High-Power Experimental Electrical Engineer (R&D Engineer 2/3)

About the role

This position will be filled at either the R&D Engineer 2 or 3 level, depending on the skills and experience of the selected candidate. Additional job responsibilities will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level.

Responsibilities

M-6 is seeking a skilled and creative R&D Electrical Engineer to join the Explosive Applications and Special Projects (M-6) Group within Dynamic Experiments (M) Division. M-6 conducts research to study the initiation and performance of high explosives (HE) through mechanical, thermal, and electromagnetic mechanisms. Our areas of expertise include non-shock initiation of HE, HE-driven pulsed-power, special energetic materials, and special security projects in service to the Laboratory, the nation, and other national security missions. We develop and field custom experimental hardware, diagnostics, and initiation systems that combine high-speed analog and digital electronics, high-voltage and high-current fast-switching circuits, capacitor-discharge systems, and commercial-off-the-shelf modules into integrated assemblies.

This work includes:

• Translating experimental concepts, physical behavior, and technical requirements into fieldable electronic and electrical assemblies from initial design through fabrication, testing, integration, documentation, and field deployment
• Owning the technical lifecycle of the assemblies you create and serving as the subject matter expert for their design, operation, limitations, troubleshooting, and future modification
• Developing new and novel designs while sustaining, troubleshooting, documenting, and modernizing M-6's library of legacy designs
• Knowledge of analog electronics and the integration of digital controllers into analog circuits

This role is for an engineer who wants to work at the boundary between circuit design and experimental physics. Success requires learning the specialized physics of the loads and experiments these systems drive and applying that understanding to sound engineering decisions in close collaboration with scientists, modelers, technicians, and technologists.

R&D Engineer 2

The successful candidate will work with M-6 project leads and experimental teams on electronic design, experimental engineering, diagnostics, and fielded hardware. Rapid-prototyping equipment, SolidWorks, electronic design software, external circuit board fabrication shops, and general diagnostic and test equipment are available to support this work.

At the R&D Engineer 2 level, the candidate is expected to independently own well-defined design tasks and retain technical ownership of the assemblies they create. The Level 2 position is expected to:

• Design, analyze, fabricate, test, verify, document, and field analog and digital electronic assemblies, including high-voltage, high-current, fast-switching and pulsed-power circuits
• Translate experimental requirements and relevant physical behavior into electrical requirements, interfaces, component selections, design margins, and test plans
• Serve as the technical point of contact and subject matter expert for assigned designs through integration, fielding, troubleshooting, repair, and modification
• Participate in brainstorming and technical planning with customers and team members to define technical approaches, interfaces, risks, and schedules
• Collaborate with scientists, modelers, technicians, and technologists to ensure designs perform as intended in the experimental environment
• Rapidly iterate designs based on analysis, test results, and field experience, and clearly communicate the design basis, results, and limitations
• Maintain, troubleshoot, repair, document, and modernize legacy systems while preserving and understanding their original design intent

R&D Engineer 3

In addition to the duties outlined above, an R&D Engineer 3 will be expected to:

• Lead the design, verification, and fielding of complex or novel experimental electrical assemblies and make technical decisions when requirements or operating conditions are ambiguous
• Serve as a technical leader and subject matter expert across a broader portfolio of high-power, pulsed-power, and experimental electrical systems, including stewardship of legacy designs
• Lead technical interfaces with customers and participate in collaborations with Department of Energy, Department of Defense, and international laboratories
• Provide technical direction, peer review, and mentoring to less experienced staff and members of multidisciplinary experimental teams

Requirements

Minimum Job Requirements

• Engineering: Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in electrical engineering, including hands-on circuit and electronic assembly design. Knowledge of analog electronics and the integration of digital controllers into analog circuits
• Design and Fielding: Experience translating experimental requirements into electrical designs, test and verification plans, and fieldable research and development hardware
• Engineering Tools: Experience with industry-standard circuit design and circuit board layout software, including custom electronic library parts
• Technical Ownership and Learning: Experience owning engineering hardware through its lifecycle and demonstrated ability to learn specialized experimental physics and apply that understanding to design decisions
• Communication and Collaboration: Strong interpersonal, presentation, and written communication skills and demonstrated effectiveness on multidisciplinary teams
• Delivery and Field Work: Ability to deliver to defined scope, schedule, and budget. Occasional work-related travel and field support are required

Additional Job Requirements for the R&D Engineer 3

• Demonstrated independent technical leadership on complex or ambiguous research and development efforts from concept and design through testing, fielding, troubleshooting, and communication; demonstrated ability to serve as a subject matter expert for assigned systems
• Demonstrated experience mentoring or directing others, performing peer review, and leading technical interactions with customers, sponsors, or collaborators

Education/Experience

• R&D Engineer 2: Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from an accredited institution and 4 years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation
• R&D Engineer 3: 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

Qualifications

• High-Power Electronics: Experience designing, building, and testing high-voltage, high-current, fast-switching or pulsed-power circuits, including capacitive-discharge systems and analog/digital electronics
• Design and Analysis Tools: Experience with ECAD for schematic capture and printed circuit board layout, MCAD for enclosure and assembly design, and SPICE or related circuit simulation. Altium Designer, KiCad, and/or SolidWorks experience is particularly relevant
• Hands-On Prototyping and Test: Experience independently building, modifying, testing, troubleshooting, and repairing electronic or electromechanical prototypes using laboratory and rapid-prototyping tools, oscilloscopes, and high-voltage/current probes
• System Integration: Experience integrating analog, digital, power, programmable, and electromechanical components into complete fieldable assemblies
• Fabrication and Vendor Interface: Experience creating fabrication packages, including schematics, printed circuit board files, bills of materials, drawings, assembly documentation, and technical requirements, and working with internal fabrication partners or external vendors
• Design Sustainment: Experience maintaining, troubleshooting, documenting, and modernizing legacy hardware, including configuration and revision control
• Experimental Engineering: Experience working in multidisciplinary research teams and learning the underlying experimental physics needed to translate physical requirements and constraints into engineering design decisions
• Hazardous Operations and Clearance: Experience working around energized systems, high explosives, radiological materials, pressurized systems, or chemicals; an active Department of Energy Q clearance or equivalent is desired