Special Equipment and Tooling Engineer

Special Equipment And Tooling Engineer

We have an opening for a Special Equipment and Tooling Engineer supporting target fabrication for the National Ignition Facility & Photon Science (NIF&PS) Directorate, home to the world's most energetic laser. It is an exciting time to join the team that achieved fusion ignition in December 2022, and multiple times since, a historic moment in science that opened new physics regimes and set the stage for fusion energy possibilities.

You will be a core member of an interdisciplinary team supporting the fabrication of complex target articles for Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) and other national security programs at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). Targets are essential components for high-energy laser experiments and consist of intricate assemblies of finely manufactured parts with precision tolerances ranging from 25 nm to several micrometers. Fabrication, assembly, and testing of these targets require highly-specialized equipment and tooling to support precision alignment, metrology, x-ray radiography, high-pressure gas handling, cryogenic, and vacuum environments.

You will collaborate closely with process engineering, production, and maintenance teams to support equipment updates and new system development, applying project management and systems engineering methods to manage the process from initial concept through production and qualification. This position is in the Laser Systems Engineering and Operations (LSEO) Division within the Engineering Directorate.

This position requires full-time on-site presence due to the nature of the work.

This position will be filled at either level based on knowledge and related experience as assessed by the hiring team. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if hired at the higher level.

In this role, you will:

• Function independently with minimal direction, taking significant responsibility and using advanced knowledge and judgment to establish objectives, prioritize parallel tasks, allocate resources, and collaborate in the development of innovative methods and technology to guide the completion of projects and contribute to organizational goals.
• Collaborate in the design, development, prototyping, integration, testing, and commissioning of special equipment and tooling.
• Apply systems engineering principles to conduct technical tasks for requirements, interfaces, verification, and ensure traceability through implementation and test.
• Perform engineering analyses and provide solutions to formal design reviews to support performance, safety, reliability, maintainability, and mission requirements.
• Maintain engineering documentation, procedures, and configuration-controlled records, and plan and execute commissioning, acceptance, and verification test activities to confirm readiness and requirements compliance.
• Support Integrated Safety Management by identifying hazards, developing engineering controls, and ensuring work is performed safely and in compliance with applicable requirements.
• Support equipment improvements, integration of vendor-produced equipment, control software development, and serve as the primary technical contact for production equipment and tooling while briefing management and stakeholders on progress, risks, and resource needs.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the SES.
4 level:

• Operate under consultative direction with substantial authority, using in-depth analysis and subject matter expertise in highly advanced concepts, to resolve a diverse range of highly complex problems, independently determine strategies, modify approaches, and pursue actions that impact organizational operations or directions and achieve long-term goals.
• Direct technical tasks for the SE&T portfolio, coordinating execution across multiple concurrent efforts and aligning resources to milestones and program objectives.
• May lead planning, issue resolution, and schedule integration for assigned work to ensure effective execution.
• Develop innovative strategic planning for future equipment and tooling needs, including capability gaps and long-range priorities.

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or a relevant technical field, or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Advanced knowledge and significant experience working independently and under minimal direction to perform complex mechanical design and analysis, including the ability to analyze complex problems that may not be well defined.
• Advanced experience developing and implementing solutions to complex technical problems, including applying technical best practices, theories, concepts, and techniques.
• Advanced experience managing, overseeing, and delivering multiple simultaneous projects on budget and schedule, including demonstrated ability and flexibility in reprioritizing and changing…