Experience Inc. Jobs

What You Will Do

The Accelerator Operations and Technology division (AOT), Radio Frequency Engineering (RFE) group is seeking a Pulsed Power Engineer to support the Pulsed Power team and serve as Team Leader for the AOT-RFE Pulsed Power team.

The AOT division maintains, operates, and upgrades all accelerator systems used at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) complex. These systems consist of two 750-keV Cockcroft-Walton-based injector systems (H+ and H- systems), a 201.25-MHz drift-tube linear accelerator (LINAC) utilizing high-power diacrode tubes, an 805-MHz coupled cavity LINAC utilizing high-power klystrons as the primary power source, a proton storage ring, and roughly a kilometer of beam transport lines that deliver beam to the five independent research programs. The RFE group is principally responsible for all radio frequency (RF) systems, and for the development of solid-state amplifier technology as an optional technology for replacing klystron modulators, RFE is also responsible for all pulsed-power systems and all high-power DC power supplies used to operate magnets on the beam transport lines. The group consists of five teams: one team is focused on Low-Level RF (LLRF) real-time phase and amplitude controls; a second team is focused on DC magnet power supplies, a third team on pulsed-power systems; and the fourth and fifth teams are focused on high-power RF (HPRF) systems. The HPRF team is responsible for the multi-megawatt RF systems that drive the 201.25 MHz linac and the 805 MHz linac. These include the RF generating systems (klystrons and diacrodes) and the high-power high-voltage systems that support them.

AOT division is also heavily involved with the LANSCE Accelerator Modernization Project (LAMP). Which is a project to completely redesign and reengineer the entire front end of the accelerator including the Cockcroft-Walton injectors and the medium and low energy beam choppers and the 201 MHz HPRF systems. The pulsed power team is responsible for the choppers and a dozen more pulsed power systems on the LANSCE accelerator. The pulsed power team also works on various projects involving pulsed power capabilities and technologies both within and outside of LANSCE.

This position will serve as Team Leader for a growing team of engineers, scientists, and technologists. The position will be filled at either the R&D Engineer 3 or 4 level, depending on the skills of the selected candidate. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level.

R&D Engineer 3 ($122,300 - $206,300): The position will involve working under the direction of senior engineers to plan and implement pulsed power systems, e.g., Blumlein modulators and power electronic systems (and associated high-voltage pulsed power systems). The successful candidate will provide on-call support after hours and on weekends which is typically one week per month during accelerator operations, which spans about seven months per year. This position will also be a majority member of the LAMP fast beam chopper development project. As such, a history of working with power electronics is highly desired.

This position will also be responsible for analyzing pulsed power systems data to inform design enhancements for improving performance and reliability; planning, designing, implementing, and managing pulsed power upgrade projects, e.g., beam chopper & kicker systems. The successful candidate will also provide pulsed power and power electronics expertise to all segments of the group, particularly in the areas related to pulsed power systems and the equipment required to operate them. There will also be opportunities to work with other researchers on special projects.

R&D Engineer 4 ($146,800-$254,700): In addition to what was outlined in the R&D Engineer 3 level, the position at this level will be responsible for taking a senior technical leadership role in the design and implementation of cutting-edge power electronics and pulsed power research. The successful candidate will be expected to offer mentorship to early career engineers and provide guidance for multiple pulsed power research projects.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

R&D Engineer 3:

• Demonstrated ability to read and understand electrical schematics.

• Demonstrated experience troubleshooting, installing, and testing high-voltage, pulsed power, and power electronic systems.

• Demonstrated experience with computer-based circuit simulation software (PSPICE, Multisim, LTSPICE, etc.)

• Demonstrated experience with matrix algebra and block diagram simulation software (MATLAB/Simulink, Mathcad, etc.).

• Demonstrated experience in effectively producing written documents and successful oral communication skills.

• Demonstrated ability to work individually and as part of a team.

• Demonstrated experience designing power electronics circuits with fast rise and fall times.

• Demonstrated record of leading the design, development, testing and installation of pulsed power and power electronic systems.

• Demonstrated technical leadership in developing advanced concepts for pulsed power, power electronic systems, and high-voltage/high-current systems.

• Demonstrated experience coordinating multidisciplinary projects in the design or upgrade of complex pulsed power and power electronic systems.

• Demonstrated experience leading a team of engineers and/or technicians.

Additional Job Requirements for R&D Engineer 4:

• A deep understanding of power electronics/pulsed power circuit design.

• A demonstrated history of designing power electronics/pulsed power systems.

• A demonstrated history of managing projects.

Desired Qualifications and Skills (all levels):

• Leadership experience at Team Leader level or above.

• Operations experience at an accelerator facility.

• Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications or presentations in technical journals or international conferences (master's thesis would be considered).

• Demonstrated expertise with electromagnetic field simulations using tools such as ANSYS Maxwell, HFSS, CST or similar.

• Ability to obtain a Q clearance, which normally requires U.S. citizenship. This position does not require a Q clearance.

• A deep understanding of power electronics/pulsed power circuit design.

Education/Experience for the R&D Engineer 3 Position : Position requires a master's degree in engineering from an accredited institution and 6 years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation. At this level a Ph.D. is preferred.

Education/Experience for the R&D Engineer 4 Position: Position requires a master's degree in engineering from an accredited institution and 12 years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation. At this level a Ph.D. is preferred.

Desired Qualifications:

Essential Job Functions (can perform with or without reasonable accommodation): Ability to speak, ability to hear in a normal range, standing, walking, reaching overhead, reaching horizontally, reaching down, gripping with hands, typing or keyboarding.

Note to Applicants: To be considered for this position, applicants must submit a comprehensive cover letter addressing each of the Minimum Job Requirements at the applicable level, and any applicable Desired Qualifications and Skills.

Work Environment

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.

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.

No Clearance: Position does not require a security clearance. Selected candidates will be subject to drug testing and other pre-employment background checks.

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 (https://int.lanl.gov/policy/documents/P701.pdf) for applicant eligibility requirements.

Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or preference, 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 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 1-505-665-4444 option 1.