Research Technician 4/5

What You Will Do

Join the best and brightest minds in the world at one of the most innovative and creative multidisciplinary research institutions engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. The work we do at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) matters to our country and the world.

You will work in a team environment within LANL's nuclear facility to manufacture product, support material movement and support glove box operations. The majority of daily work is "hands-on" glove box work in support of plutonium processing. Processes at Los Alamos National Lab are performed using detailed operating procedures and work requires extensive knowledge and expertise following Conduct of Operations, nuclear criticality safety, material control and accountability, radiological safety and environmental compliance requirements.

You will work at the advanced level and have fundamental technical skills and knowledge and under general direction with fundamental understanding of the general and technical aspects of the job. You may work under general supervision in areas involving high consequences for safety. You will follow Standard Operating Procedures and/or Work Instructions to produce a quality product. This position requires knowledge of Conduct of Operations, nuclear criticality safety, radiological safety, material control and accountability and environmental compliance requirements.

Research Technician 4 (72,800-115,400)

Research Technician 5 (87,800-143,000)

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Performing manufacturing operations in one or more of the following areas: metal processing (furnace operations), metal recovery (aqueous operations), vacuum equipment operation, mechanical assembly, leak testing, equipment troubleshooting and equipment maintenance
• Adhere to all Laboratory and industry regulatory guidance and governance specific to installation, repair, and maintenance.
• Write and maintain records, write concise progress reports and interact frequently with support organizations.
• Safely handle radioactive materials and chemicals in glove boxes; perform glove box bag outs and glove changes in a respirator; follow Detailed Operating Procedures and follow formality of operations for conducting work in a Nuclear Facility; protect nuclear materials and classified information in a secure environment; perform transactions on the LANMAS computer system and conduct activities in accordance with environmental regulations.
• Safety and security are a primary responsibility for all Laboratory employees. The successful candidate will maintain their required safety and security training, ensure compliance with safety and security requirements, and make safety and security an integral part of every task.
• Provide general process and operational support, including nuclear criticality safety, material control and accountability, glovebox maintenance, radiological protection and waste minimization and management.
• Collaborating with other facility representatives as required to support the safety/reliability of equipment/systems
• Prepare samples and reagents for analysis and execute experiments.
• Conduct waste packaging, labeling, documentation, staging and shipment in accordance with environmental regulations and Laboratory policies and procedures.
• Be available to work in the Plutonium Facility.
• Provide training and oversight for new technicians.
• Operate, maintain, and oversee repairs to equipment.

Additional responsibilities at the higher level:

• Possesses demonstrated knowledge and advanced skills in technical specialty and one or more relevant competencies. Often contributes to the development of new procedures and protocols.
• Work on technical objectives of assignments.
• Work successfully in a team environment and exhibit collaborative behavior.
• Recommend solutions to problems affecting project requirements.
• Knowledge and implementation of required safety, security, and quality assurance practices for the work assignment, including calibration concepts and protocols as appropriate.

In addition, all research technicians Level 5 have advanced skills in one or more of the following:

• Technical work, such as chemical synthesis; chemical, biological, radiological materials handling; analytical procedures and methodology; materials characterization or testing; optical and laser systems; data acquisition systems; cryogenics; vacuum systems; pressure systems; fiber optics; electronic imaging; solid-state electronic design and assembly; mechanical systems; etc.
• Specialized training and knowledge for working in hazardous environments such as those involving high explosives, radiological or fissile materials, accelerators, lasers, pulse power or high energy systems, etc.
• Test and design, such as reading drawings and schematics, using digital test equipment, data analysis, electromagnetic shielding, high-speed data acquisition systems and software, ultrafast timing techniques, etc..
• Knowledge in computers, computer programming, and / or software applications used in R&D job function.
• May have formal training or experience machining a variety of materials with lathes, mills, drill presses, and saws, and other industrial apparatus.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

Mechanical Systems & Tools:

Experience in one or more of the following:

• Technical work, such as chemical synthesis; chemical, biological, radiological materials handling; analytical procedures and methodology; materials characterization or testing; optical and laser systems; data acquisition systems; cryogenics; vacuum systems; pressure systems; fiber optics; electronic imaging; solid-state electronic design and assembly; mechanical systems; etc.
• Specialized training and knowledge for working in hazardous environments such as those involving high explosives, radiological or fissile materials, accelerators, lasers, pulse power or high energy systems, etc.
• Test and design, such as reading drawings and schematics, using digital test equipment, data analysis, electromagnetic shielding, high-speed data acquisition systems and software, ultrafast timing techniques, etc.

Collaboration:

• Ability to work effectively, conscientiously and professionally in a high-performance team environment that exhibits collaborative behavior.

Communication:

• Demonstrated experience and interacting and communicating both written and orally.
• Ability to proactively work to assist others in achieving the organizations objectives. Ability to communicate findings and make recommendations.

Organizational Skills:

• Possess high attention to detail including strong organizational skills, analytical thinking, observation skills and problem-solving skills. Proven ability to work in a dynamic environment and adjust to changes.

Safety:

• Proven knowledge and implementation of required safety practices for work assignments.
• Ability to follow safeguards & security procedures in accordance with the Laboratory's Integrated Safety and Security Management (ISSM) practices utilizing guidelines, training and procedures.

Work Environment:

• Demonstrated senior level ability to work independently with both written and verbal instructions, procedures, plans and Laboratory requirements. Ability to perform complex tasks independently in a related technical specialty and exercise independent judgment.

Computer Proficiency:

• Demonstrated understanding and knowledge of computer systems and applications (Word/Excel/PowerPoint).

Technical Expertise:

• Ability to pass and maintain required training.
• In depth understanding of Formality of Operations.
• Must be able to acquire and maintain all required certifications and training related to work within Plutonium Facility.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring entry level technicians.

Desired Qualifications:

• Formal training or experience machining a variety of materials with lathes, mills, drill presses, saws, and other industrial apparatus.
• Experience working with radioactive and other hazardous materials.
• Expert understanding of in-process inspection techniques and technologies.
• Knowledge in computers, computer programming, and / or software applications used in R&D job function.
• Active DOE Q Clearance.
• Active HRP certification.

Education/Experience:

Research Tech 4: Position requires an associate degree and 5 years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Research Tech 5: Position requires an associate degree and 7 years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation

DOE Order 426.2a: Requires a High School Diploma.

Location: This position will be located in Los Alamos, NM.

Work Schedule: This position may require 24/7 coverage, which could involve working a shift/weekend schedule. Employees may be eligible for the shift differential pay when assigned by their manager. Shift/weekend assignments are at the discretion of the manager.

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 2 years.

Notes to Applicants:

• Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of 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.
• For full consideration, please submit a comprehensive resume of your relevant experience to the job requirements and desired skills stated above.
• Evaluation of applications will commence immediately.
• While the posted salary range for this position is broad, it is highly unusual for selected applicants to be hired at the top end of the range and more common for selected candidates to grow into the full salary band over time.

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)

Additional Details

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). The selected applicants will be subject to a federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements* for access to classified matters. This position requires a Q clearance which requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Dependent upon position, additional authorization to access nuclear weapons information may be required that may or may not be available to dual citizens depending upon the circumstances.

*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.

HRP: This position is subject to the requirements of the DOE Human Reliability Program as specified in 10 Code of Federal Regulation, Part 712, §712.11. These requirements include ongoing drug and alcohol testing, as well as periodic medical and psychological evaluations.

426.2a: This position is subject to DOE Order 426.2a, Personnel Selection, Training, and Qualification Requirements for DOE Nuclear Facilities, which establishes entry-level requirements to ensure candidates selected for specific positions can successfully perform the requirements of the job.

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 applicable 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 accommodation, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request a disability accommodation, email View email address on lanl.jobs or call View phone number on lanl.jobs, opt. 3.