R&D Engineer

Position

R&D Engineer 2 at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Detonator Production (DP) Division is the premier Production Agency (PA) assigned to produce War Reserve (WR) detonators for the Nation's nuclear stockpile security mission. DP is composed of a team of highly skilled technical and operational staff focused on high‑rigor manufacturing operations to deliver safe, reliable WR detonator products. The organization partners with NNSA, Weapon System Design Agencies, and LANL program management.

DP values teamwork, personal integrity, respectful workplace culture, continuous improvement, technical excellence, safety, and security.

The Process Engineering group (DP‑2) provides subject‑matter expertise to develop and improve detonator and subcomponent manufacturing processes. Process engineers support production, monitor process control metrics, pursue yield improvement projects, and maintain accurate documentation. They partner with Product Engineers to ensure product requirements are met. Qualified Process Engineers will have manufacturing experience in their field and the ability to apply engineering principles, math, and science to solve technical problems independently or as part of a team.

• Ensure safety and security compliance, maintain required training, and adhere to laboratory policies, programs, procedures, and practices.
• Support procurement of War Reserve process material through detailed requirements documents.
• Fabricate, inspect, and test War Reserve and experimental detonator components and subcomponents.
• Collaborate with Process Engineers, Product Engineers, Quality Engineers, and Production Technicians to develop solutions, design and implement new technologies, improve production cycle times, and maximize yield rates.
• Develop tooling and fixturing to support production processes.
• Monitor process performance using statistical analysis methods.
• Identify and procure production equipment in support of manufacturing processes.
• Coordinate maintenance and repair services to keep production equipment operating within required guidelines and specifications.
• Document manufacturing processes through thorough design evaluations and feedback from the manufacturing group.
• Serve as a process Subject Matter Expert on cross‑functional teams.

• Technical – Proven experience applying engineering principles, methods, and tools to complex problems; knowledge of Lean Manufacturing Principles.
• Leadership – Ability to provide technical leadership in day‑to‑day process startup, startup & operation, tooling setup, in‑process performance monitoring, component inspection, and engineering decision‑making.
• Analytical – Use data to identify areas of poor quality or efficiency and collaborate with stakeholders to implement improvements.
• Communication – Effectively communicate and collaborate with all levels of the department and division; explain equipment usage and training processes verbally and through documentation.
• Quality – Experience monitoring process performance using Statistical Process Control, Six Sigma, and other methods.
• Interpretation of Drawings – Proficiency in interpreting and translating complex design agency requirements in specifications and engineering drawings; review drawings for manufacturability.
• Safety – Ability to analyze hazards involved in manufacturing operations and develop appropriate controls.
• Education / Experience – Bachelor of Science in Engineering and 4 years of related experience (or equivalent combination), directly related to the occupation.
• National Security – Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q Clearance.

• Knowledge of the United States nuclear weapons programs, designs, and engineering.
• Experience in manufacturing practices and processes.
• Experience authoring standard operating instructions, work instructions, quality instructions, and basic project management skills.
• Knowledge or experience in MRP/ERP software such as Solumina, SOMS, SAP.
• Quality systems such as MQS, NCR.
• Configuration control systems such as PDMLink, MPMLink.
• Statistical analysis software such as JMP, Minitab.
• CAD systems such as CREO and/or Solid…