Electrical Engineer 2/3 (R&D Engineer)
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Other Engineering
Los Alamos, NM, USA
USD 104,100-172,200 / year
Posted on Sep 18, 2025
What You Will Do
The Accelerator Operations and Technology Division (AOT), Radio Frequency Engineering (RFE) group is seeking an R&D Engineer at either a Level 2 or Level 3 for their 805 MHz HPRF team.
The AOT division is responsible for maintaining, operating, and upgrading all accelerator systems at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) complex. These systems include two 750-keV Cockcroft-Walton-based injector systems (H+ and H- systems), a 201.25-MHz drift-tube linear accelerator (LINAC) utilizing high-power diacrode tubes, an 805-MHz coupled cavity LINAC utilizing high-power klystrons as the primary power source, a proton storage ring, and approximately one kilometer of beam transport lines that deliver beam to the five independent research programs.
The RFE group oversees all radio frequency (RF) systems and consists of three specialized teams; Low-Level RF (LLRF) focused on real-time phase and amplitude controls; High-Power RF (HPRF) systems at 201 MHz; and High-Power RF systems at 805 MHz. The group provides expertise, support, technical, leadership and engineering support in RF system design, including gridded tube amplifiers, klystrons, RF control systems, and accelerator cavities. While the group's primary focus is the design, and implementation of RF systems for the LANSCE User Facility, it also supports a wide range of internal and external collaborations, sharing expertise with national security projects and international accelerator research communities. RFE team members frequently participate in global partnerships, workshops, and conferences to advance RF technology.
This position will be filled at either the R&D Engineer 2 or R&D Engineer 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.
R&D Engineer 2 $104,100 - $172,200
The High-Power RF (HPRF) team at LANSCE is looking for a candidate with a background in Electrical Engineering or related field to join the RF Engineering group. This is a support role with dynamic responsibilities, guided by the priorities of the HPRF plant at LANSCE. Duties include troubleshooting programmatic equipment and extending to engineering and supervisory aspects of project execution for example performing initial calculations, developing specifications, submitting procurement orders, coordinate testing and delivery, and installation.)
The ideal candidate will have experience in electrical installations, single-phase and three-phase power systems. This includes equipment sizing such as transformers, wire ampacity, conduit sizing and derating, as well as breaker and fuse selection. Experience with electrical facility projects, both maintenance and new installations, is important. A solid understanding of power factor correction and voltage regulation is also desired. Familiarity with electrical codes and standards, including NEC, NESC, and NEMA, is preferred. Additionally, experience developing and interpreting P&IDs and instrumentation and control (I&C) diagrams, particularly involving PLC based control systems in an industrial setting, including design, installation, and commissioning, is highly valued.
As a member of the AOT-RFE high-power RF Engineering team, you will be working closely with other engineers and technicians and will be responsible for the operation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of the LANSCE 805 MHz high power RF systems. These systems include klystron and vacuum tube/solid-state power modulators, along with associated electronics, interlocks, protection circuits, and high-voltage power supplies (up to 90 kV, 2340 kW), as well as power electronics. The role also includes participating in an on-call rotation to support the high-power RF amplifier systems after hours and on weekends. This on-call assignment typically occurs one week out of every six during the approximately seven-month annual operating period of the accelerator.
R&D Engineer 3 $125,200 - $211,300
In addition to what is outlined for R&D Engineer 2, this level includes leading and contributing to the planning and implementation of future RF system upgrades as part of a larger engineering team. This involves an evaluation of two existing modulator designs and design improvements to enable higher power operation. Following successful testing and demonstration on dedicated test stands, the upgraded systems will replace the current high-voltage and klystron amplifiers across a significant portion of the LANSCE linear accelerator. The work also includes analyzing RF system data to guide design decisions for enhancements for improving reliability and performance.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
In addition to the requirements outlined above, qualification at the higher level requires:
Education/Experience at the higher level: 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.
Desired Qualifications:
Work Environment:
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.
Note to Applicants: For full consideration, applicants MUST submit a comprehensive cover letter that addresses, bullet by bullet, how the applicant's education and experience relate to the lists of skill requirements above.
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.
No Clearance: Position does not require a security clearance. Selected candidates will be subject to drug testing and other pre-employment background checks.
New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.
Regular position: Term status Laboratory employees applying for regular-status positions are converted to regular status.
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.
The Accelerator Operations and Technology Division (AOT), Radio Frequency Engineering (RFE) group is seeking an R&D Engineer at either a Level 2 or Level 3 for their 805 MHz HPRF team.
The AOT division is responsible for maintaining, operating, and upgrading all accelerator systems at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) complex. These systems include two 750-keV Cockcroft-Walton-based injector systems (H+ and H- systems), a 201.25-MHz drift-tube linear accelerator (LINAC) utilizing high-power diacrode tubes, an 805-MHz coupled cavity LINAC utilizing high-power klystrons as the primary power source, a proton storage ring, and approximately one kilometer of beam transport lines that deliver beam to the five independent research programs.
The RFE group oversees all radio frequency (RF) systems and consists of three specialized teams; Low-Level RF (LLRF) focused on real-time phase and amplitude controls; High-Power RF (HPRF) systems at 201 MHz; and High-Power RF systems at 805 MHz. The group provides expertise, support, technical, leadership and engineering support in RF system design, including gridded tube amplifiers, klystrons, RF control systems, and accelerator cavities. While the group's primary focus is the design, and implementation of RF systems for the LANSCE User Facility, it also supports a wide range of internal and external collaborations, sharing expertise with national security projects and international accelerator research communities. RFE team members frequently participate in global partnerships, workshops, and conferences to advance RF technology.
This position will be filled at either the R&D Engineer 2 or R&D Engineer 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.
R&D Engineer 2 $104,100 - $172,200
The High-Power RF (HPRF) team at LANSCE is looking for a candidate with a background in Electrical Engineering or related field to join the RF Engineering group. This is a support role with dynamic responsibilities, guided by the priorities of the HPRF plant at LANSCE. Duties include troubleshooting programmatic equipment and extending to engineering and supervisory aspects of project execution for example performing initial calculations, developing specifications, submitting procurement orders, coordinate testing and delivery, and installation.)
The ideal candidate will have experience in electrical installations, single-phase and three-phase power systems. This includes equipment sizing such as transformers, wire ampacity, conduit sizing and derating, as well as breaker and fuse selection. Experience with electrical facility projects, both maintenance and new installations, is important. A solid understanding of power factor correction and voltage regulation is also desired. Familiarity with electrical codes and standards, including NEC, NESC, and NEMA, is preferred. Additionally, experience developing and interpreting P&IDs and instrumentation and control (I&C) diagrams, particularly involving PLC based control systems in an industrial setting, including design, installation, and commissioning, is highly valued.
As a member of the AOT-RFE high-power RF Engineering team, you will be working closely with other engineers and technicians and will be responsible for the operation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of the LANSCE 805 MHz high power RF systems. These systems include klystron and vacuum tube/solid-state power modulators, along with associated electronics, interlocks, protection circuits, and high-voltage power supplies (up to 90 kV, 2340 kW), as well as power electronics. The role also includes participating in an on-call rotation to support the high-power RF amplifier systems after hours and on weekends. This on-call assignment typically occurs one week out of every six during the approximately seven-month annual operating period of the accelerator.
R&D Engineer 3 $125,200 - $211,300
In addition to what is outlined for R&D Engineer 2, this level includes leading and contributing to the planning and implementation of future RF system upgrades as part of a larger engineering team. This involves an evaluation of two existing modulator designs and design improvements to enable higher power operation. Following successful testing and demonstration on dedicated test stands, the upgraded systems will replace the current high-voltage and klystron amplifiers across a significant portion of the LANSCE linear accelerator. The work also includes analyzing RF system data to guide design decisions for enhancements for improving reliability and performance.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
- Experience in the engineering, design, installation, and troubleshooting of AC power systems, including motor start circuits and industrial PLC-based automation and I&C systems.
- Proficiency in performing both AC and DC power calculations, such as inrush current, voltage drop, THD, stored energy, and ripple voltage. Knowledge of IEEE 519 and pulsed power systems is a plus.
- Familiarity with high-voltage component selection and an understanding of system limitations.
- Ability to work with and troubleshoot relay logic systems across a range of voltages.
- Skilled in using standard electrical test equipment (e.g., multimeters, AC/DC clamp meters, 4-20 mA transmitter calibration tools) and laboratory instruments such as oscilloscopes and LCR meters.
- Demonstrated ability to read and interpret schematics, generate and update electrical drawings, P&IDs, and redlines using drafting software.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a record of contributing to the design, development, testing, and installation of electrical systems.
- Proven ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, with recent hands-on experience in installation and troubleshooting of complex electrical systems.
In addition to the requirements outlined above, qualification at the higher level requires:
- Proven leadership in the design, development, testing, and installation of high-power RF vacuum tube-based amplifier systems and high-voltage systems.
- Demonstrated expertise in developing advanced concepts and innovative solutions for high-power RF and high-voltage technologies.
- Experience conducting engineering design work in accordance with established procedures for the conduct of engineering.
- Strong skills in applying systems engineering principles, including defining requirements and translating them into effective, customer-focused design solutions.
Education/Experience at the higher level: 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.
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience with high-voltage DC and pulsed-power systems.
- Experience with computer-based circuit layout simulation (PSpice, Multisim, LTSPice, etc.)
- Experience with NI LabView and LabView/FPGA programming.
- Experience with matrix algebra and block diagram simulation software (Matlab/Simulink, Scilab/Xcos, etc.).
- Operations experience at an accelerator facility.
Work Environment:
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.
Note to Applicants: For full consideration, applicants MUST submit a comprehensive cover letter that addresses, bullet by bullet, how the applicant's education and experience relate to the lists of skill requirements above.
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.
No Clearance: Position does not require a security clearance. Selected candidates will be subject to drug testing and other pre-employment background checks.
New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.
Regular position: Term status Laboratory employees applying for regular-status positions are converted to regular status.
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.