Materials Science Laboratory Research Technologist (Research Technologist ¾)
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos, NM, USA
USD 104,100-172,200 / year
Posted on Aug 13, 2025
What You Will Do
This position will be filled at either the Research Technologist 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 Research Technologist will provide technical support and work closely with a diverse group of scientists, engineers, technologists, and technicians on projects and programs for both internal and external customers. Principal job duties will include 1) Ceramic nuclear fuel synthesis/fabrication and performing thermomechanical testing on radiological materials at environmental conditions and temperatures ranging from liquid nitrogen to 2400°C, 2) assisting with X-ray diffraction characterization and metallography of the tested samples, and 3) carrying out general lab and operational functions (i.e. waste disposal management, IWD renewals, procurement, etc.) and assist with laboratory operations including respirator work. In relation to this work, the candidate will need to perform routine maintenance on various test equipment such as ultra-high vacuum systems and furnaces hosted within gloveboxes. Depending on the level this job is filled at, different documentation requirements will be required. In all cases the Research Technologist will be required to produce high fidelity documentation (e.g., slides sets, reports, experimental testing write ups). Interpersonal communication and teamwork are important elements of this work environment, as is a commitment to LANL's safety and security culture. Training will be required for LANL radiological work and conduct of operations regardless of prior experience.
Research Technologist 3 ($104,100 - $172,200)
A successful candidate for a Research Technologist 3 position will have a strong background in materials science and is expected to enable the smooth operation of various laboratory spaces within the Materials Science Complex. The selected candidate will assist in delivering high quality technical work to meet deliverables from various stakeholders including national program campaigns, industry partners, partner national laboratories, as well as internal lab directed research. The posting covers the following duties:
In addition to what was outlined at the lower level, at this level the candidate is expected to fulfill the following responsibilities:
Minimum Job Requirements:
In addition to the requirements outlined above, qualification at the higher level requires:
Education/Experience Research Technologist 4: Position requires a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field from an accredited institution and 12 years of related experience; or, an equivalent combination of related education and experience related to the occupation. At this level, post graduate course work may be desirable.
Desired Qualifications:
Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China-including the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau-as well as citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and the Russian Federation, who are not Lawful Permanent Residents ("green card" holders) are prohibited from accessing facilities that support the mission, functions, and operations of national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, which includes Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Essential Job Functions (can perform with or without reasonable accommodation): Climbing Ladders, Use of both arms, ability to stand for long periods of time, ability to lift 20-30 pounds.
Work Location: The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.
Position Commitment: Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position in order to be eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the time required, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. The position commitment for this position is 1 year.
Where You Will Work
Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:
Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.
Clearance: Q (Position will be cleared to this level). Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government, and must meet eligibility requirements* for access to classified matter. This position requires a Q clearance. and obtaining such clearance requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Dependent upon the position, additional authorization to access classified information may be required, which may or may not be available to dual citizens. Receipt of a Q clearance and additional access authorization ultimately is a decision of the Federal Government and not of Triad.
Regular Position: Term status Laboratory employees applying for regular-status positions are converted to regular status.
Internal Applicants: Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy P701 for applicant eligibility requirements.
Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to protected categories such as race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to applyhelp@lanl.gov or call (505)-664-6947 opt. 3.
This position will be filled at either the Research Technologist 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 Research Technologist will provide technical support and work closely with a diverse group of scientists, engineers, technologists, and technicians on projects and programs for both internal and external customers. Principal job duties will include 1) Ceramic nuclear fuel synthesis/fabrication and performing thermomechanical testing on radiological materials at environmental conditions and temperatures ranging from liquid nitrogen to 2400°C, 2) assisting with X-ray diffraction characterization and metallography of the tested samples, and 3) carrying out general lab and operational functions (i.e. waste disposal management, IWD renewals, procurement, etc.) and assist with laboratory operations including respirator work. In relation to this work, the candidate will need to perform routine maintenance on various test equipment such as ultra-high vacuum systems and furnaces hosted within gloveboxes. Depending on the level this job is filled at, different documentation requirements will be required. In all cases the Research Technologist will be required to produce high fidelity documentation (e.g., slides sets, reports, experimental testing write ups). Interpersonal communication and teamwork are important elements of this work environment, as is a commitment to LANL's safety and security culture. Training will be required for LANL radiological work and conduct of operations regardless of prior experience.
Research Technologist 3 ($104,100 - $172,200)
A successful candidate for a Research Technologist 3 position will have a strong background in materials science and is expected to enable the smooth operation of various laboratory spaces within the Materials Science Complex. The selected candidate will assist in delivering high quality technical work to meet deliverables from various stakeholders including national program campaigns, industry partners, partner national laboratories, as well as internal lab directed research. The posting covers the following duties:
- Provide support to all aspects of nuclear fuel and novel materials fabrication. This will involve working with various methods and techniques to create novel materials for testing and development in the lab.
- Provide support to all aspects of thermophysical property characterization (i.e. sample preparation, measurement acquisition, data analysis).
- Provide thorough documentation of test results and experimental procedures. This includes writing detailed reports, creating and maintaining spreadsheets to track data, and preparing slide decks for presenting findings to team members and stakeholders.
- Perform routine maintenance of non-energized, mechanical, and pressurized systems
- Troubleshoot custom built equipment and repair or update them to a high fidelity working standard
- Coordinate with multiple laboratory stakeholder such as users, program managers, facility operations staff, waste coordinators, radiological control technicians, etc.
- Conduct hot jobs and wear respirators to safely perform radiological work on glove boxes.
In addition to what was outlined at the lower level, at this level the candidate is expected to fulfill the following responsibilities:
- Resolve problems of moderately complex scope requiring integration of data across a breadth of technical areas.
- Provide in-depth data analysis supporting one or more of the following areas; X-ray diffraction characterization, microstructural characterization, thermo-physical properties characterization.
- Lead efforts towards multiple milestone deliverables including slide set preparation and report writing.
- Work independently the majority of the time without continuous oversight and be self-motivated.
Minimum Job Requirements:
- Expertise in radioactive glovebox operations and/or maintenance/repair of glovebox equipment and equipment hosted/connect to the glovebox (e.g. furnaces)
- Proven track record of oversight of laboratory space(s) where complex operations are being performed - this can include ceramic processing, mechanical testing, and/or thermophysical property characterization operations
- Proven track record of developing, updating and/or maintaining safety protocols and procedures such as integrated working documents or similar to cover complex experimental operations. These can include radioactive materials processing, high temperature operations, or specialty chemicals.
- Expertise in setting up and maintaining equipment such as furnaces or load frames with complex vacuum/inert atmosphere controls.
- Contribute to experimental design planning to serve a variety of internal and external deliverables
- Experience following requirements to ensure work, materials, processes and final products meet set quality specifications.
- Experience contributing towards reports and publications and providing peer-review of documents (deliverable reports, publications, etc.)
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to obtain a Q clearance (which usually requires U.S. citizenship).
In addition to the requirements outlined above, qualification at the higher level requires:
- Experience independently coordinating experimental test matrices and executing procedures to fulfill set scope.
- Demonstrated advanced-level knowledge of and experience in writing and implementing Laboratory procedures, standards and guides.
- Expertise in CAD software and experience in design of custom parts to enable experimental operations.
- Demonstrated experience executing job responsibilities with minimal supervision
- Proven track record of providing guidance and support to junior staff members
Education/Experience Research Technologist 4: Position requires a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field from an accredited institution and 12 years of related experience; or, an equivalent combination of related education and experience related to the occupation. At this level, post graduate course work may be desirable.
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience with ceramic materials processing
- Experience working with vacuum, gas, and pressure systems in a research environment.
- Experience in preparation of materials for electron microscopy characterization.
- Experience in performing or supporting scientific experiments using analytical or research equipment (spectrometers, microscopes, etc.).
- Working knowledge of LabView software
- Experience in authoring peer reviewed publications
Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China-including the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau-as well as citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and the Russian Federation, who are not Lawful Permanent Residents ("green card" holders) are prohibited from accessing facilities that support the mission, functions, and operations of national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, which includes Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Essential Job Functions (can perform with or without reasonable accommodation): Climbing Ladders, Use of both arms, ability to stand for long periods of time, ability to lift 20-30 pounds.
Work Location: The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.
Position Commitment: Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position in order to be eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the time required, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. The position commitment for this position is 1 year.
Where You Will Work
Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:
- PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network
- Dental and vision insurance
- Free basic life and disability insurance
- Paid childbirth and parental leave
- Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
- Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
- Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)
- Onsite gyms and wellness programs
- Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)
Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.
Clearance: Q (Position will be cleared to this level). Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government, and must meet eligibility requirements* for access to classified matter. This position requires a Q clearance. and obtaining such clearance requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Dependent upon the position, additional authorization to access classified information may be required, which may or may not be available to dual citizens. Receipt of a Q clearance and additional access authorization ultimately is a decision of the Federal Government and not of Triad.
- Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order 472.2 for additional information.
Regular Position: Term status Laboratory employees applying for regular-status positions are converted to regular status.
Internal Applicants: Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy P701 for applicant eligibility requirements.
Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to protected categories such as race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to applyhelp@lanl.gov or call (505)-664-6947 opt. 3.