Blast Hardware Design Engineer; R&D Engineer

What You Will Do

The DARHT Experiments and Radiographic Science (J-4) group at Los Alamos National Laboratory is seeking a qualified candidate to join the Blast Hardware Engineering, Assembly, and Metrology (BEAM) team as a blast hardware design engineer. The BEAM team is responsible for blast hardware design, optical hydrotest assembly, and precision optical metrology. The successful candidate will work in a dynamic, multidisciplinary environment that includes scientists, engineers, mathematicians, technicians, IT professionals, drafters, and collaborators from diverse backgrounds.

They will use CREO to design and model components and tooling for optical hydrodynamic tests. The candidate will be responsible for having blast hardware components fabricated and inspected, and for participating in and overseeing the assembly of the blast hardware. They will also participate in multidisciplinary design reviews. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in engineering or a related technical field.

Familiarity with weapons design or integrated weapons experiments is highly desirable. The culture of J Division emphasizes mutual trust, interdependent teaming, and shared success. It values innovation, creative problem‑solving, and operational excellence. The division is committed to delivering the highest quality technical data to meet the needs of its mission partners, making this an exciting opportunity for someone passionate about impactful science and national service.

The position will be filled at the Engineer 2 or Engineer 3 level, depending on the skills of the selected candidate. Additional job responsibilities will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level.

• Engage in hands‑on mechanical design and fabrication support.
• Contribute to the development of blast hardware designs and required assembly tooling.
• Present blast hardware concepts and designs at high‑level design reviews.
• Work toward becoming a blast hardware subject‑matter expert.

• Lead multidisciplinary engineering design and assembly build efforts.
• Perform job functions independently.
• Document assembly procedures and the results of hardware builds.
• Mentor junior engineers and technicians.
• Serve as a subject‑matter expert in blast hardware design.
• Represent LANL in internal and external technical collaborations.

Minimum

Job Requirements:

Professional‑level background, education, and experience in engineering, demonstrated through academic qualifications and successful project and program execution. Demonstrated strong understanding of research and development practices, with proven ability to investigate alternative solutions and recommend effective approaches to complex technical challenges impacting R&D activities, projects, or initiatives.

Technical

Experience:

Professional‑level background, education, and experience in engineering. Demonstrated knowledge of research and development practices, with proven ability to investigate alternative solutions and recommend effective approaches to complex technical challenges impacting R&D activities, projects, or initiatives.

Communication: Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills. Demonstrated ability to effectively interact with all levels of personnel, stakeholders, and customers.

Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to collaborate and interact effectively with a wide range of personnel; exhibit professional conduct in interactions with co‑workers and supervisors; and work both independently and in a team environment. Demonstrated experience leading technical projects.

Clearance: Ability to obtain Q clearance as well as Sigma 15, which typically requires U.S. citizenship.

Additional Job Requirements for R&D Engineer 3:

Technical Leadership: Demonstrated technical leadership developing innovative advanced methods, techniques, and approaches to address specialized problems; planning, directing, and executing technical projects; leading technical decision‑making within a project; and making technically sound decisions and/or recommendations that influence technical projects.

Mentoring: Demonstr…