R&D Engineer 4
Los Alamos National Laboratory
New Mexico, USA
Posted on Aug 28, 2025
What You Will Do
Join a multidisciplinary team driving LANL's digital manufacturing strategy and shaping the future of the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE). As the Digital Engineering PA Interface Engineer, you will lead efforts to connect the full product lifecycle-requirements, design, testing, production, surveillance, and compliance-through an integrated digital thread.
The Digital PA Interface Engineer will lead efforts to define interface environments and select software tools that connect production systems to the digital thread, coordinating with subject matter experts to assess existing manufacturing infrastructure and integrate it with future-state capabilities. This role includes developing documentation, best practices, and internal policies that advance digital engineering and manufacturing principles, as well as delivering briefings and presentations on tools, strategies, and progress to stakeholders at all levels. Working closely with production engineering, liaison teams, and both internal and external SMEs, the engineer will deploy advanced digital manufacturing solutions for new and legacy weapon systems, ensuring interoperability across the Nuclear Security Enterprise. In addition to contributing to strategic planning, the position will organize and manage the group's expanding project portfolio to ensure timely and effective execution. Your leadership will help translate strategy into execution, modernizing production capabilities and driving institutional alignment.
Responsibilities for this position include the ability to:
Minimum Job Requirements:
Desired Qualifications:
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.
Note to Applicants:
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.
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 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.
Join a multidisciplinary team driving LANL's digital manufacturing strategy and shaping the future of the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE). As the Digital Engineering PA Interface Engineer, you will lead efforts to connect the full product lifecycle-requirements, design, testing, production, surveillance, and compliance-through an integrated digital thread.
The Digital PA Interface Engineer will lead efforts to define interface environments and select software tools that connect production systems to the digital thread, coordinating with subject matter experts to assess existing manufacturing infrastructure and integrate it with future-state capabilities. This role includes developing documentation, best practices, and internal policies that advance digital engineering and manufacturing principles, as well as delivering briefings and presentations on tools, strategies, and progress to stakeholders at all levels. Working closely with production engineering, liaison teams, and both internal and external SMEs, the engineer will deploy advanced digital manufacturing solutions for new and legacy weapon systems, ensuring interoperability across the Nuclear Security Enterprise. In addition to contributing to strategic planning, the position will organize and manage the group's expanding project portfolio to ensure timely and effective execution. Your leadership will help translate strategy into execution, modernizing production capabilities and driving institutional alignment.
Responsibilities for this position include the ability to:
- Provide SME support for ALDW-PO and Production Agency entities for the development and implementation of digital toolsets to enable an advanced and more modern design and manufacturing capability for both LANL and the NSE.
- Work with System Engineers for Phase I & II, W93 as well as legacy systems (W76, W78, W88, B61) to develop strategies for implementation of digital toolsets to enable efficiencies in achieving FPU's as well as general product life cycle management.
- Leverage manufacturing and/or metrology experience and education to inform and advise colleagues and stakeholders in key areas for advancing the posture of the digital factory floor vision.
- Form and represent LANL's position on the strategy for deployment and utilization of a digital thread in component manufacturing and product sale activities.
- Manage and develop NNSA interfaces, customers, and stakeholders, for a variety of projects relevant to the ALDW-PO.
- Work effectively with counterparts at Sandia National Laboratories, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Pantex, Kansas City National Security Campus and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) personnel.
- Lead teams to work collaboratively to produce ALDW-PO deliverables efficiently and with a high degree of accuracy and efficiency.
- Lead research and development efforts to strengthen the existing technical basis information required by ALDW-PO.
- Represent ALDW-PO as an advanced technical expert in areas that support the ALDW-PO mission deliverables.
Minimum Job Requirements:
- Knowledge and experience in either nuclear or non-nuclear weapons components production and fabrication including model definition interpretation, machining and machine tool technology, metrology and quality control operations for weapon products.
- Knowledge and experience with the utilization of Manufacturing Resource Planning/ Manufacturing Execution Systems (MRP/MES), Quality Manufacturing Systems (QMS) and inventory and material control activities in the context of low-volume, high-value component manufacturing.
- Demonstrated understanding of NAP401.1A compliance and NNSA requirements for Mark Quality/WR component production and required quality evidence to support diamond stamp product sales.
- Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams to solve challenging and complex problems.
- Must be able to team well and work closely with other thought leaders that are exploring strategies and approaches for improving engineering and production processes through enhanced digital connectivity and various systems engineering approaches across the Nuclear Weapon Complex.
- Coordinate with organizations internal and external to LANL to effectively discuss technical points and to recommend acceptable engineering solutions.
- Demonstrated experience interacting effectively with all levels of external and internal personnel: building trust, gaining consensus, resolving conflicts.
- Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills as evidenced by technical reports, public speaking at conferences, presenting briefings to stakeholders, etc.
- Excellent motivational and leadership skills to help develop and guide LANL personnel.
- Expertise in presenting highly complex technical information to a non-technical audience in an understandable format, as well as to technical experts in appropriate detail.
Desired Qualifications:
- Demonstrated technical knowledge of weapon systems, explosive subsystems, and components.
- Demonstrated technical knowledge with the Laboratory weapons production development, programmatic activities, and production quality.
- Knowledge of engineering authorization systems, document management systems and applications to stockpile maintenance and configuration management.
- Experience as a System Engineer for a weapons system or certification as system engineering professional.
- Experience with PTC Windchill and Creo software for product lifecycle management and design definition creation and release.
- Experience working with classified material and as a Derivative Classifier (DC).
- Knowledge and experience with technical project management of programmatic work with NNSA programs including defining program work scope, schedules, budgets, priorities, and performance milestones; developing cost, scope, and schedule baselines; reporting cost and schedule variances; and managing change control and risk.
- Active Q clearance.
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.
Note to Applicants:
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.
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 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.