Becoming a welder typically starts with technical training, which combines hands-on experience with classroom learning, allowing individuals to gain practical skills quickly. Training programs last about 6 to 18 months, depending on the depth of the curriculum. The American Welding Society reports approximately 771,000 welders nationwide, with projections indicating a steady demand for new professionals. In Los Alamos, NM, welders can expect to earn an average of $1,875 per week, with experienced professionals often surpassing $55,000 annually. Trade schools, community colleges, and industry programs offer comprehensive training, leading to a career with strong earning potential and diverse specialization opportunities.
What You Will Do The Engineering Services (ES) Division of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) develops, maintains, and applies a diverse set of engineering capabilities to provide innovative engineering solutions that enable the Laboratory''''s scientific and national security missions. This position is within the ES Division and is assigned to the Institutional Project Delivery (IPD) Group. Welding Program staff are responsible for implementing the Conduct of Engineering (COE) program at Los Alamos National Laboratory as pertains to all welding activities associated with projects and programmatic work. This position also supports Department of Energy Complex. This position will be filled at either the NFE Engineer 2 or 3 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. Welding Program Staff Engineer 2 ($99,200-$164,200) As a mid-level engineer, you will be required to provide and promote technical leadership, quality, and safety values, to co-workers, project stakeholders, external auditors, vendors, construction companies, and subcontractors. You will serve a site-wide role that often requires collaboration with other DOE sites. The program supports both facilities projects and programmatic work. Specific tasks include supporting long-term planning for the welding program; Mentoring and leading junior engineers; Serving as a welding subject matter expert; Performing design reviews; Interfacing and coordinating with project stakeholders. Welding Program Staff Engineer 3 ($119,200-$201,100) As a senior engineer you will be required to provide and promote technical leadership, quality, and safety values, to co-workers, project stakeholders, external auditors, vendors, construction companies, and subcontractors. You will serve a site-wide role that often requires collaboration with other DOE sites. The program supports both facilities projects and programmatic work. Specific tasks include supporting long-term planning for the welding program; Mentoring and leading junior engineers; Serving as a welding subject matter expert; Performing design reviews; Interfacing and coordinating with project stakeholders. What You Need Minimum Job Requirements: * The successful candidate will be capable of demonstrated ability to effectively interact with all levels of personnel and customers, as well as experience providing technical direction, coordinating and monitoring the work of others. • Ability to apply national codes, standards and specifications. • Knowledge to read drawings and prints. • Ability to exercise engineering judgement to solve engineering challenges. • Familiarity with Weld Procedure Specifications, Procedure Qualification Records and welder certification. • Experience working with industry, regulatory, or Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) complex codes, standards, and criteria pertinent to NDE. Additional Job Requirements Welding Program Staff Engineer 3: In addition to the requirements outlined above, qualification at the higher level requires: * This position requires program-level vision in support of the program manager. The successful candidate will be capable of demonstrated ability to effectively interact with all levels of personnel and customers, as well as experience providing technical direction, coordinating and monitoring the work of others, and serving as a role model for effective and creative technical leadership. • Ability to interpret and apply national codes, standards and specifications. • Ability to read drawings and prints and give directions for corrections and improvements. • Advance Knowledge to exercise engineering judgement to solve engineering challenges. • Thorough knowledge of nuclear facility engineering in one or more of the following, nuclear criticality safety analysis, safety basis, system engineer, project engineer, or design engineer. • Demonstrated advanced knowledge of Weld Procedure Specifications, Procedure Qualification Records and welder certification. • Demonstrated advanced experience working with industry, regulatory, or Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) complex codes, standards, and criteria pertinent to NDE. • Thorough experience working under a rigorous Quality Assurance program such as NQA-1. Education/Experience at lower level: Position requires a Bachelor''''s Degree in Engineering from an ABET-accredited college or university and a minimum of 3 years of practical work experience necessary to perform the responsibilities outlined above. Advanced engineering or technical degree is highly desired Education/Experience at higher level: Position requires a Bachelor''''s Degree in Engineering from an ABET-accredited college or university and a minimum of 6 years practical work experience to the degree necessary to perform the responsibilities outlined above. Advanced engineering or technical degree is highly desired. Desired Qualifications: * Current ASNT certification in any of the following: Leak Testing (LT), Magnetic Particle Inspection (MT), Liquid Dye Penetrant Inspection (PT), Ultrasonic Testing (UT) or Visual Testing (VT). • Current AWS Certified Welding Inspector certification (CWI or SCWI). If CWI, then LANL will facilitate obtaining SCWI. • Familiarity with glovebox, pressure vessel and structural steel fabrication. • Experience working at a Department of Energy site. • Experience working in construction or fabrication, e.g. ASME Boiler and Pressure vessel fabrication, structural steel erection, etc. Location: The position is physically located in Los Alamos New Mexico 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 maternity and parental leave • Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually) • Learning opportunities and tuition assistance • Flexible schedules and time off (paid sick, vacation, 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. 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 or call 1-505-665-4444 option 1. Employment StatusFull TimeAppointment TypeRegularRegular Fraud Warning:
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