Quality Engineer; R&D Engineer

What You Will Do

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 (outlined below) will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level. Do you want to be part of an energetic, high performing team; working on challenges and deliverables that ensure national security?

Los Alamos National Laboratory is a multidisciplinary research institution with the brightest minds in the world and unparalleled technology and equipment. Production Assurance Engineering ensures that all products in the Weapons Production Directorate meet or exceed all quality requirements.

The selected candidate will:

• Validate, interpret, and statistically analyze inspection data.
• Validate the design and assembly of inspection fixtures.
• Validate inspection processes.
• Validate Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) programs in Quindos.

You will support the Weapons Production Directorate by ensuring quality assurance results, materials, processes and final products meet quality specifications and are completed according to established requirements. You will apply quality-control methods to identify correct measurement methods, tools, and/or systems; identify data-collection points; and analyze data to identify failure modes, track trends, focus on improvement actions, rate performance and measure effectiveness.

You will also define, identify and apply product and process control methods such as identifying critical control points and validating work instructions.

In addition to the duties outlined above, the R&D Engineer 3 will define/identify technical and performance specifications, quality levels, sampling plans, and inspection plans or procedures. You will define the metrics and methods of reporting that show measurement of QA and quality control (QC) processes. You will conduct technical evaluation studies of quality assurance controls. You will also support development of weapons quality systems associated with production and/or design activities.

Inspection: Knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), sufficient to provide consultation on dimensional inspection capabilities. Expertise in Open Setup Metrology techniques such as:
Optical Comparator, Height Gauge, Micrometers, Indicators, Hard Gauges, Surface Roughness, Gauge Block/Pins, etc.

Manufacturing: Experience working in the manufacturing sector.

Quality Knowledge: Demonstrated knowledge of, and experience in, conducting troubleshooting, investigating alternative solutions, and recommending solutions on problems affecting quality assurance using processes such as root cause analysis or others.

Quality Standards: Knowledge of and experience in interpreting and using national consensus standards of quality assurance, such as AS9100, ISO 9001, ASME NQA-1, and NAP 401.1A, etc.

In addition to having thorough knowledge of the R&D Engineer 2 requirements, the R&D Engineer 3 qualification requires:

Inspection: Experience with ultra-high precision Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMMs). Hands-on experience programming, error mapping, calibrating, and/or repairing CMMs to sub-micron uncertainties. Demonstrated experience designing, planning, and executing projects associated with dimensional inspection (e.g. CMMs, optical measurement techniques, surface analyzers, and open setup).

Technical Knowledge: Thorough knowledge to conceptualize and communicate major elements of quality to both technical and non-technical personnel.

Project Support: Adept at supporting several concurrent projects in a challenging safety and/or security setting.

Quality Assurance: Thorough knowledge of weapon quality system requirements.

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.

Position requires a'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. At this level a Ph.D. may be preferred.

• Demonstrated application of various metrology software and/or post processing packages. Quindos experience is highly desired. (e.g. Quindos, Calypso, PC-DMIS, and/or Polyworks)
• Demonstrated application in collecting ISO 10360 calibration data, observing trends required for equipment monitoring and preventative maintenance.
• Knowledge of creating and correcting CMM error maps.
• Demonstrated experience of manufacturing software. Creo and Solid Works experience is highly desired. (e.g. Creo, Solid Works, NX, Catia, Inventor, etc.)
• Existing DOE Q clearance or equivalent.

The work location for this position is…