Nuclear and Hazardous Materials Technician

What You Will Do

The position will be filled at either the Nuclear & Hazardous Materials Technician 2 or 3 level, depending on the candidate’s skills. Additional responsibilities described below will be assigned if hired at the higher level.

At Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), we solve national security challenges through simultaneous excellence. The Plutonium Capability Transuranic Waste Management group, Nuclear Process Infrastructure‑6 (NPI‑6), is looking for highly motivated individuals to serve as Nuclear & Hazardous Materials Technicians level 2/3 and join our team. NPI‑6 ensures safe, efficient, and compliant waste management for the TA‑55 Plutonium Facility, the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research (CMR) building, the TA‑50 Radioactive Liquid Waste Treatment Facility (RLWTF), and the Radiological Laboratory Utility Office Building (RLUOB).

It also provides ample opportunities to learn new skillsets and maintain a supportive environment when challenges arise.

Team members comply with a variety of nuclear management requirements, work independently on challenging concurrent projects, and provide support wherever necessary to meet LANL’s National Security Mission.

The technician will interface with teams within the NPI division, with other groups within TA‑55 and the Laboratory. They provide support to move, load, transport, and store hazardous containers and/or waste material. They also perform and review inspection and characterization information on containers to ensure proper handling and storage. Specific duties may include, but are not necessarily limited to:

• Technical assistance in fabrication, assembly, inspection, testing, and analytical instrumentation
• Handling drums and other containers of hazardous materials or wastes
• Operating forklifts and other mechanical loading/handling equipment
• Performing nuclear material move transactions

Salary range: $54,900 – $84,300. In addition to the responsibilities described above, at this level the following duties may be assigned:

• Performs work at the semi‑skilled technician level.
• Monitors VI/VE activities to prevent prohibited items, sort, segregate and repackage waste items.
• Understands and adheres to all Laboratory and industry regulatory guidance for hazardous waste and materials.
• Operates forklifts and other machinery to aid in the handling and loading of waste containers.

Salary range: $64,700 – $101,400. In addition to the responsibilities described above, at this level the following duties may be assigned:

• Ensures all work, materials, processes and final products meet quality specifications and are completed according to established requirements.
• Conducts technical work in the laboratory or work area, as directed by or discussed with supervisor.
• Under minimal supervision moves, loads, transports, packages, and/or stores drums and other containers of hazardous waste or materials.
• Under minimal supervision performs and reviews inspection and characterization information on containers to ensure proper handling and storage.
• Performs the upkeep and maintenance of records reflecting storage area, inventory, inspections, waste profiles, disposal requests, shipping paperwork, and waste characterization information.
• Performs visual inspection activities to prevent prohibited items, sort, segregate and repackage waste items.
• Assists in conducting research, investigating alternative solutions, and recommending solutions on problems affecting material and waste handling.
• May serve as point‑of‑contact or SME for waste or manufacturing activities.

• Regulations: Basic knowledge of applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations relating to the handling of waste and hazardous material. Understanding of the Laboratory’s fissile material handler, material handling and/or waste handling policies.
• Communication: Ability to follow detailed procedures effectively, both orally and in writing, and demonstrated experience in preparing reports.
• Skills/Expertise: Ability to operate mechanical equipment such as forklifts or…