Electrical Cognizant System (WETF) Engineer 3/4

Los Alamos National Laboratory’s Engineering Services Division develops, maintains, and applies a diverse set of engineering capabilities to provide innovative engineering solutions that enable the Laboratory’s scientific and national security mission. This position is within the Engineering Services Division Office (ES-DO), which implements the Conduct of Engineering (COE) program in support of systems, structure, and component modifications and new installations, as well as existing systems and facility occupants.

As a Cognizant System Engineer (CSE) at the Weapons Engineering Tritium Facility (WETF), a Hazard Category 2 nuclear facility, you will serve as the system owner for multiple accredited facility systems. You will apply broad, in-depth knowledge of DOE Orders, nuclear safety requirements, and national consensus codes to develop engineering solutions that uphold the highest standards of safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance.

About the Role

This position will be filled at either the Cognizant System Engineer 3 or 4 level, depending on skills and experience. Additional responsibilities will apply if hired at the higher level.

• Function as a Cognizant System Engineer (CSE) for Vital Safety Systems at WETF, part of LANL’s Weapons Facilities Operations (WFO), which supports the nation’s weapons stockpile.
• Serve as the best-integrated source of expert knowledge for assigned systems or components, providing technical interface, maintaining the technical baseline, and controlling the master equipment list.
• Review and concur with design modification outputs, evaluate and maintain facility support equipment, and coordinate multiple disciplines.
• Support configuration management of assigned systems and facilities.
• Lead portions of project and design work, guide system performance, and contribute to engineering strategies for mission execution in high-consequence facilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior engineering expertise and mentoring to junior engineers.
• Represent the Engineering Services Division as a leader in effective and efficient project execution.
• Develop and approve conceptual and detailed designs to ensure third-party designs are code-compliant and meet customer needs.
• Assess the condition of existing facilities and infrastructure systems.
• Apply engineering judgment to complex challenges and prepare accurate cost estimates.
• Scope internally and externally executed design projects and produce high-level design deliverables.
• Adhere to LANL’s Engineering Standards, Conduct of Engineering, and prevailing codes and standards.
• Support organizational initiatives for improvements in design and business practices.
• Qualify as a Cognizant System Engineer (CSE) at a top scientific laboratory.
• Assess, maintain, and upgrade systems at WETF to support facility operations and programmatic needs.
• Support focus areas such as Configuration Management, Technical Support to Operations and Maintenance, System Health Status and Performance, and Technical Support to Programs and Projects.
• Lead research, assemble, and evaluate information or data regarding nuclear facility practices or regulatory changes; recommend solutions to moderately complex issues.
• Serve as a contributing figure for nuclear facility engineering issues, communicating with stakeholders across project areas.
• Lead significant portions of nuclear facility engineering projects or teams to meet mission deliverables.
• Identify and lead activities within electrical engineering to support facility design, operation, and maintenance.

Nuclear Facilities Engineer 4 (additional responsibilities):

• Lead activities within a nuclear facility engineering discipline, demonstrating initiative, technical depth, and leadership in complex project environments.
• Work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team to prepare and execute nuclear facility engineering deliverables.
• Use nuclear engineering technology to accomplish work safely and efficiently while improving engineering and work processes.
• Serve as a coordinating figure and subject-matter expert (SME) to ensure third-party designs are code-compliant and meet customer needs.
• Contribute to the improvement of LANL’s Engineering Standards using broad and unique knowledge and skills.
• Use independent judgment to determine courses of action and facilitate the technical growth of the Electrical design team.
• Assist the Team Lead with work planning, staffing projections, and hiring.

Requirements

• Broad-based engineering experience with projects involving electrical design for new facilities and facility modifications.
• Minimum 6 years of experience with engineering principles, codes, and standards (NEC, NFPA, IEEE, etc.).
• Minimum 6 years of experience developing engineering drawings, specifications, calculations, test and inspection plans (TIPs), and statements of special inspection (SSIs).
• At least 6 years of practical experience in power system engineering, including fault current analysis, voltage drop calculations, protection coordination studies, incident energy studies, and equipment sizing.
• Minimum 6 years of experience scoping complex projects to produce engineering cost estimates for design and construction.
• Advanced knowledge of industry, regulatory, or DOE/NNSA complex codes, standards, and criteria pertinent to the engineering discipline.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor early-career engineers and articulate concepts through oral and written communication.
• Experience defining maintenance requirements, tracking system performance, and reviewing design outputs for impact to technical baselines and master equipment lists.
• Experience in a nuclear facility environment.
• Ability to manage configuration, operability, and performance of assigned systems using a graded and risk-informed approach.

Additional Requirements for Nuclear Facilities Engineer 4:

• Minimum 12 years of experience leading a design team and/or organization.
• Minimum 12 years of expertise in industry, regulatory, or DOE/NNSA complex codes, standards, and criteria.
• Minimum 12 years of experience in engineering work planning, budgeting, and design coordination.
• Demonstrated broad and unique expert knowledge of engineering systems, calculations, and application of engineering methods.

Qualifications

Nuclear Facilities Engineer 3:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering and a minimum of 6 years of practical work experience.
• Advanced engineering or technical degree is highly desired.
• Current registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) is highly desirable.

Nuclear Facilities Engineer 4:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from an ABET-accredited college or university and a minimum of 12 years of practical work experience.
• Advanced engineering or technical degree is highly desired.
• Current registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) is highly desirable.

This position is subject to DOE Order 426.2, which requires a BS degree, 2 years of job-related experience, and 1 year of non-reactor nuclear experience for technical support personnel who perform work independently at nuclear facilities.

Desired Qualifications

• Current NCEES Professional Engineering License in Electrical Engineering (any US State).
• Design experience in nuclear, accelerator, or industrial facility operations.
• Master’s degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited college or university.
• Knowledge of DOE and LANL Engineering Standards and Conduct of Engineering principles and procedures.

Pay

• Nuclear Facilities Engineer 3: $128,000 - $215,900
• Nuclear Facilities Engineer 4: $153,600 - $266,500

Work Location

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

Note: Due to federal restrictions, citizens of the People’s Republic of China (including Hong Kong and Macau), the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), and the Russian Federation who are not Lawful Permanent Residents ("green card" holders) are prohibited from accessing facilities.