Space Hardware Structural/Thermal Analyst (R&D Engineer 2/3)

About the Role

Los Alamos National Laboratory is seeking a structural and thermal analyst to join the Space Instrument Realization Group (ISR-5). In this role, you will perform structural and/or thermal analyses for space hardware at the component, assembly, and integrated-system levels. Your work will help ensure instruments and payloads pass environmental testing, survive launch, and operate successfully in space.

ISR-5 develops and deploys advanced measurement systems from concept through mission execution. You will work closely with mechanical designers, electrical engineers, scientists, technicians, analysts, and test personnel to develop robust, flight-ready systems for national security and scientific missions. This position offers the opportunity to work on mission-driven space hardware from early concept development through design, analysis, environmental test, and deployment. Your analysis will shape hardware decisions, test plans, risk assessments, design reviews, and mission readiness for real systems built for demanding environments.

The Intelligence and Space Research Division at LANL has more than 60 years of experience designing, building, and operating ground-, air-, and space-based systems supporting nuclear nonproliferation, treaty verification, remote sensing, space situational awareness, and NASA missions including Curiosity, Perseverance, IBEX, Van Allen Probes, and IMAP.

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

Responsibilities

R&D Engineer 2 ($106,400-$176,000)

• Perform static, dynamic, and thermal analyses using finite element analysis, hand calculations, and other analytical methods.
• Develop structural and thermal models, define assumptions and boundary conditions, perform calculations, and assess margins.
• Support design trades, risk reduction activities, and engineering decisions throughout hardware development.
• Support environmental testing, including vibration, shock, thermal cycling, and thermal vacuum testing.
• Compare analytical predictions with test data and support model correlation.
• Prepare clear technical reports, presentations, and review materials for internal and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to ISR-5 structural and thermal analysis tools, methods, and best practices.

R&D Engineer 3 ($128,000-$215,900)

In addition to the responsibilities listed above, the R&D Engineer 3 will provide technical leadership for structural and thermal analysis of space hardware. Additional responsibilities include:

• Lead structural and/or thermal analysis efforts for complex space hardware, payloads, or integrated systems.
• Define analysis approaches, model verification strategies, and test-correlation plans.
• Translate program requirements, launch environments, and mission constraints into actionable analysis criteria.
• Provide technical recommendations that support design reviews, test readiness reviews, qualification reviews, and flight-readiness decisions.
• Mentor early-career staff in modeling practices, documentation quality, peer review, and engineering judgment.
• Interface with customers, sponsors, and project stakeholders to define scope, communicate results, and plan deliverables.

Requirements

• Knowledge of finite element analysis, stress analysis, structural dynamics, thermal analysis, and engineering fundamentals.
• Proficient in simulation tools, such as ANSYS, Abaqus, Thermal Desktop, Simcenter, NASTRAN.
• Experience working with CAD geometry and engineering drawings.
• Knowledge of mechanical and thermal environments relevant to flight hardware, such as launch loads, vibration, shock, thermal cycling, thermal vacuum, or operational thermal environments.
• Experience selecting and placing transducer hardware for relevant data collection and enhanced comprehension of flight hardware performance.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment, including interfacing with other engineers, scientists, technicians, project/program staff, and other stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to document analysis assumptions, methods, results, margins, risks, and recommendations.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety, security, quality, peer review, and responsible engineering practices.
• Ability to obtain clearances as required for project work.

Additional Requirements for R&D Engineer 3

• Demonstrated experience independently planning and executing structural and/or thermal analyses for complex hardware.
• Demonstrated experience leading analysis tasks, coordinating interdisciplinary work, mentoring junior staff, and working with customers or stakeholders.
• Experience supporting environmental test planning, data review, model correlation, requirements verification, or qualification/acceptance documentation.

Qualifications

Education/Experience at R&D Engineer 2 Level

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.

Education/Experience at R&D Engineer 3 Level

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.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience supporting the design, analysis, qualification, launch, or operation of spaceflight, aerospace, defense, or high-reliability hardware.
• Experience with launch environments, including quasi-static loads, random vibration, shock, acoustics, modal analysis, or coupled loads.
• Experience with space thermal environments, including thermal vacuum, thermal cycling, orbital heating, radiation, or electronics heating.
• Experience correlating structural or thermal models to environmental test and/or flight data.
• Experience developing designs in Creo, SOLIDWORKS, or similar CAD tools.
• Experience with NASA, DoD, or aerospace standards such as NASA-STD-5001/5002, NASA-STD-5020, GSFC-STD-7000, MIL-STD-1540, MIL-STD-810, ECSS, MMPDS, or related program-specific requirements.

Work Environment

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.

Position commitment: Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position in order to be eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the time required, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. The position commitment for this position is 1 year.

Note to Applicants: Due to federal restrictions, citizens of the People's Republic of China (including Hong Kong and Macau), the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and the Russian Federation who are not Lawful Permanent Residents ("green card" holders) are prohibited from accessing facilities that support national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, including Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Clearance

This position requires a Q clearance. Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter. Obtaining such clearance requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Dependent upon the position, additional authorization to access classified information may be required, which may or may not be available to dual citizens. Receipt of a Q clearance and additional access authorization ultimately is a decision of the Federal Government and not of Triad.

Benefits

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