Shift Fire Protection System Engineer 2/3 (Nuclear Facilities Engineer)

What You Will Do

This position will be filled at either a Nuclear Facilities Engineer 2 or 3 level, depending on the skills of the selected candidate. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level.

The Plutonium Facilities Engineering - Auxiliary Systems (PFE-AUX) facility engineering group at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) are seeking a Fire Protection Engineer. Put your engineering talents to good use by joining our world-class Engineering team! Our workforce thrives in an environment that values creativity and problem solving to overcome and prevail over challenges. This is your chance to make a real difference while working on important systems directly impacting national security.

Nuclear Facilities Engineer 2 Responsibilities

$104,100 - $172,200

At this level the selected applicant will support PFE and LANL's mission by serving as a subject matter expert in nuclear facility fire protection engineering, with emphasis on fire protection systems within and around the plutonium facility. This role is responsible for all aspects of fire protection in nuclear facilities, including active systems (fire alarm systems, public address systems, fire extinguishing / suppression systems, etc.), passive systems (fire-rated assemblies, fire-rated doors and windows, etc.), life safety systems, life safety assessments, and combustibles assessments. The engineer supports facility modifications, new structure and equipment development, demolition activities, installations, upgrades, and repairs.

• Performing and reviewing complex engineering studies such as short circuit analysis, device coordination, equipment sizing, exterior lighting design, fault current calculations, and arc flash analysis for both medium and low voltage systems.
• Qualify as a Cognizant System Engineer on one or more Vital Safety Systems that support LANL Nuclear Facilities.
• Work collaboratively with junior and senior engineers across disciplines, including fire protection, structural, mechanical, and electrical engineering.
• Contribute to integrated, full system design solutions through mentorship, technical leadership, and coordination across teams.
• Specializing in low voltage systems and instrumentation and controls while demonstrating increasing independence, technical depth, and leadership in complex nuclear facility environments.
• May be either a qualified Fire Protection Engineer or another engineering discipline (such as a Mechanical Engineer) with demonstrated experience or willingness, and ability to support Fire Protection systems.

Nuclear Facilities Engineer 3 Responsibilities

$125,200 - $211,300

In addition to the responsibilities of lower level engineers, the Nuclear Facilities Engineer 3 serves as a senior technical authority for nuclear facility fire protection engineering within plutonium and other nuclear facilities. This role provides strategic leadership, technical governance, and decision making authority for complex, high consequence engineering systems, with emphasis on low voltage systems and instrumentation and controls.

• Ensuring that nuclear facility engineering programs are effectively and efficiently implemented in accordance with the Nuclear Safety Management Rule, applicable DOE Orders and Standards, American Nuclear Society Standards, national consensus Codes and Standards, recognized quality standards, Laboratory requirements, and federal, state, and local regulations.
• Interpreting regulatory requirements, resolving conflicts between codes and standards, and translating requirements into executable engineering direction.
• Leading complex, multi discipline design efforts and providing final technical review and approval for significant modifications, new installations, and safety related system changes.
• Frequently interfacing with facility management, safety basis personnel, Cognizant System Engineers, and external oversight organizations to defend technical positions and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Qualifying as a Cognizant System Engineer on one or more Vital Safety Systems that support LANL Nuclear Facilities.
• Mentoring and developing junior and mid level engineers, establishing technical expectations, and driving continuous improvement in engineering quality, safety, and reliability across nuclear facilities.
• Requires a high level of independent judgment, accountability for technical risk, and the ability to influence outcomes at the program and institutional level.
• May be either a qualified Fire Protection Engineer or another engineering discipline (such as a Mechanical Engineer) with demonstrated experience or willingness, and ability to support Fire Protection systems.

Minimum Job Requirements

• Demonstrated knowledge of and demonstrated technical experience with major commercial, industrial, or nuclear facility fire protection systems (i.e. Fire Alarm, Fire Suppression, Specialty fire suppression systems, passive fire systems (fire barriers), inertion systems, and/or public address systems).
• Demonstrated experience in the design, analysis, modification, maintenance, and operation of fire protection systems.
• Demonstrated experience applying and implementing applicable codes, standards, and regulatory requirements, including NFPA, IEFC, IFC, and IBC.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and demonstrated technical experience with engineering design process and/or maintenance of fire protection systems.
• Demonstrated experience using engineering tools and technology aided platforms, including CAD and fire modeling systems, to develop solutions to complex technical problems, including the ability to utilize or develop specialized analytical tools or calculation methods.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of engineering documentation practices, configuration control, construction interfaces, testing, commissioning, and system turnover processes.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple assignments with competing priorities and deadlines while coordinating with engineering, operations, maintenance, and construction personnel.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across organizations and disciplines, including participation in the implementation and commissioning of new techniques, technologies, or system engineering approaches.
• Demonstrated knowledge of safety considerations and potential hazards associated with nuclear or industrial facility systems, including incorporation of engineered design features to mitigate risk and support regulatory compliance.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate technical information effectively in both written and verbal formats to management, customers, peers, craft personnel, and oversight stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience providing technical direction, mentoring or coordinating the work of others, and exercising sound engineering judgment within assigned scope of responsibility.

Additional Job Requirements for Nuclear Facilities Engineer 3

In addition to the requirements outlined above, qualification at the higher level requires:

• Demonstrated advanced ability, experience and knowledge relative to the above minimum job requirements.
• Interprets and implements regulatory requirements and consensus codes and standards in complex or ambiguous situations.
• Establishes technical direction for fire protection systems and provides final technical review and approval of significant design changes and engineering analyses.
• Leads multi discipline engineering efforts for complex or safety significant system modifications.
• Serves as technical authority for system level decisions involving reliability, safety, compliance, and long term lifecycle strategy.
• Defends technical positions to management, safety basis personnel, and oversight organizations.
• Mentors and provides technical guidance to junior and mid level engineers.
• Exercises independent judgment with accountability for high consequence technical risk.

Education / Experience

Nuclear Facilities Engineer 2: Requires a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering and a minimum of 3 years of practical work experience necessary to perform the responsibilities outlined above. Advanced engineering or technical degree is highly desired. Current registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) is highly desirable.

Nuclear Facilities Engineer 3: Requires a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering and a minimum of 6 years of practical work experience necessary to perform the responsibilities outlined above. Advanced engineering or technical degree is highly desired. Must have ability to become licensed in New Mexico in the Fire Protection discipline within one year of hire date. Professional Engineer License in the Fire Protection discipline is desired.

Desired Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge of DOE Orders and Standards.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the engineering design process.
• Demonstrated knowledge of facility / systems engineering processes.
• Demonstrated knowledge of design development and execution processes.
• Demonstrated knowledge of fire protection systems as they relate to commercial, industrial, or nuclear facilities.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the engineering design process and/or maintenance of fire protection systems.
• Demonstrated knowledge of codes and standards, to include but not limited to NFPA Codes and Standards, IFC, IBC, and IEBC.
• Demonstrated experience with supporting safety analyses and hazards evaluations.
• Demonstrated familiarity with LANL engineering processes and procedures.

Work Schedule

This position requires working Friday through Monday (10 hours / day) upon completion of a "training period" Tuesday through Friday (10 hours / day). Employees may be eligible for shift differential pay when assigned by their manager. Shift/weekend assignments are at the discretion of the manager. This position may require 24/7 on-call coverage also at the discretion of the manager.

Essential Job Functions

• General Physical Mobility: standing, walking, climbing stairs, bending.
• Specific Physical Mobility: use of both hands, use of both arms, use of both legs, use of both feet, carry/lift up to 20 pounds.

Work Environment

• Work in a noisy environment
• Work near sources of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation
• Work near machinery with moving parts
• Working overtime or an irregular schedule

Work Location

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