R&D Engineer Gas Transfer Systems; R&D Engineer

Position: R&D Engineer for Gas Transfer Systems (R&D Engineer 2)
** What You Will Do*
* The Gas Transfer Systems Group (Q-7) is responsible for design, development, production liaison, surveillance, and stewardship of all gas transfer systems (GTS) for LANL nuclear packages in the US nuclear weapon stockpile. While supporting the enduring stockpile, the group also supports the research and development of next generation GTS technology in support of future weapon systems. Emphasis is on the delivery of programmatic objectives via excellence in personnel safety, security, compliance, and programmatic hardware reliability and availability.

The group is the programmatic tenant in two R&D facilities at LANL:
The Weapons Engineering Tritium Facility (WETF), and a high-pressure gas transfer system radiological laboratory. At WETF, the group has a diverse array of responsibilities including tritium storage and recycling technologies, legacy item recycling and disposal, high pressure tritium operations, and GTS function testing. The team maintains calorimetry and gas mass spectrometric capabilities that support tritium accountability and the GTS development program as well as diverse programs across LANL.

At the high-pressure radiological laboratory, the team supports design agency (DA) and production agency (PA) missions for all LANL weapon systems, including valve and actuator surveillance for both LANL and SNL systems. The lab is a highly active hands-on lab, specializing in gas pressure systems (cleaning, purging, filling, bursting, etc.) and related diagnostics. Supporting equipment includes glove boxes, fume hood, high pressure compressors, lathes, mills, wire EDMs, thermal chambers, etc.

The accepted candidate will provide engineering expertise within the group and for general LANL customers and will work with the team to assist in fulfillment of gas transfer mission objectives as listed above and as deemed necessary.

The successful candidate will be required to:

+ Develop technical expertise and knowledge on gas transfer system technology, tritium science, and related engineering practices.

+ Develop new methods, techniques, capabilities, or approaches to address critical technical problems.

+ Coordinate with personnel to solve instrument maintenance and pressure safety issues.

+ Provide oversight of one or more technical projects.

+ Collaborate with members of the team to solve multidisciplinary problems.

+ Develop, review, and execute technical procedures.

+ Adhere to the requirements for working in facilities with radioactive hazards, including a Hazard Category 2 nuclear facility.

+ Represent the Laboratory to external agencies in defined capacities as necessary.

+ Ability to support laboratory experiment test setup, instrumentation, data analysis, and post report writing

This posting is under the Associate Laboratory Directorate for Weapons Engineering (ALDW).

** What You Need*
* ** Minimum

Job Requirements:

*
* ** Testing and Experimentation*
* Ability to recognize technical problems and apply analysis and testing to generate suitable solutions and effectively document and communicate results. Demonstrated mechanical aptitude and familiarity with instrumentation and experimentation techniques. Familiarity with pressure and vacuum systems and associated measurement techniques.

** Project Facilitation*
* Demonstrated ability to complete scheduled deliverables for multiple concurrent projects with a range of priorities. Demonstrated record of working in cross-organizational teams to solve complex problems. Demonstrated ability to develop defined tasks and direct others in execution of those tasks.

** Communication and Teamwork*
* Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills and demonstrated ability to interact with all levels of internal personnel and customers. Demonstrated ability to network effectively with other engineers and key contacts outside own area of expertise. Ability to express ideas clearly in ways that build understanding, respect, and trust, as demonstrated through presentations and publications.

** Safety/ Security*
* Demonstrated commitment to safety, security and compliance. The successful candidate will work daily in a classified setting and facilities with hazards including radiological, thermal, high pressure, etc.

** Education/

Experience:

** 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.

** Desired

Qualifications:

*
* + Demonstrated experience with pressure and/or vacuum systems and compliance with ASME standards

+ Ability to read and interpret drawings, including mechanical design drawings and/or electrical design drawings.

+ Knowledge of CAD systems and GD&T

+ Experience working in environments with a high level of operational formality such as a nuclear facility

+ Familiarity with developing and executing work control documents or procedures.

+ Experience working with tritium, either hands-on…