Metrology​/Dimensional Inspection CMM Engineer; R&D Engineer

What You Will Do

This position will be filled at either the R&D Engineer 1 or 2 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 Prototype Fabrication Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory provides technical experience and proficiency in machining, fabrication and precision dimensional inspection of critical hardware needed to support the nation's nuclear stockpile stewardship efforts. The selected candidate will be joining a dedicated staff of engineers, machinists, and quality control professionals to ensure manufactured components meet drawing standards and requirements. The successful applicant will join the Prototype Fabrication Applied Metrology Group, which spans three environmentally controlled laboratories supporting dimensional inspections of conventional materials, depleted uranium, and beryllium components.

R&D Engineer 1

• Participate in design for manufacturability reviews to ensure dimensional inspection requirements are understood and achievable.
• Validate, interpret, statistically analyze, and communicate high‑fidelity inspection data to customers.
• Identify the need for inspection fixtures and facilitate the design, creation, and assembly of the fixture.
• Develop inspection processes and research new inspection techniques and platforms applicable to meet customer needs.

R&D Engineer 2

• All responsibilities of R&D Engineer 1.
• Experience with CMMs including programming, calibrating, and repairing.
• Experience designing, planning, and executing projects.

Minimum Job Requirements

Technical Expertise

• Working knowledge and experience supporting the inspection of products that meet the technical and quality standards set forth on the product definition through the application of engineering practices and principles.
• General familiarity with dimensional inspection, including optical comparators, height gauges, micrometers, caliper, indicators, hard gauges, surface roughness, gauge blocks and pins, and other manual inspection equipment.
• Working knowledge applying engineering practices and principles supporting capability development within a manufacturing and dimensional inspection environment.
• Working knowledge of CAD software (e.g., Creo, Solid Works, NX, Catia, Inventor).

Project Management

• Knowledge of and experience in project management for technical or operational work, including the development of project plans, managing scope, schedule, and budget; and identifying and managing risks for projects of limited scope and complexity.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities across multiple projects and meet deadlines.

Communication and Teamwork

• Strong writing ability and verbal communication skills required to independently prepare and present data and reports to peers, senior colleagues, management, and customers.
• Demonstrated record of dependability, reliability, and commitment to the long‑term needs of the job duties and programmatic goals of the organization.

Additional Job Requirements for R&D level 2

• Advanced working knowledge and experience supporting the inspection of products that meet the technical and quality standards set forth on the product definition through the application of engineering practices and principles.
• Experience with programming, calibrating, and repairing Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMMs).
• Demonstrated experience designing, planning, and executing projects associated with dimensional inspection (e.g., CMMs, optical measurement techniques, surface analyzers, and open setup).
• Working knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), sufficient to provide consultation on manufacturability and dimensional inspection capabilities for a product in the design phase, as well as conceptual prototypes.
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects of advanced scope and complexity.

Education/Experience at Level 1:
Position requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from an accredited institution related to the occupation combined with 2 years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and technical experience…