Research Technician

What You Will Do

Los Alamos National Laboratory is looking for highly motivated, customer‑service focused technicians to join the Non‑Destructive Assay‑Vault Operations (NDA‑VO). The group performs various types of non‑destructive assay (NDA) testing in both laboratory and in‑situ settings and is responsible for safe and compliant long‑term storage of nuclear material. As a Research Technician, you will handle nuclear material in support of various missions.

While some work requires glovebox qualifications, most of our scope does not occur inside glove boxes. The position requires knowledge and experience using Conduct of Operations, radiological safety, nuclear criticality safety, material control and accountability and environmental compliance requirements.

• Radiological safety, inventory systems, hand tools, PPE usage.
• Willingness to perform hands‑on work with appropriate PPE and occasional respirator work.
• Attendance and punctuality are key.
• Complete and maintain training, including passing computer and oral examinations.
• Understand and adhere to all Laboratory and industry regulatory guidance.
• Use Microsoft Office Suite and SharePoint.
• Prioritize safety and security in every task and maintain compliance with safety and security requirements.
• Promote a respectful work environment free from discrimination and harassment.
• Maintain accurate logbooks and databases for measurement results.
• Compliantly handle and transport nuclear material.
• Understand technical concepts such as radiological materials handling, electronic imaging and materials characterization.
• Work professionally in a high‑performance team environment while completing requests from multiple organizations.
• Apply analytical thinking and problem‑solving skills in daily work.
• Perform non‑destructive measurements on nuclear material and analyze data.
• Learn and understand criticality safety postings and handle nuclear material in accordance with them.

• Operate, calibrate and troubleshoot in‑line assay instrumentation, including balances, solution assay instruments and thermal neutron counters; calibrate neutron counters, gamma isotopic and calorimetry instruments.
• Manage material moves with compliant long‑term vault storage and retrieval.
• Write and maintain records, concise progress reports and interact frequently with processing organizations.
• Surgically handle radioactive materials and chemicals in glove boxes or in a laboratory setting.
• Follow detailed Operating Procedures and formalities of operations for work in a Nuclear Facility.
• Protect nuclear materials and classified information in a secure environment.
• Perform transactions on the LANMAS computer system and conduct activities in accordance with environmental regulations.
• Provide general operational support, including nuclear criticality safety, material control and accountability, glovebox maintenance, radiological protection and waste minimization and management.
• Provide training and oversight for new technicians.

• Knowledge or experience working in hazardous environments.
• Effective, conscientious, and professional team performance with collaborative behavior.
• Excellent written and oral communication.
• Proactive support to achieve organizational objectives.
• Knowledge of required safety practices for work assignments.
• Follow safeguards and security procedures per the Laboratory's Integrated Safety and Security Management (ISSM) practices.
• Computer literacy (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Maintain all required certifications and trainings related to work within Plutonium Facility.
• Provide good customer service.

• Mentor, lead, and coach entry‑level technicians.
• Lead daily work and expectations of the plan of the day.
• Assist in solving daily challenges to ensure safe work progress.
• Enforce the safety culture of the Labs.
• Effective, conscientious, and professional team performance with collaborative behavior.
• Excellent written and oral communication.
• Communicate findings and make recommendations.
• Strong organizational, analytical, observation and…