R&D Engineer

Position: R&D Engineer 2/3
** What You Will Do*
* ** This position is open for external candidates only to apply.*
* ** This position will be filled at either the R&D Engineer 2 or 3 level, depending on the skills of the selected candidate.  Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level.*
* The Detonation Science and Technology Group (Q-6) serves the Laboratory and the Nation providing the knowledge base and component design responsibilities for the Nuclear Weapons Program and other critical national security areas. The Group's capabilities include design engineering for nuclear weapon detonators and detonator cable assemblies, design, fabrication, qualification, and installation of test fire control systems, pulse power engineering, advanced detonator design and testing, and applied problem solving.

Additional capabilities include expertise in the detonation science and physics of detonator energetic materials, and engineering responsibility for the cradle to grave care of the detonators and detonator cable assemblies used by Los Alamos National Laboratory. Q-6 is also responsible for engineering, fabricating, or acquiring precision high explosives detonators for a diverse R&D customer base to meet present and future national security needs in a safe, secure, and efficient manner.

Q-6 is offering an opportunity to join the Detonation Science and Technology Group as a mid-career R&D Engineer. You will work closely with a diverse team of engineers, technologists, and technicians on timing and firing control systems, facility infrastructure integration with high-voltage and laser operations that support critical high consequence experiments. We are looking for a thoughtful, collaborative engineer who enjoys solving real problems, learning quickly, and contributing to a team-oriented environment.

In this role, you'll help design and deliver high value projects end-to-end and support the development of tools and systems.

** What You Need*
* ** Minimum

Job Requirements:

*
* ** R&D Engineer 2 ($106,400 - $176,000)*
* Ideal applicants will have experience in the following areas:

+ Design timing & firing system architectures, including hardware, software, electrical interfaces, PCB layouts, schematic development, and mechanical definitions for boards, chassis, and connectors

+ Develop embedded and system-level software, including scripts, modules, simulations, HDL logic, and hardware-control interfaces

+ Integrate hardware and software subsystems, validating compatibility across electrical, firmware, and mechanical components

+ Build and assemble system hardware, including PCB fabrication/assembly oversight, wiring installation, component selection, and in-house inspections for continuity, signal integrity, and workmanship

+ Troubleshoot complex mixed-signal systems, using oscilloscopes, TDRs, high-voltage test equipment, digital/analog diagnostics, and data-driven isolation methods

+ Document engineering work clearly, including test results, user documentation, lessons learned, version control notes, and integration guides

** Education/Experience for R&D Engineer 2** :
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.

** Education/Experience for R&D Engineer 3** :
Position requires a Master's Degree in Engineering from an accredited institution and 6 years of related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.  At this level a Ph.D. may be preferred.

** Desired

Qualifications:

*
* +

Experience with FPGA/HDL development, embedded systems, and real-time hardware-control firmware

+  Strong background in mixed-signal circuit design, signal/power integrity, and PCB manufacturing or DFM practices

+  Proficiency with advanced diagnostics such as high-bandwidth scopes, Time Domain Reflectometer (TDRs), network analyzers, or precision LCR equipment

+  Familiarity with high-voltage, pulse-power, or safety-critical electrical environments and related engineering standards

+…