Manufacturing Quality Engineer
Livermore, CA - USA
Job Summary
We have multiple openings for Manufacturing Quality Engineers to support the Advanced Sources and Detectors (ASD) Scorpius project. You will be part of an engineering organization planning implementing and troubleshooting in-house and subcontracted assembly and testing. Your role will include building consensus on make-buy decisions and development of acquisition strategies with preparation of assembly procedures and contract documents (e.g. Statements of Work). You will be responsible for building and maintaining an effective quality culture among a team of physicists electrical and mechanical engineers designers technicians and supplier-management staff. The role requires a schedule-sensitive solution-oriented individual with the ability to recognize and apply varying levels of rigor in anticipating (or resolving) quality challenges. The Advanced Sources and Detectors (ASD) project is a multi-year multi-lab project to design and commission the next generation of radiographic capabilities for use in ensuring the safety and effectiveness of the nations nuclear stockpile. This position is in the National Security Engineering Division (NSED) in the LLNL Engineering Directorate.
This position offers a hybrid schedule blending in-person and virtual presence. You will have the flexibility to work from home one or more days per week.
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
- Independently contribute to the development of assembly processes for complex scientific equipment designed by engineering colleagues.
- Support industry research and design for manufacturability contributing to prototyping early fabrication assembly and testing of mechanical electrical and control systems.
- Provide a vision for delivering a complete product or system build consensus among stakeholders and lead implementation.
- Collaborate with MRP specialists to align parts availability and assembly with the project schedule manage EBoM-to-MBoM creation make-buy decisions serialization work orders spares planning and site registry and hold regular shortage review meetings.
- Serve as a liaison between vendors and relevant LLNL stakeholders to coordinate achievable schedules develop solutions to manufacturing issues and ensure high build quality is achieved.
- Partner with subcontractors on prototype assembly to prepare statements of work specifications cost estimates schedules justifications and technical documents for each solicitation.
- Provide complex quality-related expertise on design quality assurance production and surveillance functions and configuration management.
- Write and communicate clear concise requirements using in-depth analysis and/or ingenuity.
- Provide solution-oriented oversight of suppliers Quality Assurance programs while personally assisting suppliers with development and implementation of appropriate/warranted improvements (assist with Corrective Actions).
- Travel to various LLNL labsassembly areas and suppliers facilities and other manufacturing sites to observe assess and verify the implementation of and consistent adherence to standard requirements repeatable fabrication inspection assembly and surveillance processes determine and provide necessary process improvements identify and mitigate risks and ensure progress on assembly of complex scientific equipment.
- Provide regular status updates to stakeholders; recognize when to develop and initiate workarounds to project obstacles.
- Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with quality organizations across the DOE/NNSA enterprise.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Additional job responsibilities at the TSS.4 level
- Support management in setting direction for quality implementation and supporting strategic engagements across the program.
- Provide quality subject matter expertise and advanced support to engineers/scientists in solving highly complex technical problems for various projects.
- Proactively address and influence resolution of emergent and systemic quality issues between LLNL and production agencies.
- Identify assess and implement process improvements for achieving increased efficiency and ensuring compliance to quality requirements across the program.
- Analyze communicate and resolve impacts from changes to federal requirements institutional requirements and production agency processes
Qualifications :
- Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
- Bachelors degree in an engineering or related technical discipline or the equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
- Advanced knowledge and significant experience and responsibility for one or more of: research design analysis prototyping early fabrication/assembly/test transition to production and production troubleshooting/process-improvement.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities on multi-disciplinary engineering projects of complex scopes which includes the development of new technologies.
- Advanced knowledge and significant experience with QA/QC documentation approaches and practices including preparing requirements documents statements of work/specifications assembly procedures cost estimates schedules and other engineering reports.
- Advanced knowledge in a wide range of conventional and advanced fabrication and/or manufacturing methods.
- Advanced knowledge of industry-standard Quality Assurance programs quality control methods and applicable industry standards (e.g. ASQ IPC ANSI); significant experience developing and implementing in-house QA/QC practices appropriate to varying design maturity; e.g. early prototype vs. production-ready design.
- Significant experience in developing a list of suppliers of specialized components and integrated assemblies.
- Advanced knowledge of commercial/business practices and incentives including understanding of limitations resulting from various regulations typical in a taxpayer-funded environment.
- Advanced verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively collaborate in a team environment to present and explain technical information clearly articulate effectively interpret and ensure design documentation meets established requirements and provide assessments/recommendations to management.
- Ability to travel.
Additional qualifications at the TSS.4 level
- Subject matter expert knowledge of industry-standard Quality Assurance programs quality control methods and applicable industry standards (e.g. ASQ IPC ANSI); Expert level experience developing and implementing in-house QA/QC practices appropriate to varying design maturity; e.g. early prototype vs. production-ready design.
- Expert communication facilitation collaboration interpersonal and negotiation skills necessary to effectively present explain provide strategic technical advice build consensus and influence senior management external sponsors regulators reviewers and stakeholders.
- Significant experience establishing and sustaining a quality program for highly specialized products and systems.
- Demonstrated ability to lead teams in effectively defining/improving administrative/business/engineering processes covering quality of in-house design efforts quality of in-house/supplier documentation and quality of various in-house and supplier-provided products.
- Significant experience successfully adapting/tailoring your implementations to the cultural characteristics skills knowledge and abilities of the overall team.
Qualifications We Desire
- Experience with taxpayer-funded (e.g. state university or federal government) acquisition regulations intellectual property practices export control guidelines etc.
- Significant experience building consensus generally without formal authority across a wide-range of engineering and organizational disciplines.
- Significant experience with implementation/configuration of an MRP system with responsibility for user/organizational aspects. ASQ Certified Quality Engineer or similar nationally recognized certification.
- Experience in developing suppliers of new specialized components and integrated assemblies e.g. experience assisting suppliers with quality challenges of new product introductions (NPIs).
Pay Range
$154950 - $235692 Annually
$154950 - $196476 Annually for the TSS.3 level
$185850 - $235692 Annually for the TSS.4 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. An employees 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.
Additional Information :
#LI-Hybrid
Position Information
This is a Career Indefinite position open to Lab employees and external candidates.
Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
- Included in 2026 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
- Flexible Benefits Package
- 401(k)
- Relocation Assistance
- Education Reimbursement Program
- Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
- Our values - visit Clearance
This position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance. If you are selected we will initiate a Federal background investigation to determine if you meet 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.
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Remote Work :
No
Employment Type :
Full-time
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