Mechanical Design Engineer - Space Hardware; R&D Engineer

Overview

What You Will Do Los Alamos National Laboratory is seeking a mechanical design engineer to join the Space Instrument Realization Group (ISR-5). You will support the design, analysis, assembly, testing, and integration of custom space-based instrumentation for national security and fundamental science applications.

ISR-5 develops and deploys advanced measurement systems from concept through mission execution. You will work closely with other mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, scientists, technicians, analysts, and test personnel to develop robust, flight-ready systems for national security and scientific missions. This position offers the opportunity to work on mission-driven space hardware from early concept development through design, analysis, environmental test, and deployment.

The Intelligence and Space Research Division at LANL has more than 60 years of experience designing, building, and operating ground-, air-, and space-based systems supporting nuclear nonproliferation, treaty verification, remote sensing, space situational awareness, and NASA missions including Curiosity, Perseverance, IBEX, Van Allen Probes, and IMAP. This position will be filled at either the R&D Engineer 1 or R&D Engineer 2 level, depending on the skills of the selected candidate.

Additional job responsibilities will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level.

• Design mechanical hardware and generate CAD models and drawings
• Support fabrication and assembly of hardware
• Perform static, dynamic, and thermal analyses using finite element analysis, hand calculations, and other analytical methods to inform designs
• Conduct design trades, risk reduction activities, and apply engineering decisions throughout hardware development
• Support environmental testing, including vibration, shock, thermal cycling, and thermal vacuum testing
• Prepare clear technical reports, presentations, and review materials for internal and external stakeholders
• Contribute to ISR-5 mechanical design and analysis tools, methods, and best practices

Minimum Job Requirements

• Experience developing designs in Creo, SOLIDWORKS, or similar CAD tools
• Experience with drafting/engineering drawings including knowledge of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing standards
• Knowledge of mechanical and thermal environments relevant to flight hardware, such as launch loads, vibration, shock, thermal cycling, thermal vacuum, or operational thermal environments
• Proficiency in engineering fundamentals related to space-based hardware
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment, including interfacing with other engineers, scientists, technicians, project/program staff, and other stakeholders
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including documenting analysis assumptions, methods, results, margins, risks, and recommendations
• Demonstrated commitment to safety, security, quality, peer review, and responsible engineering practices
• Ability to obtain clearances as required for project work

Education/Experience at lower level
Bachelor’s Degree in engineering from an accredited institution and 2 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Education/Experience at higher level
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

• Experience supporting the design, analysis, qualification, launch, or operation of spaceflight, aerospace, defense, or high-reliability hardware
• Experience working with concepts and practices of GD&T
• Experience with launch environments, including quasi-static loads, random vibration, shock, acoustics, modal analysis, or coupled loads
• Experience with space thermal environments, including thermal vacuum, thermal cycling, orbital heating, radiation, or electronics heating
• Experience with ASME, NASA, DoD, or aerospace standards such as ASME Y14.5, NASA-STD-5001/5002, NASA-STD-5020, GSFC-STD-7000, MIL-STD-1540, MIL-STD-810, ECSS, MMPDS, or related…