What You Will Do

Sigma-2, The Finishing Manufacturing Sciences Group, is seeking a highly motivated Lab Manager on the Characterization and Special Projects Team. In this position you will serve as customer liaison to understand requirements for the work and desired timeline. You will work with the TL to set team member priorities to balance workloads, meet customer needs, and meet mission deliverables. You will provide project updates and progress reports to customers as needed. You will oversee and provide guidance to team members performing duties related to metallographic sample preparation, optical microscopy, electron microscopy, and help ensure samples are prepared appropriately and the right imaging/analytical techniques are employed to meet the customer's needs. Most tasks involve hands-on work in laboratories located in Sigma, the MSL, and the BTF and require knowledge and experience working in radiological controlled areas and beryllium areas. This role will require the individual to utilize his/her knowledge in metallography and characterization workflows to guide and manage operations in the laboratory spaces.

You will work closely with the Characterization and Special Projects team leader to ensure daily tasks are executed safely, efficiently, and by priority. You will work with relatively complex equipment which requires a sense of ownership to maintain proper working order and will coordinate maintenance activities with team members, equipment vendors, and maintenance operations personnel. You will model and monitor adherence to conduct of operations, maintaining a safe and secure workplace, and Laboratory policies. The selected candidate will be responsible for capturing knowledge and modernizing operations.

The Characterization and Special Projects Team operates and maintains a metallographic preparation and characterization lab that encompass a wide range of capabilities that are vital to materials research and development, process development, global security, and weapons programs. Operations include material cutting, mounting, grinding/polishing, electropolishing/etching, hardness testing, optical imaging, electron beam imaging and chemical/microstructural analysis, and focused ion beam micro machining/serial sectioning. These techniques are brought to bear on a variety of materials ranging from Copper, Steel, Aluminum, Titanium, Ceramics, Tungsten, Zirconium, Molybdenum, Tantalum, Iridium, Uranium, Beryllium, and more.

Responsibilities for this job include:

• Supports the team lead in developing best practices for assigning roles/responsibilities of team members in a high pace work environment subject to changes in work scope and priorities.

• Maintains awareness of work scope for all requests the team receives and ensures that project updates and progress reports are provided to customers in a timely fashion.

• Helps the team continue to develop efficient workflows and when necessary, help facilitate task handoffs between team members with the goal of maximizing efficiency of work execution.

• Attend work scope planning meetings and metallography consultations with or in place of the team leader.

• Assists the team leader with forecasting information as new work scope arrives.

• Maintains a monthly maintenance task list.

• Performs routine walk downs of work areas with team members, reports issues to the Team Leader.

• Assists the team leader in promoting a strong safety culture where a questioning attitude is promoted.

• Ensures that the work areas remain tidy and assists in developing and maintaining authorizing documents to perform work safely and compliantly.

• Attends plan-of-week meetings and communicates building or operations updates to the team.

• Responsible for managing day-to-day data archiving, either directly or as a quality check.

• Assists employees in resolving technical challenges that are encountered.

• Contributes to technical work conducted on teams characterization capabilities and mentors technologists and technicians.

• Fosters a mutually respectful and inclusive work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

• Demonstrated expert knowledge and skills in area of metallographic sample preparation, optical microscopy, electron microscopy, focused ion beam microscopy, EDS, EBSD.

• Demonstrated experience in operating and facilitating repairs of optical microscopes, electron microscopes.

• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with technical and operations personnel.

• Demonstrated experience in meeting scheduled deliverables or milestones.

• Demonstrated ability in working independently as well as within a team environment.

• Experience in handling and metallography of radioactive and/or hazardous materials.

• Ability to obtain a Q clearance which normally requires U.S. Citizenship.

Education/Experience: Position requires a Bachelor's degree and 1 year of related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with optical imaging techniques across a variety of platforms (LOM, Digital, Macrophotography)

• Experience working with metallographic preparation tools.

• Experience working with reactive, hazardous, and high-value materials.

• Eagerness and demonstrated record of working as a member of small teams to accomplish tasks safely and efficiently.

• Demonstrated attention to detail and careful work practices around industrial hazards.

• Proven expertise with high throughput in a multifunctional analysis environment.

• Ability to effectively communicate/articulate daily work activities and priorities to team members.

• Experience with project management tools, such as Excel, Filemaker Pro or other management tools.

• Development of a formalized training program

• Maintain a positive working environment.

Essential Job Functions (can perform with or without reasonable accommodation): Lifting 30+ pounds, standing, walking.

Note to Applicants: When submitting your application electronically to this vacancy, please submit a resumé that contains at the following information: education, major (if relevant), GPA, relevant work experience, and relevant technical skills, and work areas of interest. A cover letter clearly addressing each of the minimum job requirements with professional references is required.

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.

Clearance: Q (Position will be cleared to this level). Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government, and must meet eligibility requirements* for access to classified matter. This position requires a Q clearance. and obtaining such clearance requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Dependent upon the position, additional authorization to access classified information may be required, which may or may not be available to dual citizens. Receipt of a Q clearance and additional access authorization ultimately is a decision of the Federal Government and not of Triad.

*Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order 472.2 (https://www.directives.doe.gov/directives-documents/400-series/0472.2-BOrder-chg1-pgchg) for additional information.

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.