Mechanical Engineer-Precision Engineering & Diamond Turning

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Are you interested in joining some of the brightest talent in the world to strengthen the United States' security? Come join Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) where our employees apply their expertise to create solutions for BIG ideas that make our world a better place.

We are dedicated to fostering a culture that values individuals, talents, partnerships, ideas, experiences, and different perspectives, recognizing their importance to the continued success of the Laboratory's mission.

Pay Range

$140,700 - $214,032 Annually

$140,700 - $178,392 Annually for the SES.2 level

$168,780 - $214,032 Annually for the SES.3 level

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting; pay will not be below any applicable local minimum wage. An employee's position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.

We have an opening for a Precision Mechanical Engineer to support projects in the National Ignition Facility and Photon Science Directorate (NIF & PS). You will provide solutions to a wide variety of research and development precision engineering projects and involved deliverables, through hardware design and developing advanced structural, thermal, and/or fluid analytical tools. You will be part of a multidisciplinary team responsible for ensuring the sustainment of NIF's mission-critical capability of finishing crystal optics using precision diamond turning systems, alignment systems, or damage inspection systems. This position is in the Laser Systems Engineering & Operations (LSEO) Division within the Engineering Directorate.

This position will be filled at either the SES.2 or SES.3 level depending on your qualifications. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if you are selected at the higher level.

In this role you will

• Work under limited direction with moderate responsibility, use comprehensive knowledge, and exercise independent judgment to determine methods and recommend improvements within established frameworks and contribute to the fulfillment of project and organizational goals.
• Provide solutions to design and characterize precision machine tool subsystems, test prototypes, and perform diagnostics, including assessing tolerance stack-ups, formulating error budgets, and applying measured error compensation systems.
• Modify and update existing analytical solutions to moderately complex to complex problems that require modeling, statistical analysis, and creative application of established techniques and methods.
• Perform literature reviews of relevant techniques and methods within diamond turning, precision machining, or optical sensor technology.
• Participate in providing solutions to the development and implementation of hands-on engineering R&D test plans, analyzing experimental results, and authoring and presenting reports while working under limited direction.
• Generate moderately complex to complex detailed designs of subsystems in support of optics processing equipment, including precision cleaning, coating, transport and handling, and metrology systems.
• Contribute to the development and execution, and provide engineering support, for assembly, installation, commissioning, maintenance, and calibration procedures for subsystems.
• Participate in precision machine assembly laboratory activities including component assembly, spare inventory, and metrology tool calibrations.
• Contribute to the development of optomechanical measurement and alignment systems with scientific camera technology.
• Collaborate with project teams consisting of engineers, designers, technicians, scientists, and coordinators, while working independently within established frameworks.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the SES.3 level

• Function independently with minimal direction, taking significant responsibility and using advanced knowledge and judgment to establish objectives, prioritize parallel tasks, allocate resources, and collaborate in the development of innovative methods/technology to guide the completion of projects and contribute to the development of organizational goals.
• Propose, implement, and guide relevant hands-on laboratory R&D experiments in support of sustaining and furthering crystal finishing or alignment systems capabilities while providing technical leadership and project management to a diverse team of engineers, scientists, designers, and technicians in support of repairs and upgrades to equipment.
• Develop and implement new analytical solutions to a diverse range of complex problems that require modeling, statistical analysis, and creative application of established techniques and methods.
• Lead formal and informal design reviews and team efforts, and develop and apply high-level technical concepts and techniques to resolve complex technical and programmatic issues and ensure achievement of project goals.

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Precision Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related technical discipline or the equivalent combination of education and previous relevant experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge and previous experience and proficiency with precision machine structural design, assembly, real-time error compensation systems, or control design processes.
• Broad experience and application, and comprehensive knowledge of moderately complex to complex engineering analysis using structural, fluid, or thermal computer codes.
• Comprehensive knowledge and previous experience and proficiency with material selection, manufacturing methods, or metrology for precision tooling and hardware.
• Proficiency and previous experience with materials and fabrication R&D, with an emphasis in diamond turning systems.
• Comprehensive knowledge of and broad experience and application of moderately complex to complex engineering hardware design, fabrication, or testing processes.
• Proficient verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively collaborate in a team environment and present and explain technical information.

Additional qualifications at the SES .3 level

• Significant experience with the design, commissioning, operation, or maintenance of complex precision mechanical, optomechanical measurement or alignment systems.
• Advanced level knowledge and significant experience with the application of complex data analysis techniques, advanced statistics, and/or modeling.
• Advanced leadership skills and significant experience mentoring others, leading small teams in a technical environment, coordinating efforts with other groups, and ensuring compatibility with interdependent systems.
• Significant experience defining scope from often not well defined and/or rapidly changing requirements, including demonstrated ability and flexibility in re-prioritizing and changing programmatic direction depending on emergent needs.

Qualifications We Desire

• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Precision Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field.
• Extensive experience designing and working with precision diamond turning machines for meter-class optical substrates.
• Experience with precision metrology and characterization, live error compensation and metrology frames, controls engineering, or optical engineering

#LI-Onsite

Position Information

This is a Career Indefinite position, open to Lab employees and external candidates.

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2025 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• FlexibleBenefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Our values - visithttps://www.llnl.gov/inclusion/our-values

Security Clearance

This position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance.If you are selected, wewill initiate a Federal background investigation to determine if youmeet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or matter. Also, all L or Q cleared employees are subject to random drug testing. Q-level clearance requires U.S. citizenship.

Pre-Employment Drug Test

External applicant(s) selected for this position must pass a post-offer, pre-employment drug test. This includes testing for use of marijuana as Federal Law applies to us as a Federal Contractor.

Wireless and Medical Devices

Per the Department of Energy (DOE), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory must meet certain restrictions with the useand/or possession ofmobile devices in Limited Areas. Depending on your job duties, you may be required to work in a Limited Area whereyou are not permitted to have a personal and/or laboratory mobile devicein your possession. This includes, but not limited to cell phones, tablets, fitness devices, wireless headphones, and other Bluetooth/wireless enabled devices.

Ifyou useamedical device, whichpairs with a mobile device,you must still follow the rules concerningthe mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas. Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities requireseparate approval. Hearing aids without wireless capabilities or wireless that has been disabled are allowed in Limited Areas, Secure Space and Transit/Buffer Space within buildings.

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Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer that is committed to providing all with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status, age, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

Reasonable Accommodation

Our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates applying and interviewing at the Laboratory. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please use our online form to submit a request.

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