Mechanical Engineer ; R&D Engineer

What You Will Do

The Accelerator Operations and Technology Division (AOT), Radio Frequency Engineering (RFE) group is seeking an R&D Engineer at either a Level 2 or Level 3 for their 805 MHz HPRF team. The AOT division is responsible for maintaining, operating, and upgrading all accelerator systems at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) complex. These systems include two 750-keV Cockcroft-Walton-based injector systems (H+ and H- systems), a 201.25-MHz drift-tube linear accelerator (LINAC) utilizing high-power diacrode tubes, an 805-MHz coupled cavity LINAC utilizing high-power klystrons as the primary power source, a proton storage ring, and approximately one kilometer of beam transport lines that deliver beam to the five independent research programs.

The RFE group oversees all radio frequency (RF) systems and consists of three specialized teams:
Low-Level RF (LLRF) focused on real-time phase and amplitude controls;
High-Power RF (HPRF) systems at 201 MHz; and High-Power RF systems at 805 MHz. The group provides expertise, support, technical leadership and engineering support in RF system design, including gridded tube amplifiers, klystrons, RF control systems, and accelerator cavities. While the group’s primary focus is the design and implementation of RF systems for the LANSCE User Facility, it also supports a wide range of internal and external collaborations, sharing expertise with national security projects and international accelerator research communities.

RFE team members frequently participate in global partnerships, workshops, and conferences to advance RF technology. This position will be filled at either the R&D Engineer 2 or R&D Engineer 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.

Role: $104,100 - $172,200. The High-Power RF (HPRF) team at LANSCE is looking for a candidate with a background in Mechanical Engineering or related field to join the RF Engineering group. This is a support role with dynamic responsibilities, guided by the priorities of the HPRF plant ies include troubleshooting programmatic equipment and extending to engineering and supervisory aspects of project execution such as performing initial calculations, developing specifications, submitting procurement orders and coordinating testing, delivery, and installation.

The ideal candidate will have experience in mechanical design and software such as Solid Works. Practical fabrication and/or machining is highly desirable. Strong skills in computational analysis (structural and thermal analysis) are important, with CFD experience considered a plus. Proficiency in CAD design and layout is also strongly desired. Experience developing production systems in an industrial environment, including system design, installation, troubleshooting, and commissioning, is preferred.

As a member of the AOT-RFE high-power RF Engineering team, you will be responsible for the operation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of the LANSCE 805 MHz high power RF systems, including klystron and vacuum tube/solid-state power modulators, associated electronics, interlocks, protection circuits, and high-voltage power supplies (up to 90 kV, 2340 kW), as well as power electronics. The role also includes participating in an on-call rotation to support the high-power RF amplifier systems after hours and on weekends, typically one week out of every six during the approximately seven-month annual operating period of the accelerator.

Role: $125,200 - $211,300. In addition to what is outlined for R&D Engineer 2, this level includes leading and contributing to the planning and implementation of future RF system upgrades as part of a larger engineering team. This involves evaluating two existing modulator designs and designing improvements to enable higher power operation. Following successful testing on dedicated test stands, the upgraded systems will replace the current high-voltage and klystron amplifiers across a significant portion of the LANSCE linear accelerator.

The work also includes analyzing RF system data to guide design decisions for improvements that enhance reliability and performance.

Minimum

Job Requirements:

• Demonstrated leadership in engineering efforts in the design, fabrication, assembly, and testing of complex scientific instrumentation.
• Experience in engineering calculations, numerical analysis, materials evaluation and applied design rules, to the fabrication and testing of new devices.
• Experience in vibration and thermal isolation and optical components.
• Experience with multiple fabrication techniques and design tools for producing complex components and systems.
• Experience in preparing detailed mechanical drawings.
• Demonstrated ability with CAD tools.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced and collaborative work environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a…