Thermal Test Engineer; R&D Engineer

What You Will Do

The Test Engineering Group (V-14) of the Verification and Validation Division (V) at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is seeking a test engineer to support the weapons mission. The successful candidate will serve as a test engineer engaged in component, subsystem, and system level testing supporting the weapons directorate. Tasks include but are not limited to:

• Developing test requirements, design, and documentation
• Designing, analyzing, and building test fixtures
• Researching and implementing Instrumentation and data acquisition
• Scheduling, executing, and maintaining tests
• Providing technical oversight to team members
• Data analysis and formal test reporting

Test types include but are not limited to:

• Material aging & compatibility studies
• Cyclic, isothermal, and/or high temperature ramp studies
• Humidity controlled studies
• Combined environments (thermal plus shock & vibration or mechanical stress/strain) studies

Testing activities require working in a team environment with other engineers, scientists, and technicians within LANL, DOE, DoD, and other institutions. Compliance with LANL and facility safety and security practices and delivering accurate test results in a team effort are central to all testing efforts.

Additional job responsibilities include participating in the development of new testing technologies and facilities, and implementing quality assurance requirements. Performance of job responsibilities will require working in controlled hazardous environments that may include radiation generating devices, radioactive materials, high explosives, and other hazardous materials. The ability to provide clear, timely, and technically accurate direction to test support technicians is part of the job duties.

• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of test engineering including test design, planning, preparation, execution, and documenting of experimental work.
• Ability to work on multiple projects concurrently and with changing priorities while delivering results on schedule.
• Ability to accomplish technical tasks while working independently or as part of a team with other engineers, scientists, and technicians.

• Demonstrated experience in interpreting experimental data such as temperature and humidity.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge in the use of specialized engineering software for data acquisition and analysis, such as Python, MATLAB, Lab View, or other similar software packages.

• Demonstrated interpersonal, oral and written communication skills and experience interacting with all levels of personnel and customers.
• Ability to advise and guide experimental work including mentoring junior staff, students or technicians.

Education/

Experience:

Position requires a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from an accredited institution and 4 years of related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

• Advanced engineering degrees like MS in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Demonstrated experience in the design and analysis of thermal transient loading conditions.
• Comprehensive knowledge of experimental and analytical thermal analysis utilizing three‑dimensional modeling software.
• Environmental, thermal life cycle, or thermal testing experience.
• Experience with setup, operation, troubleshooting and maintenance of thermal conditioning units.
• Experience with operations or tests involving high explosives.
• Demonstrated experience in nuclear weapons testing and qualification.
• Active Q clearance.

Sitting, standing, climbing stairs, reaching overhead and down, bending, stooping, and lifting 10-50 pounds.

Position involves working around and possibly handling high explosives as well as being near sources of non‑ionizing radiation.

The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.

Regular appointment employees are required to serve a…