Senior Reliability Engineer (R&D Engineer 4)

About the role

The Product Realization and Reliability Office (PRRO) in Nuclear Production Operations consists of a multidisciplinary group of engineers and scientists that support plutonium programs (i.e., pit production, surveillance, research & development, and subcritical experiments) across the entire Nuclear Production Operations organization. PRRO is seeking a Reliability Engineer to provide engineering support for all ALDWP/NP production activities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and facilitate cross-functional teams to analyze workflows, develop defect reduction strategies, perform manufacturing analysis, and root cause analysis, data analysis, problem resolution, and implement solutions and improvements.
• Ensure that Quality requirements are effectively identified and implemented internally and externally.
• Develop and implement metrics, statistical process control charts, and production data sources.
• Lead and document Failure Mode Effects Analysis, Fault Tree Analysis, Root Cause Analysis, and problem analysis.
• Develop, coach, and lead continuous improvement projects.
• Support production and technical readiness reviews.
• Develop and implement trend analysis processes and drive yield improvement.
• Implement strategic initiatives designed to drive long term improvement to Quality metrics, including cost of poor quality and non-conformances.
• Develop partnerships with senior site leaders, program managers, product managers, and engineering functions to define steps necessary to implement continuous improvement strategies for successful mission execution.
• Perform process walks and use metrics to drive continuous improvements across programs.
• Support internal and external audits to assess compliance with quality management system standards.
• Set direction and goals for well-defined tasks involving more than one person.
• Analyze task within a project and define deliverables at task level.
• Lead specific project tasks to meet scope, schedule and budget.
• Actively participate in professional societies, National Nuclear Security Administration/Department of Energy complex interactions, special assignments.
• May participate in external working groups and/or assist in organizing meetings.
• Provide peer review of the work of others across organizations or disciplines.
• Develop mentoring skills to mentor peers and junior staff in technical and professional growth.
• Maintain state-of-the-art technical expertise and knowledge within discipline and develop new skills in related disciplines.
• Foster a mutually respectful and inclusive work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment.

Requirements

• Advanced experience in manufacturing and/or reliability engineering, statistical process control, data acquisition, data analysis, and solution implementation.
• Expert-level proficiency in manufacturing process development.
• Familiarity with process modeling.
• Comprehensive knowledge of configuration management principles and practices.
• Familiarity with AS9100 Quality Management Systems.
• Extensive experience in project development, reporting, and management.
• Application of advanced design, development, evaluation, and quality assurance techniques for complex engineering projects.
• Proven experience driving cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a Master's degree in engineering from an accredited institution and at least 12 years of related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.
• Desired qualifications include a degree(s) in electrical, mechanical, material, industrial, manufacturing, or another relevant engineering discipline.
• Knowledge of Weapons Quality requirements, e.g., NAP-401.1, DPBPS, etc.
• Experience in NNSA product realization processes.
• Knowledge and experience in discrete manufacturing techniques.
• Familiarity with the A3 Problem Solving Methodology.
• Certification in Six Sigma, Lean, CORE, and/or American Society for Quality.