Welding & Joining Research Technician; Research Tec

What You Will Do

This position will be filled at either the Research Technician 3 or Research Technician 4 level, depending on the skills/experience of the selected candidate. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level.

Sigma Division focuses on manufacturing science emphasizing metallurgical processes and research in support of the experimental testing program at Los Alamos. Sigma division supports a broad customer base, both internal and external to LANL, with high quality prototype and research and development capabilities. The work covers all materials from hydrogen to uranium on the periodic table. The Welding & Joining (W&J) team encompasses many types of welding and joining, including electron beam welding, laser welding, laser marking, laser cutting and ablation, manual and semi-automatic arc welding, brazing, and associated processing.

The team also supports computational efforts, both internal to the team and in collaboration with other LANL experts, to investigate compensation, residual stresses, material composition, and microstructure development. The W&J team works with the other teams in Sigma and beyond to solve manufacturing challenges, provide metallurgical guidance, and lead the way in cutting edge welding and joining processing.

In this role you will perform hands on experimental research related to various manufacturing methods. You will conduct technical work as directed by or discussed with your supervisor with a focus on laser welding methods and will document procedures and parameters used. You will assist with maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing the equipment. You will effectively communicate with and build partnerships to ensure work is performed safely and secure in accordance with group, facility and laboratory policies.

The work will enable you to utilize and grow your knowledge while working with cutting edge technology related to these processing areas.

Minimum

Job Requirements:

The successful level 3 candidate must have:

• Experience with manufacturing operations in one or more of the following areas: electron beam welding, laser welding, laser marking, laser cutting and ablation, manual and semi-automatic arc welding, and brazing
• Experience with recording procedures, equipment, and parameters used in technical/manufacturing work with an attention to detail to capture observations and data.
• Experience building relationships and interactively communicating to ensure processing equipment and experiments are operated safely in accordance with policies and procedures.
• A record of receiving safety and security approvals.
• Knowledge of how to maintain and procure supplies for equipment.
• An ability to work with vendors to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair instrumentation and equipment in the facility.

In addition, the successful level 4 candidate must have:

• Experience conducting technical research in the lab/work area with supervisor direction.
• Experience independently analyzing findings and data to develop a preliminary interpretation of results to present to supervisor.
• Experience summarizing and communicating outcomes to supervisor and an ability to plan next stages of technical work
• Experience contributing to the development of new procedures and protocols
• Ability to mentor, train, and oversee technicians in areas of their expertise.
• Experience assisting with scheduling, maintenance, supply inventory, and overseeing repairs to equipment.
• A high attention to detail including strong organizational skills, analytical thinking, observation skills and problem‑solving skills.

Position requires an Associate's Degree and 3 years of related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Position requires an Associate's Degree and 5 years of related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

• Ability to…