Metallurgist / Materials Engineer – Joining and Thermal Processing

LLNL•Livermore, CA

13h•$121,830 - $185,544•Onsite

About The Position

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is hiring a Metallurgist/Materials Engineer to develop, qualify, and implement metallic joining and thermal-processing methods for critical national security components. The role is in the Materials Engineering Division within the Engineering Directorate and involves hands-on process development and metallurgical characterization, collaborating with design, modeling, materials, and production organizations at LLNL and external production agencies. The work focuses on establishing process-structure-property relationships in structural alloys, with potential to grow into a technical leadership role. Full-time, on-site presence is required. The position may be filled at SES.1 or SES.2 based on the candidate’s knowledge and experience; additional technical ownership, mentoring, and project leadership responsibilities apply at SES.2. The successful candidate will develop and optimize joining and thermal-processing methods, support processing and materials investigations, help design and operate processing systems, and evaluate joints and materials through metallurgical characterization and mechanical testing. They will analyze and present experimental data, integrate results with analytical or computational models, and collaborate across integrated teams. Travel of up to approximately 20% to external production facilities may be required to observe and support operations and provide feedback to LLNL program-management and design teams. The role requires eligibility to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship.

Requirements

Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of Energy Q-level security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required for the clearance.
Bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering, materials science and engineering, welding engineering, mechanical engineering, or a closely related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Relevant experience may be gained through academic research, laboratory coursework, senior design projects, internships, or professional employment.
Experience or training conducting experiments involving metals processing, joining, or metallurgical characterization, including data collection, analysis, and documentation.
Foundational understanding of relationships between processing parameters, microstructure, and mechanical properties, and ability to assess joint and material quality using microstructural observations and basic mechanical-test data.
Experience or training in metallic-material or joint microstructural characterization, including sample preparation and optical microscopy.
Ability to work effectively on multidisciplinary teams, communicate status and results, and incorporate feedback.
Effective verbal and written communication skills for preparing, presenting, and explaining technical information.
Commitment to safe work practices and ability to adapt to evolving priorities.
Ability to travel to external production facilities to support program operations.
At SES.2, working knowledge and relevant experience focused on metallic joining or thermal processing, or closely related roles.
At SES.2, experience developing, optimizing, or qualifying joining and processing methods such as high-energy-density welding, vacuum brazing, diffusion bonding, or HIP in a laboratory or production setting.
At SES.2, experience in quality-controlled or regulated environments such as DOE, aerospace, or nuclear environments, including use of procedures, travelers, or work instructions.
At SES.2, ability to independently plan and execute joining and processing experiments and metallurgical characterization, interpret results, and recommend process or heat-treatment improvements.
At SES.2, experience using, interpreting, or collaborating with analytical or computational models to guide process-development and qualification decisions.
At SES.2, experience demonstrating increasing technical leadership, such as leading small projects, coordinating cross-functional activities, or serving as a technical point of contact.

Nice To Haves

Degree in welding engineering, or focused coursework, research, or practical experience in welding metallurgy and joining.
Master’s degree in metallurgical engineering, materials science and engineering, welding engineering, or a closely related field.
Experience operating or developing joining or thermal-processing methods such as electron-beam or laser welding, vacuum brazing, diffusion bonding, HIP, and complex heat treatments for structural alloys.
Experience applying advanced characterization techniques such as SEM, EBSD, and X-ray-based methods to evaluate joint microstructures and defects.
Understanding of basic principles of high-performance joining equipment, including system maintenance and troubleshooting.
Knowledge of advanced mechanical-testing methods such as fracture or fatigue testing, and experience joining specialty or hazardous materials in controlled environments, including associated thermal processing.
Familiarity with process-modeling tools, digital workflows, or data-management approaches supporting systematic process development and qualification.

Responsibilities

Develop, execute, and optimize laboratory metallic joining and thermal-processing methods, including electron-beam and laser welding, vacuum brazing, diffusion bonding, and heat treatment for steels, nickel-base alloys, radioactive alloys, and other structural alloys.
Provide metallurgical engineering support for processing, materials selection, and properties investigations.
Participate in the design, setup, and operation of processing and joining systems, including fixture design, parameter development, and troubleshooting.
Perform metallurgical characterization and joint evaluation using sample preparation, optical microscopy, SEM, hardness testing, and mechanical testing such as tensile and bend testing.
Organize, analyze, and present experimental and process-development data to improve understanding of processing-structure-property relationships.
Collaborate with scientists, engineers, technologists, designers, and production partners across design, analysis, prototyping, and production implementation.
Integrate experimental results with analytical or computational models, including process models, thermal or stress analyses, and microstructure-evolution tools, to inform process-window development and production workflows.
Travel up to approximately 20% to external production facilities to observe and support operations, review procedures, and provide feedback to LLNL program-management and design teams.
At SES.2, take technical ownership of joining and thermal-processing operations, including requirements definition, specification input, process qualification, and continuous improvement.
At SES.2, provide technical guidance and informal mentoring to less-experienced staff, technicians, and students.
At SES.2, lead or co-lead defined technical tasks or small projects, coordinating team members and tracking scope, schedule, and quality requirements.
Perform other duties as assigned.