ASD Senior Engineer (R&D Engineer 3 or 4)
Los Alamos National Laboratory
United States
USD 125,200-260,800 / year + Equity
Posted on Aug 31, 2025
What You Will Do
This position will be filled at the R&D Engineer 3 or the 4 level, depending on the skills, education and experience of the selected candidate. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level.
The Advanced Sources and Detector (ASD) Project is seeking a senior engineer to serve as either the Accelerator Coordinator or Lead Design Engineer (LDE). Nicknamed Scorpius, the project is responsible for the fabrication, installation, and commissioning of a ~20 MeV linear induction electron accelerator through the coordinated efforts of Los Alamos (LANL), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), and the Nevada National Security site (NNSS). The machine will be used to diagnose subcritical experiments within an underground complex (U1a; 963 feet below grade) in support of the Enhanced Capabilities for Subcritical Experiments Program.
This position will be filled at either the R&D Engineer 3 or 4 level depending on the skills and experience of the selected candidate and the needs of the project.
Accelerator Coordinator
The Accelerator Coordinator for the ASD Project will work with the Accelerator Control Account Managers and Technical Leader to execute the final design, procurements, fabrication, and assembly of the accelerator system to be installed at the U1a complex at the NNSS (~$180M of total scope). The coordinator will coordinate with technical subject matter experts (SMEs) to ensure that all requirements are properly documented in procurement packages prior to award and ensure that contracts are executed in accordance with the project's technical, quality, cost, and schedule objectives post award. The coordinator will also provide oversight for the assembly and testing of the first components at LANL and execution of the remaining build through in-house resources and subcontractors. As technical concerns or questions arise, the coordinator will work with vendors, the Lead Design Engineer, the Technical Leader, and others to ensure progress while maintaining configuration control. The Accelerator Coordinator will provide support throughout the project lifecycle, including assembly of cells and modules, installation at the U1a complex, knowledge transfer, and acceptance of the commissioned machine.
Other responsibilities of the accelerator coordinator are as follows:
Lead Design Engineer
As a leader of the engineering team for the ASD Project, the Lead Design Engineer (LDE) will work with system technical leads, chief engineers, systems engineers, design engineers, and procurement engineers to oversee the final design and necessary updates of the accelerator, Downstream Transport (DST), and Ancillary & Systems Integration systems comprising the LANL's project scope. The LDE will also interact with vendors on technical concerns that arise during procurement and fabrication. This role is intended to provide the ASD project with engineering oversight throughout the project lifecycle until completion, including updates of the final design (Title III), procurement, fabrication, assembly, installation, commissioning, and transition to operations.
Other responsibilities of the Lead Design Engineer are as follows:
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
R&D Engineer 3 ($125,200 - $211,300)
Accelerator Engineering
Experience with the engineering of accelerator systems. In particular, experience with accelerator vacuum systems, thermal management systems, control systems, machine alignment, testing, maintenance, and operations. Additionally, the selected candidate will need to have experience generating documentation pertaining to design, procurement, testing, and QA/QC.
Design Engineering
Experience with the engineering of accelerator systems. In particular, experience with precision machine design and fabrication, GD&T and national code standards, structural design and analysis, and thermal analysis. Proficient in Creo and PDMLink.
Project Leadership & Practices
Experience working in a fast-paced project environment to meet all technical needs and project deliverables. Familiar with adherence to project processes for design, configuration control, procurement, and nonconformance reports.
Communication and Teamwork
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively verbally and through written documentation with coworkers, vendors, customers, and management. Proven record of working effectively as a team member. Recognized ability to lead projects involving diverse team members.
Education/Experience For R&D Engineer 3
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.
Additional Job Requirements For R&D Engineer 4
In addition to the requirements outlined above, qualification at the higher level requires:
Accelerator Engineering Expertise
Extensive expertise in engineering of accelerator systems, such as vacuum systems, thermal management systems, control systems, machine alignment, testing, maintenance, and operations.
Leadership Experience
Significant experience leading a team and experience collaborating productively with other teams of technical experts to overcome engineering challenges.
R&D Engineer 4 ($150,300 - $260,800)
Education/Experience For R&D Engineer 4
Position requires a Master's Degree in Engineering from an accredited institution and 12 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.
Desired Qualifications:
Work Location: The work location for this position is onsite at the LANL ADEF (Building 365) tunnel and associated spaces (AREA-A) 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.
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.
Please include a comprehensive cover letter addressing how you meet minimum job requirements and any desired qualifications.
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.
This position will be filled at the R&D Engineer 3 or the 4 level, depending on the skills, education and experience of the selected candidate. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level.
The Advanced Sources and Detector (ASD) Project is seeking a senior engineer to serve as either the Accelerator Coordinator or Lead Design Engineer (LDE). Nicknamed Scorpius, the project is responsible for the fabrication, installation, and commissioning of a ~20 MeV linear induction electron accelerator through the coordinated efforts of Los Alamos (LANL), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), and the Nevada National Security site (NNSS). The machine will be used to diagnose subcritical experiments within an underground complex (U1a; 963 feet below grade) in support of the Enhanced Capabilities for Subcritical Experiments Program.
This position will be filled at either the R&D Engineer 3 or 4 level depending on the skills and experience of the selected candidate and the needs of the project.
Accelerator Coordinator
The Accelerator Coordinator for the ASD Project will work with the Accelerator Control Account Managers and Technical Leader to execute the final design, procurements, fabrication, and assembly of the accelerator system to be installed at the U1a complex at the NNSS (~$180M of total scope). The coordinator will coordinate with technical subject matter experts (SMEs) to ensure that all requirements are properly documented in procurement packages prior to award and ensure that contracts are executed in accordance with the project's technical, quality, cost, and schedule objectives post award. The coordinator will also provide oversight for the assembly and testing of the first components at LANL and execution of the remaining build through in-house resources and subcontractors. As technical concerns or questions arise, the coordinator will work with vendors, the Lead Design Engineer, the Technical Leader, and others to ensure progress while maintaining configuration control. The Accelerator Coordinator will provide support throughout the project lifecycle, including assembly of cells and modules, installation at the U1a complex, knowledge transfer, and acceptance of the commissioned machine.
Other responsibilities of the accelerator coordinator are as follows:
- Coordinates the fabrication, assembly and testing of the Scorpius accelerator subsystem, including managing any required design changes.
- Ensures that the Scorpius accelerator subsystem is procured, fabricated, and documented following appropriate quality assurance and 413.3B project requirements.
- Works with the Cost Account Manager to meet cost and schedule objectives and Identify ways to improve project performance.
- Looks for opportunities to enhance the system through value engineering during production and testing.
- Support accelerator installation and integration at the Integrated Test Stand and U1a as appropriate.
Lead Design Engineer
As a leader of the engineering team for the ASD Project, the Lead Design Engineer (LDE) will work with system technical leads, chief engineers, systems engineers, design engineers, and procurement engineers to oversee the final design and necessary updates of the accelerator, Downstream Transport (DST), and Ancillary & Systems Integration systems comprising the LANL's project scope. The LDE will also interact with vendors on technical concerns that arise during procurement and fabrication. This role is intended to provide the ASD project with engineering oversight throughout the project lifecycle until completion, including updates of the final design (Title III), procurement, fabrication, assembly, installation, commissioning, and transition to operations.
Other responsibilities of the Lead Design Engineer are as follows:
- Support the ASD project as responsible engineer in accordance with the ASD Design Engineering Procedure which defines expectations for design calculations, testing, design reviews, RAMI, value engineering, manufacturability, safety, etc.
- Serve as a responsible engineer to prepare design products to meet form, fit, and function requirements and well as applicable design standards defined in the ASD Design Criteria Document.
- Perform structural, thermal, and other engineering analysis and reports to support the design.
- Prepare inspection, assembly, and test procedures to support procurements and commissioning activities.
- Provide engineer support to execute the final design definition, procurement, fabrication, assembly, installation, commissioning, and transition to operations.
- Interface with procurement staff, QA, and vendors to ensure LANL designs are delivered in accordance with requirements and drawings;
- Collaborate with technical staff and Quality Assurance to resolve Supplier Non-Conformances;
- Provide technical support for vendor visits and product inspections;
- Provide technical support for component installation at the Integrated Test Stand and U1a complex at NNSS.
- Support the ASD project as a senior engineer in accordance with the ASD Design Engineering Procedure which defines expectations for design calculations, testing, design reviews, RAMI, value engineering, manufacturability, safety, etc.
- Serve as a senior engineer to provide day-to-day guidance for the engineering team.
- Mentor junior R&D Engineers
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
R&D Engineer 3 ($125,200 - $211,300)
Accelerator Engineering
Experience with the engineering of accelerator systems. In particular, experience with accelerator vacuum systems, thermal management systems, control systems, machine alignment, testing, maintenance, and operations. Additionally, the selected candidate will need to have experience generating documentation pertaining to design, procurement, testing, and QA/QC.
Design Engineering
Experience with the engineering of accelerator systems. In particular, experience with precision machine design and fabrication, GD&T and national code standards, structural design and analysis, and thermal analysis. Proficient in Creo and PDMLink.
Project Leadership & Practices
Experience working in a fast-paced project environment to meet all technical needs and project deliverables. Familiar with adherence to project processes for design, configuration control, procurement, and nonconformance reports.
Communication and Teamwork
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively verbally and through written documentation with coworkers, vendors, customers, and management. Proven record of working effectively as a team member. Recognized ability to lead projects involving diverse team members.
Education/Experience For R&D Engineer 3
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.
Additional Job Requirements For R&D Engineer 4
In addition to the requirements outlined above, qualification at the higher level requires:
Accelerator Engineering Expertise
Extensive expertise in engineering of accelerator systems, such as vacuum systems, thermal management systems, control systems, machine alignment, testing, maintenance, and operations.
Leadership Experience
Significant experience leading a team and experience collaborating productively with other teams of technical experts to overcome engineering challenges.
R&D Engineer 4 ($150,300 - $260,800)
Education/Experience For R&D Engineer 4
Position requires a Master's Degree in Engineering from an accredited institution and 12 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.
Desired Qualifications:
- Knowledge of and experience designing and/or operating technology systems associated with linear induction accelerators
- Working experience at one or more of the NNSA design labs
- An active Q clearance
Work Location: The work location for this position is onsite at the LANL ADEF (Building 365) tunnel and associated spaces (AREA-A) 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.
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.
Please include a comprehensive cover letter addressing how you meet minimum job requirements and any desired qualifications.
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.