What You Will Do
This position will be filled at either the Scientist 1 or Scientist 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.
The Manufacturing Focused Analysis Group (PAT-1) within the Associate Laboratory Directorate for Weapons Production (ALDWP) at Los Alamos National Laboratory is seeking highly motivated STEM professionals to support mission-critical manufacturing operations through advanced analytics, modeling, and decision-support tool development.
PAT-1 partners directly with stakeholders across Weapons Production to help leadership and program teams understand the current state of manufacturing and facility processes, quantify performance, and evaluate the impact of proposed changes. Our work enables informed decision-making that directly influences mission execution. Our team integrates engineering, data science, and operations research approaches to translate complex production environments into actionable insight. Core activities include:
- Developing decision-support tools that synthesize production and facility data into meaningful metrics and visualizations
- Processing, structuring, and analyzing large and diverse operational datasets
- Designing and implementing discrete-event simulation models to evaluate process behavior and assess the effects of schedule, capacity, staffing, or infrastructure changes
- Integrating analytics and modeling outputs into dashboards and executive-level reporting products
- Collaborating with subject matter experts to define problem statements, validate assumptions, and ensure analytical rigor
In addition to our primary focus areas, PAT-1 contributes to emerging capabilities such as digital twin integration (including NVIDIA Omniverse environments), LiDAR data processing and spatial analysis, advanced visualization development, and enterprise dashboard solutions. These efforts support long-term modernization and enhanced situational awareness across production operations.
Successful candidates will work in a highly collaborative, cross-disciplinary environment composed of engineers, data scientists, and analysts from diverse technical backgrounds. Team members engage directly with manufacturing organizations and senior decision makers, translating technical analyses into clear, defensible recommendations that impact operational outcomes.
This position is suited for individuals who are motivated by solving complex, real-world problems; comfortable working with both data and stakeholders; and interested in applying STEM expertise to improve mission-critical manufacturing systems.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
Scientist 1 ($96,600 - $158,000)
- Experience applying problem-solving techniques to data, results, and/or simulations.
- Analysis skills, including the ability to compile and interpret data utilizing an understanding of statistical concepts and applications, and the ability to clearly present analysis results.
- The ability to translate elicited data into effective requirements and planning assumptions.
- Effective written and oral skills, including the ability to interact with and solicit information from subject matter experts, project customers or clients, and various stakeholders.
- Ability to work effectively as a part of a team in multi-disciplinary environment.
Scientist 2 ($106,000 - $176,000)
In addition to the outlined requirements at the Scientist 1 level, the minimum requirements at the Scientist 2 level include:
- Demonstrated technical experience in a STEM discipline, as applied to projects spanning one or more of the following key areas of the group (data analytics, decision support, process improvement, simulation modeling and analysis).
- Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate information to a broad audience through presentations, reports, and verbal communication to technical and management audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to mentor junior staff and peers in their technical and professional growth.
- Experience leading analyses, design/development, or research in support of projects.
Education/Experience at lower level: Position requires a Bachelor's Degree in a STEM field and 2 years of related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.
Education/Experience at higher level: Position requires a Bachelor's Degree in a STEM field and 4 years of related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.
Desired Qualifications:
- Knowledge of operations research or industrial engineering principles (such as process improvement, decision support, process analysis, optimization, data analytics, etc.).
- Experience with Discrete-Event Simulation software (Simio, ExtendSim, etc.) and process simulation modeling principles.
- Experience with CAD/CAM/CAE.
- Experience with Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE).
- Familiarity with digital twin development/integration.
- Experience with computer programming languages and coding principles.
- Familiarity with databases and working with large datasets (SQL, Access, Pandas, etc.)
- Familiarity with processing data using statistics and visualization techniques (JMP, R, Python, MicroStrategy, Power BI, etc.)
- An advanced degree is desired at the higher job level.
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.
Additional Note:
- For full consideration, in addition to a resume, each applicant must submit a cover letter explaining how you meet each of the minimum job requirements and any of the desired qualifications.
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
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.
No Clearance: Position does not require a security clearance. Selected candidates will be subject to drug testing and other pre-employment background checks.
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
[email protected] or call (505)-664-6947 opt. 3.
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