W93 Hardware Manager (Production Control Specialist 2/3)
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Other Engineering
United States
USD 71,200-139,900 / year
Posted on Aug 31, 2025
What You Will Do
This position will be filled at either the Production Control Specialist 2 or 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.
The W93 System Development and Realization Group (Q-20) is seeking a Production Control Specialist 2/3 to be part of the Hardware Management team. With your team, you will implement the hardware management process for the W93 system as we move forward into our qualification testing, interacting with program managers, domain and test leads, and product realization teams to procure, ship, track and manage hardware inventory from multiple internal and external sources.
The hardware manager will interface with technical and programmatic staff internal and external to Q-20 and the Laboratory to document hardware demand in the local supply chain database, and provide quarterly updates to the Material Requirements Schedule (MRS) which is managed and published by Sandia National Laboratory. Hardware managers will be responsible for collaborating with external vendors and production agencies as well as internal fabrication shops to identify and obtain hardware in the most efficient means possible to support test schedules.
This is an opportunity to be part of the first new weapon system program in over 30 years. Q-20, W93/Mk7 Systems Development and Realization Group, defines, develops, and fields the warhead system for the newest Navy sub-launched ballistic missile weapon program. We support the DoD/Navy SSP and DoE/NNSA customers in defining the mission need and corresponding technical and programmatic requirements. The W93 collaborates closely with Sandia National Laboratories and Lockheed Martin Space design agencies, developing the re-entry system, ensuring safe, secure, & reliable warhead performance and a relevant nuclear deterrent. Q-20 also incorporates the production agency teams (KCNSC, Pantex, SRS, Y-12, LANL, and SNL) tightly into the design, qualification, and realization processes.
Production Control Specialist 2 $71,200 - $112,900
The hardware manager will interface with technical and programmatic staff internal and external to Q-20 and the Laboratory to document hardware demand in the local supply chain database, and provide quarterly updates to the Material Requirements Schedule (MRS) which is managed and published by Sandia National Laboratory. Hardware managers will be responsible for collaborating with external vendors and production agencies as well as internal fabrication shops to identify and obtain hardware in the most efficient means possible to support test schedules.
Hardware managers are adept at managing large amounts of information simultaneously, evaluating options and making decisions that will have a high consequence of failure. Provides designated procurement representative functions in support of maintaining hardware inventory levels. Other duties include managing classified and unclassified shipments, collaborating with quality engineers to perform receipt inspections, interfacing with test and domain leads to communicate receipt and readiness of hardware.
Production Control Specialist 3 $85,900-139,900
In addition to what was outlined at the lower level, at this level, the hardware manager will provide daily direction to junior hardware managers, develop business practices and implement standards across hardware management practices, develop and manage schedules to support hardware delivery and use, participate in external working groups, and serve as lead in special projects.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements
Production Control Specialist 2
Material Management: Demonstrated ability to manage material in accordance with applicable quality assurance and industry standards.
Computing/Business Systems: Advanced computer skills and demonstrated experience with Inventory Control, Material Tracking systems, and various software suites, including but not limited to, Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, Access.
Inventory management: Demonstrated knowledge and experience in procuring and managing a diverse inventory.
Organization and communication skills: Possesses high attention to detail including strong organizational skills, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Demonstrated ability to manage and evaluate large amounts of data/information and transform it into a product that informs and enables successful logistics, supply chain and inventory management.
Supplier Management: Manage relationships with suppliers. This includes monitoring their performance, capabilities, compliance, and cost.
Additional Job Requirements For Production Control Specialist 3
In addition to the requirements outlined above, qualification at the higher level requires:
Leadership: Demonstrated ability to work, influence, and lead in a fast paced environment consisting of diverse and multi-talented technical, programmatic, and operational staff, including demonstrated ability to successfully mentor early career staff.
Collaboration: Demonstrated record of developing and leading successful cross-organizational teams to solve complex problems.
Project Management: Knowledgeable in project management principles, practices, and tools with experience in implementation of PM principles in work processes and procedures.
Bill of Material Management: Understand how to create, manage, and compare BOM's between builds and advise test leads on opportunities to increase manufacturing efficiency.
Education/Experience at lower level: Position requires 5 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of related education and experience directly related to the occupation.
Education/Experience at higher level: Position requires 8 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of related education and experience directly related to the occupation.
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:
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 either the Production Control Specialist 2 or 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.
The W93 System Development and Realization Group (Q-20) is seeking a Production Control Specialist 2/3 to be part of the Hardware Management team. With your team, you will implement the hardware management process for the W93 system as we move forward into our qualification testing, interacting with program managers, domain and test leads, and product realization teams to procure, ship, track and manage hardware inventory from multiple internal and external sources.
The hardware manager will interface with technical and programmatic staff internal and external to Q-20 and the Laboratory to document hardware demand in the local supply chain database, and provide quarterly updates to the Material Requirements Schedule (MRS) which is managed and published by Sandia National Laboratory. Hardware managers will be responsible for collaborating with external vendors and production agencies as well as internal fabrication shops to identify and obtain hardware in the most efficient means possible to support test schedules.
This is an opportunity to be part of the first new weapon system program in over 30 years. Q-20, W93/Mk7 Systems Development and Realization Group, defines, develops, and fields the warhead system for the newest Navy sub-launched ballistic missile weapon program. We support the DoD/Navy SSP and DoE/NNSA customers in defining the mission need and corresponding technical and programmatic requirements. The W93 collaborates closely with Sandia National Laboratories and Lockheed Martin Space design agencies, developing the re-entry system, ensuring safe, secure, & reliable warhead performance and a relevant nuclear deterrent. Q-20 also incorporates the production agency teams (KCNSC, Pantex, SRS, Y-12, LANL, and SNL) tightly into the design, qualification, and realization processes.
Production Control Specialist 2 $71,200 - $112,900
The hardware manager will interface with technical and programmatic staff internal and external to Q-20 and the Laboratory to document hardware demand in the local supply chain database, and provide quarterly updates to the Material Requirements Schedule (MRS) which is managed and published by Sandia National Laboratory. Hardware managers will be responsible for collaborating with external vendors and production agencies as well as internal fabrication shops to identify and obtain hardware in the most efficient means possible to support test schedules.
Hardware managers are adept at managing large amounts of information simultaneously, evaluating options and making decisions that will have a high consequence of failure. Provides designated procurement representative functions in support of maintaining hardware inventory levels. Other duties include managing classified and unclassified shipments, collaborating with quality engineers to perform receipt inspections, interfacing with test and domain leads to communicate receipt and readiness of hardware.
Production Control Specialist 3 $85,900-139,900
In addition to what was outlined at the lower level, at this level, the hardware manager will provide daily direction to junior hardware managers, develop business practices and implement standards across hardware management practices, develop and manage schedules to support hardware delivery and use, participate in external working groups, and serve as lead in special projects.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements
Production Control Specialist 2
Material Management: Demonstrated ability to manage material in accordance with applicable quality assurance and industry standards.
Computing/Business Systems: Advanced computer skills and demonstrated experience with Inventory Control, Material Tracking systems, and various software suites, including but not limited to, Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, Access.
Inventory management: Demonstrated knowledge and experience in procuring and managing a diverse inventory.
Organization and communication skills: Possesses high attention to detail including strong organizational skills, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Demonstrated ability to manage and evaluate large amounts of data/information and transform it into a product that informs and enables successful logistics, supply chain and inventory management.
Supplier Management: Manage relationships with suppliers. This includes monitoring their performance, capabilities, compliance, and cost.
Additional Job Requirements For Production Control Specialist 3
In addition to the requirements outlined above, qualification at the higher level requires:
Leadership: Demonstrated ability to work, influence, and lead in a fast paced environment consisting of diverse and multi-talented technical, programmatic, and operational staff, including demonstrated ability to successfully mentor early career staff.
Collaboration: Demonstrated record of developing and leading successful cross-organizational teams to solve complex problems.
Project Management: Knowledgeable in project management principles, practices, and tools with experience in implementation of PM principles in work processes and procedures.
Bill of Material Management: Understand how to create, manage, and compare BOM's between builds and advise test leads on opportunities to increase manufacturing efficiency.
Education/Experience at lower level: Position requires 5 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of related education and experience directly related to the occupation.
Education/Experience at higher level: Position requires 8 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of related education and experience directly related to the occupation.
Desired Qualifications:
- Knowledgeable in reading drawings or interpreting models to understand hardware requirements and bill of materials.
- Basic understanding of manufacturing processes including CNC machining, forming, molding, 3-D printing, etc.
- Experience serving as a designated procurement representative and/or subcontract technical representative.
- Demonstrated experience working with and protecting sensitive information and/or classified matter.
- Active Q Clearance, equivalent DoD clearance, or the ability to obtain an 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:
- For full consideration, please submit a comprehensive resume reflective of your relevant experience to the job requirements and desired skills stated above.
- Domestic travel may be required
- 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.
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.