Processing & Joining Metallurgist​/Materials Engineer

Job Overview

Processing and Joining Metallurgist/Materials Engineer – This position is in the Materials Engineering Division (MED) within the Engineering Directorate. It requires full‑time on‑site presence due to the nature of the work. The role involves developing, qualifying, and implementing metallic joining and thermal processing methods for critical national security components. A full description of responsibilities and qualifications follows below.

• Develop, execute, and optimize metallic joining and thermal processing methods in a laboratory environment, including electron beam and laser welding, vacuum brazing, diffusion bonding, HIP, and heat treatment for steels, nickel‑base alloys, and other structural alloys.
• Provide metallurgical engineering support for processing, materials selection, and property investigations.
• Participate in the design, setup, and operation of processing and joining systems, including fixture design, parameter development, and troubleshooting.
• Perform metallurgical characterization and joint evaluation using sample preparation, optical microscopy (SEM as appropriate), hardness testing, and mechanical testing (for example, tensile or bend tests) to assess quality and performance.
• Organize, analyze, and present data from experiments and process development activities to improve understanding of process, structure, and property relationships.
• Collaborate with scientists, engineers, technologists, designers, and production partners as part of integrated teams spanning design, analysis, prototyping, and production implementation.
• Integrate experimental results with analytical or computational models (for example, process models, thermal or stress analyses, or microstructure evolution tools) to inform process window development and production workflows.
• Travel up to approximately 20 % to external production facilities (for example, Y‑12, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the Kansas City National Security Campus) to observe and support operations, review procedures, and provide feedback to LLNL program management and design teams.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Take technical ownership of specific joining and thermal processing operations, including requirements definition, specification input, process qualification, and continuous improvement.
• Provide technical guidance and informal mentoring to less experienced staff, technicians, and students in joining and processing development, sample preparation, and metallurgical characterization.
• Lead or co‑lead defined technical tasks or small projects, coordinating across team members and tracking progress against scope, schedule, and quality requirements.

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q‑level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Welding Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Experience planning and executing experiments in metallic joining or thermal processing (for example, welding, brazing, diffusion bonding, HIP, or heat treatment), including data collection, analysis, and documentation.
• Strong understanding of the relationships among processing parameters, microstructure, and mechanical properties, and the ability to assess joint and material quality using microstructural observations and basic mechanical test data.
• Experience or training in microstructural characterization of metallic materials and/or joints, including sample preparation and optical microscopy, with familiarity with SEM or other advanced methods as a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively on multidisciplinary teams, communicate status and results, and incorporate feedback.
• Sufficient verbal and written communication skills to prepare, present, and explain technical information.
• Demonstrated commitment to safe work practices and the ability to adapt to evolving priorities.
• Ability to travel to external production facilities to support program operations.