Machinist Apprentice Program

What You Will Do

Calling all aspiring machinists!

The 2026 Machinist Apprentice Program (MAP) at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is open for applications.

Over the course of 2 years, Apprentices will:

• Work under the direction of instructors and machinists in both classroom settings and in multiple LANL machine shops.
• Complete competencies based on the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) Certified Machinist Training and MAP Curriculum, as well as curriculum specific to the Lab.
• Gain valuable on-the-job experience in machine shops while machining for a variety of customers. Students will work on a wide range of projects, critical to national security.
• Work towards obtaining a Journeyperson's Certificate through the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS). Upon completion of the program, successful candidates often transition into full-time employment at LANL.

This 2-year apprenticeship program is managed by the Prototype Fabrication (PF) Division. PF Division's capabilities include precision machining in a wide variety of materials and sizes, dimensional inspection, preventative and corrective maintenance, metal fabrication and welding, computer aided design (CAD) and computer aided manufacturing (CAM).

We support apprentices to grow not only as talented machinists, but also as well-rounded LANL employees with a strong foundation of dependability, trustworthiness, integrity, & respect.

Minimum

Job Requirements:

• Be at least 18 years of age by the projected program start date in October 2026.
• An interest/aptitude for machining and manufacturing.
• Ability to perform basic precision measurements on parts using inspection tools including calipers, micrometers, and verniers.
• Basic understanding of shop safety practices, including proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Knowledge of mathematics (trigonometry, algebra, geometry).
• Manufacture simple parts made from typical materials under close supervision.
• Basic knowledge and ability to read and interpret engineering drawings.
• Effective verbal communication skills and strong interpersonal skills.
• Willingness to be part of a collaborative team and to communicate effectively with peers, colleagues, customers to maintain a safe and respectful workplace.

Education/

Experience:

• High school diploma, General Equivalency Diploma (GED) or equivalent.
• Position REQUIRES a Certificate OR an associate degree in a machining technology program from an accredited institution; OR three (3) years relevant experience.
• Candidates are welcome to apply if they are currently enrolled in such a program, but it must be completed prior to the start date of October 2026.

Conditions of Employment:

Upon completion of the 2-year Machinist Apprentice Program (MAP), you may receive an offer of regular full-time employment as a machinist at the Laboratory. Should you decline the offer of employment, you may be required to refund the Laboratory the cost of your books, external training, software licenses related to the MAP curricula, and your NIMS membership. Additionally, any offer of regular full-time employment as a machinist at the Laboratory will be conditioned on a two-year commitment of employment in that position.

If you fail to honor the two years of continuous employment as a machinist at LANL, you may be required to refund the Laboratory the cost of your books, external training, software licenses related to the MAP curricula, and your NIMS membership. In the event an offer is not extended at program completion, reimbursement will not be required.

Work Location:

The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.

Note to Applicants:

• Salary starts at approximately $25.50 per hour and increases as candidates progress through the program, culminating in a salary of approximately $35.91 per hour at completion.
• State Certified Journeyperson Certificate upon completion.
• Full machinist toolbox provided.
• Personal protective equipment is provided, such as safety boots and prescription safety glasses.
• Position requires selected candidates to be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q security clearance. To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age and U.S. citizenship is required, except in limited circumstances. The employer will support selected candidates through the Clearance application process.

Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of certain countries who are not Lawful Permanent Residents are prohibited from accessing facilities that support the mission of national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, including LANL.

Located in Northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. LANL enhances national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the…