Materials Processing & Polymer Research Technologist
Listed on 2026-07-17
-
Engineering
Process Engineer, Research Scientist, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineer -
Research/Development
Research Scientist
What You Will Do
Sigma-1 is seeking qualified applicants for a Research Technologist position. The Sigma Complex is a unique prototyping and fabrication facility that specializes in providing material, components, and manufacturing science to the Los Alamos experimental programs. The successful candidate will work in a highly collaborative team environment, interfacing routinely with other Sigma Division staff as well as deployed personnel to complete program objectives.
You will work with several different pressure/vacuum/gas systems, including using existing systems to conduct experiments and designing new systems to meet specific experimental objectives. Daily operations will require understanding and application of pressure and vacuum system technology, mechanical design/CAD, machining, experimental control and data acquisition, analytical techniques and instrumentation, surface chemistry, and chemical kinetics. You will communicate results through oral and written reports.
Technologist 1 (Salary $87,800 – $143,000)
- Design, construction, testing, and operation of vacuum/pressure/gas/furnace/hot-press systems and equipment.
- Preparation, processing, analysis and mechanical testing of polymers, plastics and polymer composite oxides.
- Design and assembly of fixtures and equipment; preparation of engineering drawings using CAD software; interfacing with machine shops.
- All responsibilities of Research Technologist 1.
- Periodically responsible for oversight of technologists, technicians, and/or students.
- Analyze experimental data and perform tasks to maintain high quality experiments, data collection, and archiving.
- Advanced knowledge and demonstrated experience in materials preparation, processing, and testing.
- Advanced knowledge and demonstrated experience with pressure systems, electrical systems, furnaces, thermal/hot-presses, and vacuum systems.
- Experience developing and modifying equipment design, experimental methods, and procedures to achieve prescribed experiment objectives.
- Experience in polymers/oxides/hydrides/polymer composites preparation, processing, testing and analysis.
- Basic chemistry/chemical engineering/materials processing knowledge and skills.
- Experience with pressure systems, electrical systems, furnaces, hot-presses, vacuum systems.
- Willingness to learn, maintain and operate commercial off-the-shelf and custom built analytical instrumentation.
- Motivated to be a self-guided learner of new techniques under the supervision of more experienced personnel.
- Willingness to work with radioactive materials and other hazardous materials, chemicals, and solvents in a rigorous safety environment.
- Ability to acquire a Q clearance, which typically requires U.S. citizenship.
Research Technologist 1 requires a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution and 2 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Candidates who meet the degree requirement but not the experience may be considered through an allowable variance.
Research Technologist 2 requires a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution and 5 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Postgraduate coursework may be desirable.
Desired Qualifications- Experience with materials characterization techniques such as XRD, electron microscopy, pycnometry, etc.
- Experience with testing materials mechanical properties, compatibility, and aging phenomena.
- Experience operating and/or maintaining analytical instrumentation.
- Hands‑on experience with sample preparation, materials processing in glove box, data acquisition and analysis resulting in reports or published manuscripts.
- Written and oral communication skills, including experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Experience performing laboratory equipment or instrument specification, procurement, assembly, modification, maintenance, repair, and automation.
- Advanced experience with CAD, LabVIEW, MATLAB, and Origin software.
- Demonstrated experience in operating and/or maintaining analytical instrumentation.
(If this job is in fact in your jurisdiction, then you may be using a Proxy or VPN to access this site, and to progress further, you should change your connectivity to another mobile device or PC).