Precision/Mechanical Engineer

LLNL•Livermore, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is hiring a Precision/Mechanical Engineer for its Precision Systems & Manufacturing Group in the Material Engineering Division, within the Engineering Directorate. The role applies precision and mechanical engineering principles to research and development projects, delivering hardware solutions to program-critical problems and developing instrumentation and testing platforms to validate technology advances. Work includes assessing and iterating designs based on test data and supporting mission-critical capabilities as part of a multidisciplinary team. Projects may exceed commercially available capabilities and require adapting commercial tools or developing advanced tools, sensors, and fabrication methods. The position requires full-time on-site presence. It will be filled at either the SES.2 or SES.3 level, depending on qualifications. At the standard level, the engineer develops and implements hardware solutions of moderate complexity, working collaboratively under limited direction. At the SES.3 level, the role includes technical leadership, mentorship, project management, and independently defining objectives and allocating resources across complex precision, mechanical, and/or optomechanical design, testing, and validation efforts.

Requirements

Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of Energy Q-level security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required for the clearance.
Master’s degree in Precision Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or an equivalent combination of education and related experience.
Comprehensive knowledge and experience designing, analyzing, and fabricating precision and mechanical components and assemblies.
Proficiency applying and interpreting specifications and technical drawings, including ASME Y14.5 GD&T standards.
Comprehensive knowledge and experience with material selection, manufacturing methods, or metrology for precision tooling and hardware.
Comprehensive knowledge and experience integrating and testing hardware, including sensors, actuators, control systems, and data acquisition systems, and applying these to new and existing processes or equipment.
Proficient verbal and written communication, facilitation, and collaboration skills to work effectively in a team and explain technical information to management and/or external sponsors.
Proficient interpersonal skills, including developing relationships and building long-term collaborations with internal and/or external partners.
Additional SES.3 requirement: Significant experience developing, designing, commissioning, validating, operating, and maintaining complex precision mechanical and/or optomechanical systems, including ensuring compatibility with interdependent systems, under minimal direction.
Additional SES.3 requirement: Significant experience defining scope from ambiguous, evolving, and/or rapidly changing requirements and reprioritizing work and adjusting program direction as needs emerge.
Additional SES.3 requirement: Advanced leadership skills and significant experience mentoring others, leading small technical teams, managing project scope and schedule, and developing research proposals.
Additional SES.3 requirement: Advanced verbal and written communication skills, including effective collaboration, clear presentation and explanation of technical information, and advising management.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency with commercial software applications such as Matlab, Python, or Visual Basic.
Working engineering knowledge associated with precision manufacturing.
Experience in precision alignment of mechanical and/or optomechanical systems.
Design experience for High Voltage, RF, and/or High Vacuum.
Thermal management experience, including liquid cooling systems.
Experience ruggedizing precision optomechanical assemblies.
Experience contributing to multi-year engineering projects requiring strong organization and management of requirements, schedules, milestones, results analysis, and technical reports.

Responsibilities

Design and implement precision and mechanical hardware solutions, or quantified enhancements to existing hardware, using precision engineering approaches, calculations and analysis, design documentation, and oversight of fabrication and implementation.
Develop prototypes and testing and validation plans to quantify design effectiveness, integrating sensors and actuators and using data acquisition equipment.
Evaluate test data and author and present reports of findings.
Work collaboratively under limited direction to develop, implement, and qualify hardware solutions of moderate complexity, including setting design goals and constraints.
Develop and present technical approaches, project plans, and documentation to peers and program managers.
Perform other duties as assigned.
At SES.3: Propose, implement, and guide precision and mechanical hardware solutions for hands-on laboratory R&D experiments supporting Laboratory mission priorities.
At SES.3: Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and project management for multidisciplinary teams of engineers, scientists, designers, and technicians.
At SES.3: Independently define technical objectives from evolving requirements, prioritize concurrent work, and allocate resources across complex design, testing, and validation efforts.
At SES.3: Lead formal and informal design reviews and apply modeling and analysis tools and established methods to address complex hardware challenges.
At SES.3: Collaborate on precision and mechanical methods and technologies, advance organizational goals, and inform future technical approaches and proposal development.