Nuclear and Hazardous Materials Technician

What You Will Do

This position is open for external candidates only to apply.

At Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), we solve national security challenges through simultaneous excellence!

Nuclear Waste Operations (NWO) is looking for highly motivated individuals to serve as level 2 Nuclear & Hazardous Materials Technicians to join our TA-55 LLW Operations. NWO ensures safe, efficient, and compliant waste management generated at the TA-55 Plutonium Facility, the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research (CMR) building, the TA-50 Radioactive Liquid Waste Treatment Facility (RLWTF), the Radiological Laboratory Utility Office Building (RLUOB).

We also provide ample opportunities to learn new skillsets and maintain a supportive environment when challenges arise. How we do our work is just as important as what we do. Our team members comply with a variety of nuclear management related requirements; work independently on challenging concurrent projects requiring close cooperation, adaptability, initiative, and willingness to provide support wherever needed to meet LANL's National Security Mission.

The Nuclear and Hazardous Materials Technician will interface with different organizations within TA-55/CMR/RLUOB/RANT and the Laboratory. This position requires fissile material handling and provides support to move, load, transport, and store hazardous containers and/or waste material. NWO also reviews, inspects and characterizes waste and container information to ensure proper handling and storage. Specific duties may include but are not necessarily limited to technical assistance in inspection, testing, handling drums and/or other containers of hazardous materials or hazardous wastes, operating forklifts and/or other mechanical loading/handling equipment, and performing nuclear material move transactions.

• Safety and security are a primary responsibility for all Laboratory employees. Assures safety and security compliance, maintains required safety and security training, and makes safety and security an integral part of every task, including taking the necessary steps to stop work if continuing the job is unsafe or compromises security.
• Has gained sufficient experience so that all work, materials, processes and final product can meet quality specification and can be completed according to established requirements.
• Conducts technical work in the laboratory space or work area, as instructed by supervisor. Records procedures, equipment, parameters used in technical work; captures finding and data. Analyzes routine findings and data, develops preliminary interpretation of results, summarizes outcomes, and plan next stages of routine technical work. Works primarily with supervisors in the conduct of technical work.
• Performs work at the semi-skilled technician level. Assignments are characterized by instructions for routine tasks, within established priorities, procedures judgement, overall adequacy and accuracy. Work is performed under limited supervision.
• Under supervision, moves, loads, transport, packages, and/or stores drums and/or other containers of hazardous waste and material.
• Under supervisions perform inspection and characterization information on waste containers to assure proper handling and/or storage.
• Ensures all hazardous material, hazardous waste or manufacturing results, materials, processes and final products meet quality specifications and are completed according to established requirements.
• Fosters a mutually respectful and inclusive work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment.
• Assists in the upkeep and maintenance of records reflecting storage area, inventory and inspections, waste profiles, disposal requests, shipping paperwork, and waste characterization information.
• Operates forklifts and/or other machinery to aid in the handling and/or loading of containers and manufacturing equipment.

• Works to technical objectives of assignments.
• Works in a team environment and exhibits collaborative behavior.
• Basic knowledge of and experience with handling and/or transporting solid, liquid, hazardous, radioactive, and/or mixed wastes.
• Basic knowledge of applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations relating to the handling of hazardous waste.
• Basic understanding of work hazards, safety practices, operating configurations, and lock-out/tag-out policies and procedures.
• Basic level understanding and under supervision adheres to all Laboratory and industry regulatory guidance and governance specific to the management of hazardous wastes and hazardous materials.
• Ability to understand inspection and/or characterization data on waste containers.
• Assists in conducting research, investigating alternative solutions, and recommending solutions on problems affecting material handling, waste handling or manufactured items.
• Ability to aid in the preparation of waste handling reports or…