Job Information
Los Alamos National Laboratory Project-Program Director 4 in Los Alamos, New Mexico
What You Will Do
The Product Realization and Reliability Office (PRRO) in Nuclear Production Operations is a multidisciplinary group of engineers and scientists who support some of the nation's important plutonium programs including pit production, surveillance, research & development, and subcritical experiments. Our work spans across the entire Nuclear Production Operations organization and tackles complex technical challenges that directly support national security.
We are seeking an Applied Engineering Analysis (AEA) Lead (Project-Program Director 4) who brings strong technical expertise, analytical judgement, and the ability to guide and develop a highly capable engineering analysis team. The selected candidate will be a member of the PRRO leadership team and will be responsible for directing and performing detailed analyses across a broad spectrum of engineering problems from classical hand calculations to advanced, multi-physics simulations using state-of-the-art finite element tools and commercial computer codes.
You will be expected to:
Lead and mentor a team of engineering analysts working across mission-critical programs.
Perform and oversee sophisticated analytical work, selecting methods that range from first-principles calculations to high-fidelity simulations.
Ensure high quality results through structured peer review and comprehensive documentation.
Engage directly with customers and program leadership to shape analytical approaches and influence the long-term development of analysis capabilities at LANL.
Contribute to strategic planning and capability development across PRRO and the larger Nuclear Production Operations organization.
Provide final review and approval for all analytical work produced by your team.
Support the growth of early career engineers through mentoring and coaching.
Project-Program Director 4 ($170,600 - $295,400)
The Project-Program Director 4 level reflects the scope and impact of the work. You will:
Lead and manage a technically challenging and strategically significant portfolio.
Integrate work across multiple Laboratory organizations and disciplines.
Partner with internal and external stakeholders to define program goals, secure resources, and build capabilities aligned with the Laboratory's mission.
Oversee planning, tracking, execution, and delivery of assigned programs and projects, providing clear directions to deployed technical staff.
This role is ideal for a seasoned program leader who thrives on managing complex technical portfolios, strengthening the organizational strategic capabilities, and delivering high-impact work that advances that Laboratory's broader national and scientific objectives.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
Experience in aspects of project management of technical work, including defining work scope, schedules, budgets, priorities, and performance milestones; developing cost, scope, and schedule baselines
Complete and thorough understanding of the finite element method, demonstrated expertise in complex modeling and simulation (e.g., structural, thermal, fluid, electromagnetic)
Expertise with commercial applications such as Ansys, Abaqus, and MatLab
Expertise in applying fundamental techniques and engineering best practices
Experience mentoring early career scientists and engineers
Understanding of validation and verification methods
Strong documentation skills; demonstrated ability to document technical results in a formal method/format
Excellent communication and teamwork skills
Strong presentation skills
Education/Experience: Position requires a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution and 8 years related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.
Q Clearance: This position requires a Q clearance and obtaining such clearance requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by, or on behalf of, the Federal Government for access to classified matter.
Desired Qualifications:
An advanced degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering from an ABET accredited institution. A Ph.D. is preferred.
Demonstrated experience in non-linear finite element modeling
Demonstrated experience with mechanical testing (e.g., structural, thermal, fluid flow) in support of model validation including experiment design, planning, organization, execution, data reduction, and data correlation
Demonstrated experience in designing and executing experiments to evaluate the performance of equipment and the quality of manufacturing processes.
Familiarity with Models Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), SysML language is preferred
Fundamental understanding of mechanical design engineering and the design process
Note to Applicants: For full consideration submit a comprehensive resume and include a detailed cover letter explaining how you meet each of the minimum requirements and any of the desired qualifications.
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:
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)
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). 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.
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.
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.
Incentive Compensation Program: Position is eligible to participate in the Triad Incentive Compensation Program. You must be in an eligible position for a minimum of 3 months, before July 1st and remain in an eligible position as of the end of the fiscal year, September 30th. The annual distribution is prorated based on the number of months in the eligible position.
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.