R&D Design and Fabrication Machinist; Machinist

This position is open for external candidates only to apply.

This position will be filled at the Machinist 4/Machinist 5 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.

Join our Team! The High Explosives Science and Technology (Q-5) Group is seeking a skilled machinist to provide precision machining, fabrication, and assembly support for research and development components. In this role, you will use your expertise to manufacture parts and assemblies that support critical experimental work, translating designs and specifications into high-quality machined components.

High Explosives Science & Technology (Q-5) Group serves the Laboratory and nation by providing the knowledge base in high explosives (HE) testing for the Nuclear Weapons Program and other national security areas. The group specializes in a broad array of energetic materials science including development (synthesis and formulation) and testing of novel explosives, pilot plant production of explosive materials, advanced manufacturing of explosives, analytical chemistry of explosives and explosives ingredients, detonation performance testing, and special security projects.

This posting is under the Associate Laboratory Directorate for Weapons Engineering (ALDW).

You will provide responsive machining services to meet group fabrication needs, manufacturing complex parts from various materials to exacting tolerances. Working from engineering drawings, sketches, and verbal instructions, you will:

• Operate manual CNC machining equipment to produce precision components
• Work independently and collaboratively with scientists, engineers, and technical staff
• Participate in planning prototype fabrication
• Execute machining and assembly work
• Fabricate fixtures, tooling, and assemblies as needed

You must provide an agile response to group member requests for machining needs and may include the manufacture of complex parts from a variety of materials with exacting tolerances from drawings, sketches, and verbal instructions. The project portfolios that will be supported are diverse, and you must be able to effectively communicate and interact with scientists, engineers, technologists, and technicians in Q-5.

You will receive on-the-job training from an experienced Journeyman Machinist and have access to a fully equipped satellite machine shop located at TA-9. The candidate will participate in the collaborative planning of prototype designs; once finalized, they will perform the fabrication and assembly independently as well as part of a team.

In addition to what was outlined at the lower level, at this level you will develop new machining procedures and processes, provide technical recommendations to overcome fabrication challenges, and serve as a subject matter expert for machining projects.

• Proven experience designing and manufacturing parts, fixtures, and complex assemblies
• Advanced proficiency in operating and maintaining manual and CNC machining equipment
• Comprehensive understanding of machining process, cutting tools, and operations to achieve various tolerances
• Skilled in precision measurement techniques and inspection methods
• Skilled experience of CAD/CAM software for programming and design visualization

• Strong written and verbal communication skills to convey technical concepts clearly
• Proficient in reading, interpreting, and creating engineering drawings and schematics

In addition to the requirements outlined above, qualification at the higher level requires:

Position requires an Associate's Degree (AAS) in Machining Technologies or equivalent precision metalworking program and 6 years of experience; OR, 8 years prototype experience; OR, Journeyperson qualification program and 6 years of experience.

Position requires an Associate's Degree (AAS) in Machining Technologies or equivalent precision metalworking program and 10 years of experience; OR, 12 years prototype experience; OR, Journeyperson qualification program and 10 years of experience.

• Journeyman Machinist certification
• High explosives handler qualification (or ability to obtain)
• Qualified to transport high explosives (or ability to obtain)
• Experience machining reactive/pyrophoric materials (magnesium, titanium, etc.)

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

Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position in order to be eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not…