Mechanical Test Engineer; R&D Engineer

Overview

What You Will Do

The Test Engineering Group (V-14) of the Verification and Validation Division (V) at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is seeking a test engineer to support the weapons mission. The successful candidate will serve as a test engineer engaged in component, subsystem and system level testing. The test engineer is responsible for developing test requirements, researching and implementing instrumentation and data acquisition, designing, analyzing, and building test fixtures, scheduling, executing, and maintaining tests, technical oversight to team members, data analysis and formal test reporting.

Testing activities require working in a team environment with other engineers, scientists, and technicians within LANL, DOE, DoD, and other institutions. While the mechanical team performs standard material characterization tests, their specialty lies with non-standard weapon component level tests. Their capabilities range from standard compression and tension to impact, torsion and cyclic in quasi-static, intermediate and dynamic environments. Compliance with LANL and facility safety and security practices and delivering accurate test results in a team effort are central to all testing efforts.

What You Will Do

The Test Engineering Group (V-14) of the Verification and Validation Division (V) at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is seeking a test engineer to support the weapons mission. The successful candidate will serve as a test engineer engaged in component, subsystem and system level testing. The test engineer is responsible for developing test requirements, researching and implementing instrumentation and data acquisition, designing, analyzing, and building test fixtures, scheduling, executing, and maintaining tests, technical oversight to team members, data analysis and formal test reporting.

Additional job responsibilities include participating in the development of new testing technologies and facilities and implementing quality assurance requirements. Performance of job responsibilities will require working in controlled hazardous environments that may include radiation generating devices, radioactive materials, high explosives, and other hazardous materials. The ability to provide clear, timely, and technically accurate direction to test support technicians is part of the job duties.

Test Management

• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of test engineering including test design, planning, preparation, execution, and documenting of experimental work.
• Ability to work on multiple projects concurrently and with changing priorities while delivering results on schedule.
• Ability to accomplish technical tasks while working independently or as part of a team with other engineers, scientists, and technicians.
• Experience with setup, operation, troubleshooting and maintenance of electromechanical and or hydraulic load frames.

Analysis and Reporting

• Demonstrated experience in interpreting experimental data such as load, displacement, stress, and strain.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge in the use of specialized engineering software for data acquisition and analysis, such as Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, or other similar software packages.

Communication

• Demonstrated interpersonal, oral and written communication skills and experience interacting with all levels of personnel and customers.
• Ability to advise and guide experimental work including mentoring junior staff, students or technicians.

Education/Experience
:
Position requires a 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.

• Advanced engineering degrees like MS in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Material characterization and mechanical testing experience.
• Demonstrated experience with digital image correlation.
• Demonstrated experience in nuclear weapons testing and qualification.
• Active Q clearance.

Can perform with or without reasonable accommodation:
Sitting, standing, climbing stairs, reaching overhead and down,…