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. This role is a core member of an interdisciplinary team that supports the fabrication of complex target articles for Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) and other national security programs.

• Function independently with minimal direction, establishing objectives, prioritizing parallel tasks, allocating resources, and collaborating in the development of innovative methods and technology.
• Collaborate with process engineering, production, and maintenance teams to support equipment updates and new system development, applying project management and systems engineering methods.
• Design, develop, prototype, integrate, test, and commission special equipment and tooling.
• Apply systems engineering principles to perform technical tasks for requirements, interfaces, verification, and ensure traceability through implementation and testing.
• Conduct 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; plan and execute commissioning, acceptance, and verification test activities.
• Support Integrated Safety Management by identifying hazards, developing engineering controls, and ensuring safe performance of work.
• Support equipment improvements, integration of vendor‑produced equipment, control software development, and serve as the primary technical contact for production equipment and tooling.
• Brief management and stakeholders on progress, risks, and resource needs.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

• Operate under consultative direction with substantial authority to resolve highly complex problems, determine strategies, and pursue actions that impact organizational operations or directions.
• Direct technical tasks for the SE&T portfolio, coordinating execution across multiple concurrent efforts and aligning resources to milestones and program objectives.
• Lead planning, issue resolution, and schedule integration for assigned work to ensure effective execution.
• Develop strategic planning for future equipment and tooling needs, including capability gaps and long‑range priorities.

• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q‑level security clearance.
• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a relevant technical field; advanced knowledge and significant experience in complex mechanical design and analysis.
• Advanced experience managing multiple simultaneous projects on budget and schedule, with demonstrated flexibility in reprioritizing and changing programmatic direction.
• Advanced verbal and written communication skills for effective collaboration and presentation of technical information.
• Experience interacting and coordinating activities with all levels of technical staff, managers, stakeholders, and vendors.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage small multidisciplinary teams.
• Additional qualifications at the SES.
  4 level (expertise in tooling engineering, highly complex mechanical design, subject‑matter expert status, advanced team leadership, and advanced planning and execution for tooling engineering).

• Master’s or Ph.D. in an engineering discipline or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Certification in Project Management (PMP or Systems Engineering certification).
• Expertise in systems engineering, precision design, advanced manufacturing techniques, and ANSI/ASME standards for machine tool testing or coordinate measuring machines.

• Base salary range: $175,530 – $267,060 Annually for SES.
  4; $175,530 – $222,564 Annually for SES.
  3.
• Benefits include flexible benefits package, 401(k), relocation assistance, education reimbursement program, and flexible schedules (depending on project needs).
• Position is career indefinite, open to Lab employees and external…