processes. Instrumental analysis will include the use of electrochemistry, titrimetry, ion chromatography, and UV-VIS (UV-Visible Spectrophotometry). The applicant will also perform routine maintenance activities such as glove changes, bag outs, and other tasks needed to maintain analytical chemistry functionality in nuclear facilities. The selected applicant will work closely with operations personnel, technicians, scientists and customers to provide timely and defensible analytical results in support of laboratory missions.
Work will require specialized training and qualification to handle Special Nuclear Material (plutonium and uranium) in secured buildings. Work takes place in gloveboxes and hoods and will require special PPE and respirators for certain activities
This position serves the Laboratory's core national security mission areas of weapons science and threat reduction.
Research Technologist 2 $96,600- $158,000
- Prepare reagents and perform general lab tasks, including extensive sample preparation.
- Dissolution of actinide materials.
- Operate instruments for actinide analyses.
- Follow approved written procedures and guidelines.
- Complete and maintain extensive radiological laboratory training requirements.
- Work in a team environment.
- Work with radioactive materials in gloveboxes in a nuclear facility.
- Independently operate, maintain, and troubleshoot/repair a variety of instrumentation.
- Understand and implement a variety of QA/QC methods and protocols.
- Review data collection record keeping and report generation for compliance with protocols.
- Maintain/improve/streamline work execution in collaboration with others on the team.
- Identify and recommend solutions to problems affecting project requirements as they occur.
Research Technologist 3 $106,400-$176,000
In addition to what was outlined at the lower level, at this level
- Performs routine, unsupervised measurements and data evaluations associated with PA/IC team activities.
- Maintains robust adherence to QA/QC requirements of accuracy and precision for PA/IC team tasks.
- Independently executes analytical work while contributing to larger team objectives and customer deliverables.
- Identifies and implements process improvements that enhance measurement quality, efficiency, and turnaround time.
- Communicates technical results effectively to subject matter experts, customers, collaborators, and line management.
- Works effectively in a collaborative team environment with changing priorities.
- Effective communications both oral and written with various collaborating teams.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
- Experience working in a chemistry laboratory setting with corrosive and hazardous chemicals.
- Experience working in a laboratory environment
- Knowledge of implementation of required safety, security, and quality assurance practices for the work assignment, including calibration concepts and protocols.
- Ability to work successfully in a team environment and exhibit collaborative behavior.
- Ability to wear personal protective equipment, including a full-face respirator.
- Ability to obtain a Q clearance, which usually requires US citizenship.
- Ability and willingness to perform work in a rigorously controlled work environment utilizing the principles of formality of operations and work authorization.
- Ability to follow procedures and guidelines in accordance with stringent quality assurance and quality control requirements.
- Demonstrated experience with data collection, record keeping and report generation
Additional Job Requirements for Research Technologist 3:
In addition to the requirements outlined above, qualification at the higher level requires:
- Advanced knowledge of of analytical techniques
- Experience working in a laboratory environment with nuclear material
Education/Experience at lower level:
Position requires an Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and five years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.
Education/Experience at higher level:
Position requires an Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and eight years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.
DOE Order 426.2a: Requires High School Diploma ( or equivalent, i.e.,GED)
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience working in a nuclear facility.
- Experience working in a highly regulated work environment.
- Experience using various personal protective equipment (PPE), including respirator work.
- Experience performing plutonium assay measurement and/or analytical characterization of actinide materials.
- Experience with wet chemistry analytical techniques including titrimetric, gravimetric, spectroscopic, chromatographic, or radiochemical methods.
- Experience working with plutonium, uranium americium or other radioactive materials.
- Familiarity with nuclear material accountability measurements and associated quality requirements.
- Experience understanding and following QA/QC principles in an analytical chemistry production environment (ASTM, ISO, etc.)
- Knowledge of DOE Conduct of Operations and safety/security requirements for nuclear/radiological facilities
- Active Q clearance
- DOE Human Reliability Program approval
Essential Job Functions (can perform with or without reasonable accommodation):
Ability to hear in a normal range (500 to 3000 hz); Standing; Bending; Climbing stairs; Use of both hands, arms, legs feet; Lifting 20-30 pounds.
Work Environment:
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.
Work Schedule: This position may require extended hours which could involve working a shift schedule. Employees may be eligible for shift differential pay when assigned by their manager. Shift assignments are at the discretion of the manager.
While the posted salary range for this position is broad, it is highly unusual for selected applicants to be hired at the top end of the range and more common for selected candidates to grow into the full salary band over time.
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:
For full consideration, please submit a comprehensive resume and cover letter indicating your relevant experience to the job requirements and desired qualifications.
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.
426.2A: This position is subject to DOE Order 426.2A, 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 Policy P701 for applicant eligibility requirements.
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 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
[email protected] or call (505)-664-6947.
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