Laboratory Vacuum Equipment Technologist / Sr. Technologist

LLNL•Livermore, CA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is hiring a Mechanical Technologist or Senior Mechanical Technologist to support programmatic work involving vacuum-processing applications, including vapor deposition, materials joining, and mechanical systems for national security and scientific research. The role is in the Vacuum Processes Laboratory within the Materials Engineering Division (MED), Engineering Directorate. The technologist works independently or with engineers, scientists, and technical staff to operate and maintain vacuum systems, fabricate and assemble mechanical components, and support laboratory equipment and research activities. Full-time on-site presence is required. The level will be determined based on the candidate’s knowledge and related experience; additional responsibilities apply at the higher level. The position includes operating, troubleshooting, repairing, and maintaining vacuum equipment and related laboratory systems; fabricating and assembling components and fixtures; assisting with equipment installation, integration, testing, commissioning, and upgrades; and performing leak detection and vacuum diagnostics. The role also involves creating or modifying CAD drawings and models, maintaining technical and maintenance records, supporting joining processes, and complying with environmental, safety, health (ES&H), security, and quality requirements. Work may occasionally involve radioactive materials, toxic materials, and solvents used in high-vacuum applications. At the senior level, the technologist independently resolves complex system issues, leads vacuum-system and equipment installation and commissioning work, designs and fabricates fixtures and system modifications, determines fabrication and assembly approaches with technical partners, develops procedures and documentation, and provides technical guidance and mentorship. This is a Career Indefinite position open to Lab employees and external candidates. The role requires eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of Energy Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship and a federal background investigation. External candidates selected for the position must pass a post-offer, pre-employment drug test.

Requirements

Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required.
Associate degree in mechanical engineering technology, vacuum technology, manufacturing technology, welding technology, or a related technical discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and related experience.
Hands-on experience operating, maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing high-vacuum systems, including pumps, gauges, valves, seals, and associated components.
Working knowledge of vacuum fundamentals, including roughing and high-vacuum pumping, pressure measurement, leak detection, and cleanliness practices.
Experience using hand tools, power tools, precision measuring equipment, and common fabrication equipment to fabricate, inspect, and assemble mechanical components.
Experience operating conventional machine-shop equipment, including mills, lathes, drill presses, band saws, or similar equipment.
Familiarity with CAD software such as SolidWorks or similar mechanical-design software.
Effective written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Experience with the Microsoft Office suite.
At the senior level, experience independently diagnosing and resolving complex high-vacuum system problems, including leaks, pumping deficiencies, and degraded system performance.
At the senior level, significant experience in mechanical fabrication, machining, assembly, and system integration, including designing and producing custom components, tooling, and fixtures from drawings or technical requirements.
At the senior level, experience leading equipment installations, upgrades, and technical projects, including vacuum-system assembly, commissioning, and performance verification.
At the senior level, ability to translate technical requirements into practical fabrication and equipment-modification solutions and document completed work.

Nice To Haves

Experience with various vacuum pumps, such as dry scroll, rotary-vane, Roots blower, turbomolecular, diffusion, or cryogenic pumps.
Familiarity with operating mass-flow controllers and residual-gas analyzers.
Experience with gas-delivery systems, tubing, tube bending, and compression fittings.
Experience with welding processes such as TIG, MIG, orbital welding, or brazing, particularly for vacuum-compatible components and assemblies.
Experience with thin-film deposition systems, vacuum-brazing furnaces, heat-treating equipment, or other vacuum-processing equipment.
Familiarity with software coding and programming.
Experience designing mechanical components, tooling, or fixtures using CAD software.

Responsibilities

Operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair vacuum systems, including roughing and high-vacuum pumps, gauges, valves, and associated hardware.
Fabricate, machine, modify, and assemble mechanical components, high-vacuum hardware, experimental fixtures, and tooling using drawings, tools, and conventional machine-shop equipment.
Assemble and disassemble vacuum chambers and pumping systems; prepare sealing surfaces; replace gaskets; and install flanges, fittings, and piping using appropriate cleanliness and assembly practices.
Perform preventive and corrective maintenance on mechanical, vacuum, gas-delivery, cooling, and other laboratory-support systems.
Assist with equipment installation, integration, testing, commissioning, and system upgrades, including vacuum-system modifications and pump replacements.
Perform helium leak detection, pressure-rise testing, and pump-down diagnostics to identify leaks, evaluate vacuum performance, and verify repairs.
Create or modify fabrication drawings and mechanical models using CAD software such as SolidWorks or similar packages.
Read and interpret mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, and engineering documentation.
Support welding, brazing, and other joining processes, including component preparation, fixture assembly, and equipment setup.
Maintain equipment documentation, maintenance records, calibration records, and experimental logs.
Collaborate with engineers, scientists, machinists, and technical staff to support laboratory operations and research activities.
Follow written operating procedures and maintain compliance with ES&H, security, and quality requirements.
Occasionally work with radioactive materials, toxic materials, and solvents used in high-vacuum applications.
Perform other duties as assigned.
At the senior level, independently troubleshoot, diagnose, and resolve complex vacuum, mechanical, and electromechanical system issues with minimal supervision.
At the senior level, lead installation, commissioning, modification, maintenance, and repair of vacuum systems and laboratory equipment, including planning work sequences and verifying system performance.
At the senior level, design and fabricate mechanical fixtures, tooling, assemblies, and vacuum-system modifications to improve equipment reliability and laboratory capabilities.
At the senior level, determine fabrication methods, materials, tolerances, and assembly approaches in collaboration with engineers and technical staff.
At the senior level, develop maintenance procedures, work instructions, and technical documentation for vacuum-system operation, leak testing, fabrication, and equipment servicing.
At the senior level, provide technical guidance and mentorship in vacuum practices, mechanical assembly, fabrication, and troubleshooting.