Metrology R&D Engineer; R&D Engineer

What You Will Do

This position will be filled at either the R&D Engineer 3/4 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.

This capability spans across three environmentally controlled laboratories, supporting dimensional inspections of conventional materials, depleted uranium, and beryllium components.

The selected candidate will participate in design for manufacturability reviews to ensure dimensional inspection requirements are understood and achievable. They will validate, interpret, statistically analyze, and communicate high‑fidelity inspection data to customers. They will facilitate or achieve the design of holding fixtures, development of inspection processes, writing of Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) programs, and research new inspection techniques and platforms applicable to meet customer needs.

In this role, the selected candidate will work with people across the entire manufacturing enterprise, including research and development, production staff, quality assurance, management and customers.

In addition to what was outlined at level 3, the candidate shall have advanced experience in the field of applied metrology, in particular in the maintainability, operability and capability of ultra‑high precision Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMMs). They will lead maintenance of the CMM capability, adhering to the established Prototype Fabrication Engineering User Performed Calibration Plan. They will also be responsible to develop and lead strategic initiatives for the division.

• Expert level 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.
• Advanced knowledge applying engineering practices and principles supporting capability development within a manufacturing and dimensional inspection environment.
• Advanced level knowledge of CAD software (e.g. Creo, Solid Works, NX, Catia, Inventor)
• Advanced level knowledge of CMM programming software (e.g. Quindos, Calypso, PC-DMIS, or Polyworks)
• Advanced 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.

• Advanced 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 advanced scope and complexity.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities across multiple projects and meeting deadlines.

• Expert writing ability and verbal communication skills required to independently prepare and present data and reports to peers, senior colleagues, management, and customers.
• Advanced demonstrated experience with mentoring and training of engineers and inspectors.
• Demonstrated record of dependability, reliability, and commitment to the long‑term needs of the job duties and programmatic goals of the organization.

• Demonstrated experience developing strategic plans and successfully leading the implementation of major initiatives in metrology.
• Expert level knowledge of CMM programming software (e.g. Quindos, Calypso, PC-DMIS, or…