Production Liaison Engineer (R&D Engineer 3)

This position is open for external candidates only and will be filled at the R&D Engineer 3 level.

About the Role

The Weapon Systems Engineering (W) Production Liaison Group (W-8) is seeking an experienced R&D Engineer level 3. W-8 serves as the Design Agency representative to the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) production plants, ensuring weapon production activities meet design requirements and intent. The role involves daily interactions with Production Agencies at LANL, Kansas City National Security Campus, Pantex Plant, and Y-12 National Security Complex, focusing on design, manufacture, qualification, and certification of products. Responsibilities also include ALDW records stewardship via document configuration management (DCM) and formal site-to-site communications through engineering authorizations (EA).

Responsibilities

• Support production activities for the B61, W76, W78, W88, and W93 weapons programs at the Pantex Plant (PA), including hardware provisioning for local, joint, flight, and hydro tests, and system engineering support for product definition.
• Partner with the PA to resolve issues related to nuclear weapon production and integrity.
• Participate in site reviews, approve PA procedures and process changes, and serve as the technical interface between the PA and LANL systems engineering and physics communities.
• Provide detailed knowledge, information, and experience related to weapon component manufacturing methods to the PA.
• Represent LANL at programmatic meetings and assist in special projects as required by LANL management.
• Lead projects, assemble cross-organizational teams, establish project plans, assign tasks, and report progress.
• Identify, address, and resolve technical problems using innovative approaches.
• Interact effectively with all levels of NSE personnel, including internal and external customers, to provide solutions to complex problems.
• Mentor less experienced personnel and collaborate across the NSE.
• Develop and implement process improvements to correct systemic production issues.
• Present work objectives and results to internal and external management and customers.

Requirements

• Thorough knowledge of engineering principles to provide solutions in material science, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, or other relevant disciplines.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret mechanical drawings and specifications.
• Functional knowledge of the B61, W76, W78, W88, and W93 Weapon Systems regarding production and operation.
• Experience with nuclear weapons production, production certification of special nuclear materials, and components applicable to LANL-designed Weapon Systems.
• Ability to meet schedule and deliverables for multiple concurrent projects with varying priorities.
• Demonstrated technical leadership, including leading projects, assembling teams, and resolving complex technical problems.
• Experience working independently with minimal supervision and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Experience interacting with NSE personnel at all levels, including Product Realization Teams (PRTs) during engineering, process development, qualification, and production phases.

Qualifications

Position requires a master's degree in engineering from an accredited institution and 6 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and directly related experience.

Skills

• Experience with engineering authorization systems, document configuration management systems (e.g., ThingWorx, Footprints, PDM Link), and applications related to stockpile maintenance.
• Experience interacting with one or more NSE Production Agencies.
• Knowledge of non-destructive evaluation techniques and dimensional inspection methods.
• Fundamental understanding of the Defense Programs Business Process System (DPBPS).
• Derivative Classifier (DC) experience.
• Active Q clearance (preferred).

Pay

$128,000 - $215,900 annually.

Schedule

This is a full-time, onsite position located in Los Alamos, NM. Regular appointment employees must serve a 1-year commitment in their current position before applying for other Laboratory jobs. Foreign/domestic travel is required for training and observations at production locations.

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 (for candidates outside a 50-mile radius).

This position requires a Q clearance, which necessitates U.S. citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Selected applicants will undergo a background investigation. The Laboratory maintains a substance abuse policy, including random drug testing; federal law prohibits marijuana use, even if legalized by state law.