Precision/Mechanical Engineer

LLNL•Livermore, CA

1d•$146,340 - $222,564•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, including designing and implementing hardware for program-critical problems, developing instrumentation and testing platforms, validating technology advances, and iterating designs based on test results. The engineer will work on a multidisciplinary team delivering mission-critical capabilities, learn the priorities of supported programs, and help develop proposals that support program objectives. Some projects exceed commercially available capabilities and may require modifying commercial tools or developing advanced tools, sensors, and fabrication methods. The position is offered at either SES.2 or SES.3, depending on qualifications. At SES.3, responsibilities include greater technical leadership, mentorship, project management, and independent direction of complex work. The role requires full-time onsite presence and the ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship.

Requirements

Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required.
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.
Verbal and written communication, facilitation, and collaboration skills to work effectively in a team and present and explain technical information to management and/or external sponsors.
Interpersonal skills for developing relationships and building long-term collaborations with internal and/or external partners.
At SES.3: 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.
At SES.3: Significant experience defining scope from ambiguous, evolving, and/or rapidly changing requirements, reprioritizing work, and adjusting programmatic direction in response to emerging needs.
At SES.3: Advanced leadership skills and significant experience mentoring others, leading small technical teams, managing project scope and schedule, and developing research proposals.
At SES.3: 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 organizational skills in requirements, schedules, milestones, results analysis, and technical reports.

Responsibilities

Design and implement novel precision and mechanical hardware solutions or quantified enhancements to existing hardware using engineering calculations and analysis, rigorous design documentation, and oversight of fabrication and implementation.
Develop prototypes and testing and validation plans; integrate sensors and actuators; use data acquisition equipment; evaluate test data; and author and present reports of findings.
Work collaboratively under limited direction to develop, implement, and qualify moderately complex hardware solutions, including setting design goals and constraints for research and programmatic applications.
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 for precision, mechanical, and/or optomechanical systems.
At SES.3: Lead formal and informal design reviews and apply modeling, analysis tools, and established techniques to resolve complex hardware challenges.
At SES.3: Collaborate on innovative precision and mechanical methods and technologies that enable projects, advance organizational goals, and inform future technical approaches and proposal development.