Hydrodynamic Test Device Engineer; R&D Engineer

What You Will Do

The Weapon and Validation Division (V-Division) ensures that weapon designs meet all requirements and perform as intended. The division verifies design compliance and validates performance through investigations, qualification tests, and evaluations. This mission is accomplished through close communication and collaboration with sister divisions within the Weapons Engineering Directorate (ALDW). V-Division conducts assembly, non-destructive evaluation, test design and planning, and test execution to confirm the reliability and effectiveness of weapon systems.

The Weapons Test Execution Group (V-21) is responsible for planning and overseeing the execution of weapon tests. V-21 supports experimental evaluations across multiple domains, including mechanical, thermal, hydrodynamic, and subcritical testing. The group leverages capabilities across the national security enterprise, integrating diverse experimental expertise to design, field, and execute large-scale joint tests in partnership with weapon development organizations. As ALDW s center of excellence for complex weapon experimentation, V-21 plays a critical role in advancing the sustainment and modernization of the U.S. nuclear deterrent, ensuring that each experiment delivers the data and insight necessary to maintain a safe, secure, and effective stockpile.

This position is part of the Physics Validation (PV) team within V-21, which supports a range of Integrated Weapon Experiments, including weapon hydrodynamic tests and subcritical experiments. This specific job posting focuses on the hydrodynamic testing portion of our work. In hydrotesting, the PV team provides device engineers and the Lead Test Engineer, who together form one part of a three-person leadership team for each weapon hydrotest.

The leadership team consists of the Lead Test Engineer, Lead Physicist, and Lead Experimenter. The Lead Test Engineer follows a Systems Engineering Lifecycle to design, develop, and deliver the experimental device for each test. This role involves extensive collaboration with more than a dozen groups across the laboratory, requiring individuals who can work effectively with team members from diverse technical backgrounds and experience levels to achieve the common goals of the experiment.

The role offers opportunities to learn about various weapon systems and future concepts, while building hands-on experience in prototyping, design, and experimental execution. Our work spans many scientific and engineering disciplines, and success requires working closely with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to expand technical knowledge and develop expertise in relevant areas. The position also provides leadership opportunities, as the Lead Test Engineer heads the experiment team and serves as the primary point of contact among all participating organizations.

As an R&D Engineer on our team, you ll take ideas from concept to reality—designing, building, and testing functional prototype hardware assemblies that directly support our national security mission. You ll tackle a wide variety of mechanical and systems engineering challenges, from defining and managing requirements to performing concept modeling, component design, system integration, and full-scale testing and validation. Every project offers the opportunity to apply creativity and technical expertise to solve complex problems.

In addition to hands-on engineering, you ll contribute to the success of our programs by preparing and presenting technical reports, planning documents, and briefings for both internal and external stakeholders. You ll engage directly with senior laboratory management and external partners on high-visibility projects that shape the future of our mission. This role is ideal for engineers who are collaborative, curious, and driven to learn.

You ll have the chance to mentor junior staff, grow your leadership skills, and make a direct impact in advancing cutting-edge national security research.

This position will be filled at either the R&D Engineer 2/3 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.

R&D Engineer 2 ($104,100-$172,200)

• Plan project scope
• Coordinate test design
• Coordinate part procurement & fabrication
• Coordinate assembly process
• Execute pre-test and post-test activities
• Generate project reports & analysis
• Complete professional development & administrative tasks
• At this level more direction and mentorship will be provided from senior staff

R&D Engineer 3 ($125,200-$211,300)

In addition to what was outlined at the lower level, at this level the expectation is that the employee will provide leadership support to the team and provide extensive expertise to the team & stakeholders.

• Capability of self starting on tasks will be required with less direction; this will be more of an intermediate to senior role on the team.
• In this role mentorship to team members is…