R&D Engineer

What You Will Do

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.

Detonator Production is comprised of a team of motivated, highly skilled technical and operational support staff. The organization is centered on high‑rigor manufacturing operations to produce high quality, safe, and reliable WR detonator products. DP partners with customers and stakeholders such as NNSA (National Nuclear Security Administration), Weapon System Design Agencies (LANL, Sandia, and Livermore), and LANL program management organizations. DP values teamwork, personal integrity, a respectful workplace, and continuous improvement in operations, technical excellence, safety, and security.

The Detonator Production—Process Engineering group (DP-2) provides subject‑matter expertise to develop and improve detonator and subcomponent manufacturing and inspection processes. Process engineers support production, monitor process control metrics, and pursue yield improvement projects. They are responsible for accurate documentation (Travelers, Quality Instructions, and Standard Operating Procedures) and support the manufacturing team on the production floor. Process Engineers partner with Product Engineers to ensure product requirements are met.

Process Engineers in Detonator Production will have specific manufacturing experience related to their field of expertise and can use the principles and theories of engineering, math, and science to drive a disciplined approach to solving technical problems. They will support projects in demanding assignments requiring initiative and independent judgment. They must be able to work independently and as part of a team and have excellent communication skills.

For more details about DP, visit the following site:
Detonator Production

As an R&D Engineer 3 you will initiate, develop and maintain engineering activities and processes for inert and/or high explosive detonator subcomponents and assemblies. You will be expected to interpret drawings requirements, develop solutions to problems, design and implement new technologies, improve cycle times, and minimize process uncertainties.

• Ensuring safety and security compliance, maintaining required training, adhering to Laboratory policies, programs, procedures, and practices.
• Support the procurement of War Reserve process material through detailed requirements documents.
• Responsibility for the manufacturing and testing of War Reserve and experimental detonator assemblies and subcomponents.
• Collaboration with other Process Engineers, Product Engineers, Quality Engineers, and Production Technicians to develop solutions to complex problems, design and implement new technologies, improve production cycle times, and minimize process uncertainties.
• Create training plans and provide briefings and on‑the‑job trainings (OJTs).
• Develop tooling and fixturing in support of processes.
• Monitor process performance using statistical analysis methods.
• Quantify and document process uncertainty and TAR/TUR.
• Identify and procure equipment in support of manufacturing processes.
• Coordinating calibration, maintenance and repair services to ensure equipment operates within required guidelines and specifications.
• Documenting manufacturing processes through thorough design evaluations and completion of Travelers, Quality Instructions, and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Serve as a process Subject Matter Expert on cross‑functional teams.

• Technical – Knowledge of and experience in designing, planning, and executing projects associated with electrical cable manufacturing methods.
• Leadership – Demonstrated ability to provide technical leadership in the day‑to‑day process of system startup & operation, tooling set‑up, in‑process performance monitoring, and engineering decision‑making.
• Analytical – Use data to identify areas of poor quality or efficiency and collaborate with all stakeholders to develop and implement improvements to make the manufacturing processes more robust.
• Communication – Ability to effectively…