What You Will Do

Join the best and brightest minds in the world at one of the most innovative and creative multidisciplinary research institutions engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. The work we do at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) matters to our country and the world.

The Actinide Materials Processing and Power Division (AMPP) consists of four groups and the division office. All groups work in a team environment within LANL's nuclear facility to process materials and manufacture products in support of Nuclear Deterrence

AMPP-5 is the Power Supply Production group. We work for space and defense programs to process Pu-238 to make heat sources for instruments or generators that need long lasting and reliable power. Our group consists of three teams: the aqueous team which purifies fuel and processes waste for disposition, the fuel fabrication team which processes and manipulates powder fuels, and the welding team which encapsulates fuel into various containment vessels. Each team plays a vital role in the organization's overarching mission to support space exploration and national defense through Pu-238 science.

The majority of daily production tasking in AMPP is "hands-on" glove box work. Chemical and material processes at Los Alamos National Laboratory are performed using detailed operating procedures that utilize extensive knowledge and expertise in following good Conduct of Operations, nuclear criticality safety, material control and accountability, radiological safety and environmental compliance requirements.

This position is for a hands-on Research Technician role on the Welding team which is tasked with encapsulation of heat source plutonium. The team utilizes automated gas tungsten arc welding and electron beam welding processes, perform decontamination activities to remove encapsulated plutonium from glovebox lines, and performs non-destructive assay inspections such as leak testing.

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Performing manufacturing operations in one or more of the following areas: metal processing (furnace operations), metal recovery (aqueous operations), casting, vacuum equipment operation, welding, mechanical assembly, leak testing, equipment troubleshooting and equipment maintenance

• Adhering to all Laboratory and industry regulatory guidance and governance specific to installation, repair, and maintenance

• Providing general process and operational support, including nuclear criticality safety, material control and accountability, glove box maintenance, radiological protection, and respirator work

• Partcipating in the development and implementation of new processes and procedures

• Using a variety of typical hand tools and bench-top equipment

• Ensuring all work, materials, processes, and final product meet quality specifications and are completed according to established requirements

• Collaborating with other facility representatives as required to support the safety/reliability of equipment/systems

• Working with radioactive and hazardous materials

• Writing and maintaining records, following detailed operating procedures and integrated work documents, writing concise progress reports, and interacting with support organizations

• Performing transactions on the nuclear material tracking computer system

• Building strong partnerships and interactive communications to ensure processing equipment and experiments are operated safely in accordance with Group, Facility and Laboratory policies and procedures

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

• Experience using a variety of typical hand tools and bench-top equipment.

• Experience in one or more of the following areas: vacuum equipment operation, welding, mechanical assembly, leak testing, equipment troubleshooting and equipment maintenance.

• Experience using/following detailed instructions, guidelines, policies and/or operating procedures.

• Experience working in a team environment and exhibiting collaborative behavior.

• Knowledge and experience with safety, security, and/or quality assurance practices.

Education/Experience: Position requires a High School diploma and a minimum of 3 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to occupation.

DOE Order 426.2: Requires a High School Diploma.

Desired Qualifications:

• Formal training or experience machining a variety of materials with lathes, mills, drill presses, and saws, and other industrial apparatus.

• Experience working with radioactive and other hazardous materials.

• Expert understanding of in-process inspection techniques and technologies.

• Knowledge in computers, computer programming, and / or software applications used in R&D job function.

• Knowledge of, or hands on experience with, welding methods and procedures

• Active DOE Q Clearance.

• Active HRP certification.

Location: This position will be located in Los Alamos, NM.

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 2 years.

Note to Applicants:

• For full consideration, applicants must submit a comprehensive resume that addresses the key requirements of the position.

• Review of resumes will commence immediately.

• While the posted salary range for this position is broad, it is highly unusual for selected applicants to be hired at the top end of the range and more common for selected candidates to grow into the full salary band over time.

Where You Will Work

Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:

§ 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)

Additional Details

Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.

Clearance: Q (Position will be cleared to this level). 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. This position requires a Q clearance. and 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.

*Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order 472.2 for additional information.

HRP: This position is subject to the requirements of the DOE Human Reliability Program as specified in 10 Code of Federal Regulation, Part 712, §712.11. These requirements include on going drug and alcohol testing, as well as periodic medical and psychological evaluations.

426.2: This position is subject to DOE Order 426.2, Personnel Selection, Training, and Qualification Requirements for DOE Nuclear Facilities, which establishes entry-level requirements to ensure candidates selected for specific positions can successfully perform the requirements of the job.

New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.

Regular position: Term status Laboratory employees applying for regular-status positions are converted to regular status.

Internal Applicants: Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy Policy P701 for applicant eligibility requirements.

Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to applyhelp@lanl.gov or call 1-505-664-6947 option 2 and then option 3.