We have an opening for a Processing and Joining Metallurgist/Materials Engineer to develop, qualify, and implement metallic joining and thermal processing methods for critical national security components. In this hands-on role, you will lead process development and metallurgical characterization, partnering with design, modeling, materials, and production organizations across LLNL and external production agencies. You will work within an interdisciplinary team to establish process, structure, and property relationships in structural alloys, with opportunities to grow into a technical leader in joining and thermal processing. This position is in the Materials Engineering Division (MED) within the Engineering Directorate.
This position requires full-time on-site presence due to the nature of the work.
This position will be filled at either level based on knowledge and related experience as assessed by the hiring team. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if hired at the higher level.
You will
- Develop, execute, and optimize metallic joining and thermal processing methods in a laboratory environment, including electron beam and laser welding, vacuum brazing, diffusion bonding, HIP, and heat treatment for steels, nickel-base alloys, and other structural alloys.
- Provide metallurgical engineering support for processing, materials selection, and property investigations.
- Participate in the design, setup, and operation of processing and joining systems, including fixture design, parameter development, and troubleshooting.
- Perform metallurgical characterization and joint evaluation using sample preparation, optical microscopy (SEM as appropriate), hardness testing, and mechanical testing (for example, tensile or bend tests) to assess quality and performance.
- Organize, analyze, and present data from experiments and process development activities to improve understanding of process, structure, and property relationships.
- Collaborate with scientists, engineers, technologists, designers, and production partners as part of integrated teams spanning design, analysis, prototyping, and production implementation.
- Integrate experimental results with analytical or computational models (for example, process models, thermal or stress analyses, or microstructure evolution tools) to inform process window development and production workflows.
- Travel up to approximately 20% to external production facilities (for example, Y-12, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the Kansas City National Security Campus) to observe and support operations, review procedures, and provide feedback to LLNL program management and design teams.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Additional job responsibilities, at the SES.2 level
- Take technical ownership of specific joining and thermal processing operations, including requirements definition, specification input, process qualification, and continuous improvement.
- Provide technical guidance and informal mentoring to less experienced staff, technicians, and students in joining and processing development, sample preparation, and metallurgical characterization.
- Lead or co-lead defined technical tasks or small projects, coordinating across team members and tracking progress against scope, schedule, and quality requirements.