Engineering Operator, Maintenance Technician ​/ Mechanic

Position: Operator 3/4
** What You Will Do*
* ** This position is open for external candidates only to apply.*
* Power the infrastructure behind one of the nation's most important missions.

The Institutional Facilities (IF) Division is seeking a motivated and technically skilled Operator to join our Data Center Facilities team. This is more than a facilities operations role-it's an opportunity to work on the critical infrastructure that enables world-class science, national security, and groundbreaking research at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

As an Operator, you'll be at the center of mission-critical operations, ensuring our facilities remain safe, reliable, and fully operational 24/7. You'll work alongside engineers, maintenance professionals, safety professionals, project teams, and customers to solve real-world challenges, respond to dynamic operating conditions, and keep complex systems performing at their best.

If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, enjoy troubleshooting sophisticated facility systems, and take pride in making a visible impact every day, this is the opportunity for you.

** What You'll Gain:
** Beyond the daily impact, this role builds elite technical expertise in complex, high-reliability facility systems-skills that translate directly across data centers and critical infrastructure industries nationwide. You'll sharpen crisis-ready judgment through hands-on emergency response and develop the collaborative influence that comes from coordinating across disciplines and driving accountability in the field. For those ready to step up, the Operator 4 track offers direct project involvement-guiding upgrades, shutdowns, and mentoring subcontractors-building the track record for future engineering or leadership roles.

It's career-defining experience and credibility that few opportunities can match.

** This position will be filled at either the Operator 3 or Operator 4 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.*
* ** Operator 3 ($66,100 - $103,600)*
* + Performs routine facility walkdowns, procedures reviews, and inspections to ensure safety and efficient operation of the facilities, maintain awareness of conditions, ongoing work, and potential risks

+ Identifies and communicates facility issues, hazards, equipment performance, or configuration concerns in a timely manner

+ Supports configuration management by maintaining awareness and control of facility systems and changes, routinely performing equipment rotations

+ Supports planning and execution of scheduled work by ensuring coordination between operations, maintenance, engineering, customers, and subcontractors

+ Drives accountability in the field by ensuring work is performed as planned and within established controls

+ Participates in technical aspects related to facility construction, design, and/or start-up activities

+ Responds to unexpected operating conditions and troubleshoot equipment and systems to maintain operability

+  Serves on a periodic and rotating on-call team, respond to abnormal and emergency events during off-shift hour s

+ Supports Building Managers by identifying required work scope, verifying work status, and confirming work completion

+ Performs escorting duties in support of maintenance or project activities

** Operator 4 ($72,800 - $115,400)*
* In addition to the responsibilities outlined at the lower level, Operator 4 position:

+ Contributes to the development of new principles, concepts and operational improvements

+ Maintains involvement in project implementation and verification that the product meets expectations and requirements

+ Makes recommendations regarding facility operating equipment and/or systems

+ Coordinates and manages equipment shutdowns, upgrades, and/or installations and provides guidance to support maintenance and service subcontractors

** What You Need*
* ** Minimum

Job Requirements:

*
* + Proficient knowledge and experience in a wide variety of facility operations and maintenance activities including, but not limited to, mechanical, electrical, computing, or chemical processing systems

+ Ability to understand and identify work hazards, safety practices, operating configuration, and experience with lock-out/tag-out policies and procedures

+ Ability to communicate effectively through operations, maintenance, engineering, safety and customers

+ Ability to evaluate and recommend solutions to problems regarding facility equipment maintenance and operations

+ Proficient knowledge and experience using computer software to facilitate work processes

+ Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment

+ Ability to understand and interpret various engineered facility or project documents, drawings, and schematics

+ Ability to exercise judgment in facility operations where procedures may not fully define the response

+ Ability to obtain DOE Q Clearance

** Additional

Job Requirements for Operator 4:*
* +…