R&D Engineer

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.

R&D Engineer 2 ($106,400- $176,000)

R&D Engineer 3 ($128,000-$215,900)

• Pulse power engineering, including hardware, software, electrical interfaces, printed wiring diagram (PWB) layouts, schematic development, and mechanical definitions for boards, chassis, and connectors
• Develop capacitive discharge units, including design, development, testing and documentation of all components and operations
• Experimental facility integrations, deployment of hardware, safety and hazard analysis, experimental execution involving high explosives
• Troubleshoot complex systems, using oscilloscopes, 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

• Experience with data processing electrical simulation, and PWB layout software
• Strong background in mixed-signal circuit design, signal/power integrity, and PWB manufacturing or DFM practices
• Proficiency with advanced diagnostics such as high-bandwidth scopes, delay and function generators, network analyzers, or precision LCR equipment
• Familiarity with high-voltage, pulse-power, or safety-critical electrical environments and related engineering standards
• Experience with system-level integration involving sensors, data acquisition (DAQ) hardware
• Competence with version control, technical documentation, and engineering review processes, including validation & verification or environmental qualification testing
• Ability to independently lead subsystem-level design, including architectural decisions, and PWB design ownership
• Demonstrated skill in solving complex mixed-signal issues using advanced diagnostics (network analyzers, high-bandwidth scopes) and data-driven root-cause analysis
• Experience overseeing hardware build and integration, including fabrication reviews, design for manufacturing considerations, and validation of signal/power integrity
• Experience contributing to or leading verification, validation, environmental qualification, and engineering review processes
• Demonstrated excellence in…