Engineering Technologist 3 (Mechanical Design Checker)

Engineering Technologist 3

Location: Los Alamos, NM (100% on-site, Technical Area 3)
Pay Rate: $63–$70/hr
Contract: 2-year assignment, extension possible
Work Schedule: 5/8s standard; 9/80 and 4/10 schedules are common in the group
Clearance: DOE “Q” required (active Q preferred)
Openings: 2

About the Role

We are recruiting on behalf of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) for an Engineering Technologist 3 to serve as a checker of design definition for the W93/Mk7 Systems Development and Realization group. The role calls for an experienced mechanical designer with a broad command of 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD), hardware design, fabrication, Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), and engineering concepts. Completed work is reviewed with the expectation of expert results without appreciable direction, and the solutions you develop will often be original and shape the outcome of the entire project.

This is an opportunity to be part of the first new weapon system program in over 30 years. The W93/Mk7 group defines, develops, and fields the warhead system for the Navy’s newest submarine-launched ballistic missile program, supporting DoD/Navy Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) and DOE/NNSA customers. The group works closely with Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) and Lockheed Martin Space on the re-entry system, and brings the production agency teams (KCNSC, Pantex, SRS, Y-12, LANL, and SNL) directly into design, qualification, and realization.

The program is in the early stages of design and moves quickly. This role suits someone who is comfortable bringing order to many moving parts and working to tight deadlines while product and design definitions are actively being updated. The work is primarily office-based.

Key Responsibilities

• Check Creo models and drawings for form, fit, and function, and for compliance with Model-Based Definition (MBD) practice and current design standards.
• Conduct tolerance and stack-up analyses.
• Ensure product definition meets requirements and design intent and is producible, reducing rejected product.
• Guide teams from diverse technical backgrounds through design iterations to identify and resolve potential engineering defects.
• Lead reviews for design, manufacture, assembly, and test.
• Recommend MBD best practices and process improvements while maintaining compliance with NNSA, LANL, and industry standards.
• Develop and interpret 3D CAD model standards, practices, and procedures used to convey design intent within LANL and to other organizations across the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE).
• Work within weapon-system configuration management workflows for the authorization, review, release, and distribution of models, drawings, specifications, and related product definition.
• Support multiple tasks for a variety of customers alongside engineers, physicists, scientists, technologists, and technicians.
• Mentor junior staff on the details of model-based definition and GD&T as needed.

Required Education & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, Science, Math, or a related field from an accredited institution and 8 years of directly related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Top Skills & Requirements

• Independent time management.
• Attention to detail and prioritization.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced environment.
• Advanced mechanical CAD experience spanning design, manufacturing, inspection, assembly, and testing.
• Experience checking Creo models and drawings for form, fit, function, and MBD.
• Proven experience with Creo 3D CAD, PDMLink Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), GD&T, and tolerance stack-up analysis software.
• Working application of ASME Y14 standards, with emphasis on Y14.5-2009 and Y14.41 (MBD).
• The group works in Creo 12. Strong experience on another CAD platform will be considered if you can show a successful transition to Creo.
• Knowledge of hardware fabrication, inspection, and assembly processes.
• Experience with weapon-system configuration management workflows for release and distribution of product definition.
• Effective written and verbal communication, with a record of building cooperative working relationships across multidisciplinary teams.

Security Clearance

A DOE “Q” clearance is required for this position. The candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE “Q” security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Draft/design experience in both weapons and non-weapons arenas.
• Experience developing and implementing organizational design and/or drafting standards.
• Previous model/drawing checking experience in the Nuclear Security Enterprise.
• Prior DOE experience.
• Active DOE “Q” clearance.

Contract Details

Duration: 2-year assignment. Extension is possible at the discretion of the hiring organization; conversion is not anticipated.
Work Schedule: Standard 5/8s, with flexibility. Most of the group works a 9/80 schedule, and some work 4/10s.
Per Diem / Relocation: Available for eligible candidates.

Interview Process

Interviews are conducted via Microsoft Teams.

Why Work at COMPA Industries?

We strive to provide careers, not just jobs, for our employees. We invest in and serve the communities where we work and live. We provide best-in-class administrative, professional, and technical services to solve complex problems to meet customer mission-critical objectives.

For over 30 years, Compa has been a trusted partner in progress. We combine decades of technical expertise with a forward-thinking spirit, tackling intricate challenges in nuclear facilities alongside the brightest minds in science and engineering. Join us, and don’t just build your career, build the future, with competitive compensation, a collaborative culture, and the chance to make a real difference for national security and beyond.

COMPA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to protected status