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Systems Engineering Lead (Project-Program Director 4)

Los Alamos National Laboratory

Los Alamos, NM

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JOB DETAILS
SALARY
$170,600–$295,400 Per Year
SKILLS
ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology), Adobe Director, Best Practices, Budgeting, Communication Skills, Compensation and Benefits, Cross-Functional, Dental Insurance, Laboratory, Leadership, Machine Tool, Manufacturing, Mechanical Design, Mechanical Engineering, Mentoring, Operations Security (OPSEC), Presentation/Verbal Skills, Problem Solving Skills, Product Management, Production Support, Project/Program Management, Quality Engineering, Requirements Management, Research & Development (R&D), Strategic Planning, Surveillance, Systems Engineering, Team Player, Technical Leadership, Technical Strategy, Technical Writing, Technical/Engineering Design, Theater Production, Tuition Fees, United States Citizen, Vision Plan
LOCATION
Los Alamos, NM
POSTED
30+ days ago
What You Will Do

The Product Realization and Reliability Office (PRRO) in Nuclear Production Operations is home to a multidisciplinary team of engineers and scientists that support some of the nation's most critical plutonium programs including pit production, surveillance, research & development, and subcritical experiments. We work across the full Nuclear Production Operations organization, partnering with technical experts at every stage of the production lifecycle. .

We are seeking a Systems Engineer Lead who will be responsible for developing and maintaining a models-based systems engineering (MBSE) representation of the people, processes, and equipment supporting nuclear production. This work spans complex, interconnected socio-technical systems and requires creativity, rigor, and a strategic mindset.

You can expect to:

  • Lead and mentor a high-performing team of systems engineers working across mission-critical programs.
  • Build, refine, and steward a comprehensive MBSE framework that integrates production processes, workforce, and tooling across multiple organizations.
  • Provide technical leadership, ensuring high-quality engineering through structured peer review and oversight.
  • Work directly with customers and senior leaders to define needs, shape capability development, and influence the strategic direction of systems engineering at LANL.
  • Drive collaborative problem-solving across disciplines and serve as a trusted technical authority within PRRO.

You will be expected to bring a high degree of technical expertise and recognized leadership within your field. This role combines hands-on systems engineering with organization-wide influence and includes active mentoring of early career engineers to build the next generation of technical leaders.

Project-Program Director 4 ($170,600 - $295,400)

The Project-Program Director 4 level reflects the scope and impact of the work. You will:

  • Lead and manage a technically challenging and strategically significant portfolio.
  • Integrate work across multiple Laboratory organizations and disciplines.
  • Partner with internal and external stakeholders to define program goals, secure resources, and build capabilities aligned with the Laboratory's mission.
  • Oversee planning, tracking, execution, and delivery of assigned programs and projects, providing clear directions to deployed technical staff.

This position is ideal for a systems engineering leader who wants to apply deep technical knowledge, shape organizational capability, and make a direct impact on national security.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:
  • Experience in aspects of project management of technical work, including defining work scope, schedules, budgets, priorities, and performance milestones; developing cost, scope, and schedule baselines
  • Complete and thorough understanding of Models Based Systems Engineering, SysML, and the Unified Architecture Framework (UAF)
  • Expertise with commercial applications such as Catia's Magic Systems of Systems Architect
  • Expertise in applying fundamental techniques and engineering best practices
  • Experience mentoring early career scientists and engineers
  • Strong documentation skills; demonstrated ability to document technical results in a formal method/format
  • Excellent communication and teamwork skills
  • Strong presentation skills

Education/Experience: Position requires a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and 8 years related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Desired Qualifications:

  • An advanced degree in engineering from an ABET accredited institution. A Ph.D. is preferred.
  • Demonstrated experience in modeling complex systems, preferably in a manufacturing context
  • Fundamental understanding of requirements management
  • Fundamental understanding of mechanical design engineering and the design process

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.

Note to Applicants: For full consideration submit a comprehensive resume and include a detailed cover letter explaining how you meet each of the minimum requirements and any of the desired qualifications.

Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China-including the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau-as well as citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and the Russian Federation, who are not Lawful Permanent Residents ("green card" holders) are prohibited from accessing facilities that support the mission, functions, and operations of national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, which includes Los Alamos National Laboratory.
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 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 for applicant eligibility requirements.

Incentive Compensation Program: Position is eligible to participate in the Triad Incentive Compensation Program. You must be in an eligible position for a minimum of 3 months, before July 1st and remain in an eligible position as of the end of the fiscal year, September 30th. The annual distribution is prorated based on the number of months in the eligible position.

Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to protected categories such as race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, 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, state, and local 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 (505)-664-6947.

About the Company

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Los Alamos National Laboratory