Space Hardware Mechanical Engineer; R&D Engineer

Los Alamos National Laboratory is seeking an experienced mechanical engineer to join the Space Instrument Realization Group (ISR-5). In this role, you will lead 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. You will contribute to nationally important and scientifically significant programs while expanding your technical depth alongside experienced engineers, scientists, and technicians in a highly collaborative environment.

The ideal candidate will differentiate themselves with technical expertise, leadership, mentorship experience, enthusiasm, curiosity, and a passion for effective teaming.

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 the R&D Engineer 3 level, dependent upon the experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the selected candidate.

R&D Engineer 3 ($128,000-$215,900) will lead the design, analysis, fabrication, assembly, and/or deployment of spaceflight and flight-like hardware. Act as a technical leader and mentor early-career engineers and student engineers. Contribute to ISR-5 mechanical engineering tools, methods, and best practices.

• Experience translating program requirements, launch environments, and mission constraints into actionable criteria.
• Demonstrated use of engineering fundamentals to support design decisions.
• Experience leading mechanical engineering and design for complex hardware and systems.
• Demonstrated and continued professional development of early-career engineers and students in mechanical design, analysis and testing, documentation, and engineering judgment.
• Proficiency in CAD modeling and generating engineering drawings of complex hardware, including applying GD&T per ASME 14.5 standard.
• Proficiency in configuration control with PDM software or equivalent.
• Proficiency in hand calculations, finite element analysis or finite difference methods to perform structural and thermal analyses using simulation tools, such as ANSYS, Abaqus, Thermal Desktop, Simcenter, and/or NASTRAN.
• Experience conducting design trades, risk reduction activities, and applying engineering decisions throughout hardware development.
• Experience supporting and/or leading environmental test planning, data review, model correlation, requirements verification, or qualification/acceptance documentation.
• Demonstrated excellent verbal communication, and history of preparing high-quality technical reports and presentations and reviewing materials for internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated technical expertise supporting sub-teams, meetings, design reviews, test readiness reviews, qualification reviews, and flight-readiness decisions.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment, including interfacing with other engineers, scientists, technicians, project/program staff, sponsors and other stakeholders.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety, security, quality, peer review, and responsible engineering practices.
• Ability to obtain clearances as required for project work.

Master's degree in engineering from an accredited institution and 6 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation. At this level a Ph.D. may be preferred.

• Experience with launch and on-orbit environments, including quasi-static loads, random vibration, mechanical shock, acoustics, modal analysis, or coupled loads, thermal vacuum, thermal cycling, orbital heating, or electronics heating. Knowledge of standards NASA GEVS and SMC-S-016.
• Experience in aspects of project management of technical work, including defining work scope, schedules, budgets, priorities, and performance milestones.
• Experience coordinating test and flight…