Nuclear and Hazardous Materials Technician 2

About the Role

At Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Nuclear Waste Operations (NWO) is seeking highly motivated individuals for the position of level 2 Nuclear & Hazardous Materials Technicians to join our TA-55 Low-Level Waste (LLW) Operations. NWO ensures safe, efficient, and compliant waste management generated at the TA-55 Plutonium Facility, the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research (CMR) building, the TA-50 Radioactive Liquid Waste Treatment Facility (RLWTF), and the Radiological Laboratory Utility Office Building (RLUOB).

This role involves fissile material handling and support for moving, loading, transporting, and storing hazardous containers and/or waste material. The position interfaces with various organizations within TA-55, CMR, RLUOB, and the Laboratory, and includes reviewing, inspecting, and characterizing waste and container information to ensure proper handling and storage.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical assistance in inspection, testing, handling drums, and/or other containers of hazardous materials or hazardous wastes.
• Operate forklifts and/or other mechanical loading/handling equipment.
• Perform nuclear material move transactions.
• Assure safety and security compliance, including maintaining required training and integrating safety into every task.
• Conduct technical work in laboratory spaces or work areas, recording procedures, equipment, parameters, findings, and data.
• Analyze routine findings and data, develop preliminary interpretations, summarize outcomes, and plan next stages of work.
• Under supervision, move, load, transport, package, and/or store drums and other containers of hazardous waste and material.
• Perform inspection and characterization of waste containers to ensure proper handling and storage.
• Ensure all hazardous material, hazardous waste, or manufacturing results meet quality specifications.
• Assist in maintaining records for storage areas, inventory, inspections, waste profiles, disposal requests, shipping paperwork, and waste characterization.
• Foster a mutually respectful and inclusive work environment free from discrimination and harassment.
• Assist in conducting research, investigating alternative solutions, and recommending solutions for material or waste handling issues.
• Aid in the preparation of waste handling reports or manufactured build paperwork.

Requirements

• Works to technical objectives of assignments and exhibits collaborative behavior in a team environment.
• Basic knowledge of and experience with handling and/or transporting solid, liquid, hazardous, radioactive, and/or mixed wastes.
• Basic knowledge of applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations relating to hazardous waste handling.
• Basic understanding of work hazards, safety practices, operating configurations, and lock-out/tag-out policies and procedures.
• Basic understanding and adherence to Laboratory and industry regulatory guidance for hazardous waste and materials management.
• Ability to understand inspection and/or characterization data on waste containers.
• Ability to aid in the preparation of waste handling reports or manufactured build paperwork.
• Knowledge and implementation of required safety, security, and quality assurance practices, including calibration concepts and protocols.
• Knowledge of legal requirements and environmental impacts affecting facility operations.
• Ability to complete job-specific/site-specific required training.
• Effective communication skills, both oral and written, including the ability to follow detailed procedures and prepare reports.
• Ability to operate mechanical equipment such as forklifts or other lifting devices.
• Ability to work with radioactive or other hazardous materials as dictated by programmatic needs.
• Demonstrated ability to work conscientiously and responsibly in a multi-disciplinary environment.

Qualifications

• High School diploma and a minimum of 3 years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.
• This position may be subject to DOE Order 426.2A, which establishes entry-level requirements for DOE nuclear facilities.

Desired Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in an emerging technical specialty.
• Basic knowledge of NNSS Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC), LANL WAC, and the LANL New Mexico Environmental Department permit.
• Experience with nuclear criticality safety, material control and accountability, radiological protection, safety basis compliance, waste minimization, and waste management.
• Basic knowledge of Low-Level Waste or other regulated waste packaging requirements.
• Experience with accounting/management systems such as WCATS and LANMAS.
• RADWORKER, HAZWOPER, RCRA certification, and ability to obtain forklift operator certification.
• Site-specific training at TA-55, RLWTF, RLUOB, CMR, and WCRRF.
• Knowledge of LANL's fissile material handler, material handling, and/or waste handling policies, practices, and procedures.
• Ability to obtain a Q clearance.

Essential Job Functions

• Depth perception and binocular vision.
• Reading vision and ability to speak, discriminate speech, and hear in a normal range (500 to 3000 hz).
• Ability to stand, walk, use stairs, fixed ladders, and ladders up to six feet.
• Ability to lift 50 pounds and carry 35 pounds.
• Typing or keyboarding.

Work Environment

• Work is primarily onsite in Los Alamos, NM, with occasional travel required.
• May work in areas involving high consequences for safety, such as high explosives, high power lasers, high magnetic fields, accelerators, high energy capacitor banks, gas guns, or X-ray systems.
• Position requires extended work hours as needed.
• Regular appointment employees must serve a period of continuous service in their current position to be eligible for other Laboratory jobs.

This position has a commitment period of 1 year.

Benefits

• PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with a large nationwide network.
• Dental and vision insurance.
• Free basic life and disability insurance.
• Paid childbirth and parental leave.
• Award-winning 401(k) with 6% matching plus 3.5% annual contribution.
• Learning opportunities and tuition assistance.
• Flexible schedules and paid time off (PTO and holidays).
• Onsite gyms and wellness programs.
• Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50-mile radius).

Pay

$54,900 - $84,300 annually.

Clearance

• This position requires a Q clearance, which necessitates U.S. citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances.
• Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government.
• Dependent upon the position, additional authorization to access classified information may be required.

Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating suitability under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2 (U.S. citizens) or DOE Order 142.3A (foreign nationals).