Los Alamos National Laboratory

Laboratory Space Scientist (Scientist 3)

Los Alamos National Laboratory$128K — $215K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Master's degree in a STEM field with 6 years of relevant experience or equivalent
  • Recognized expertise in space science, heliospheric/magnetospheric physics, or particle/plasma detection
  • Demonstrated experience leading technical teams or projects
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Commitment to safety and professional standards

Responsibilities

  • Oversee operations in multiple space science research labs
  • Design, develop, calibrate, and analyze space instruments
  • Act as a subject matter expert for ion beam and plasma operations
  • Assist with flight instrument operations and planning
  • Validate flight data and diagnose anomalies
  • Mentor students and junior staff in research

Benefits

  • Onsite work location in Los Alamos, NM
  • Opportunity to lead in cutting-edge space research
  • Collaborative work environment with diverse technical teams
  • Potential for mentorship roles in academic settings
  • Engagement with federal science agencies like NASA and DoD
Full Job Description
Description

Job Title Laboratory Space Scientist (Scientist 3)

Location Los Alamos, NM, US

Organization Name ISR-1/Space Science & Applications

Minimum Salary 128000

Maximum Salary 215900

This position is open for external candidates only to apply.
What You Will Do
The Space Science and Applications Group (ISR-1) in the Intelligence & Space Research Division (ISR) is seeking an experienced space scientist to provide leadership in laboratory-based research, overseeing experimental design and execution, developing and executing space instrument calibration plans, and serving a key subject matter expert within a technically diverse and highly collaborative R&D organization.

In this role, you will:
  • Oversee activities within multiple space science research laboratories
  • Perform space instrument design, development, calibration, and data analysis
  • Serve as a subject matter expert for ion beam, plasma, and charged particle source operations, characterization, and maintenance
  • Assist in flight instrument operations planning and execution
  • Perform flight data validation and anomaly diagnosis
  • Mentor students, postdocs, and junior staff


What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

Safety and Professional Standards
Demonstrated commitment to maintaining and strengthening a safe, secure, and respectful work environment consistent with Laboratory expectations (e.g., HPI and/or SCoR principles).

Technical Expertise
Recognized scientific and technical competence in one or more ISR-1 mission areas, including space science, heliospheric or magnetospheric physics, and/or particle and plasma detection. Demonstrated record of successful research contributions and proposal development.

Leadership and Influence
Demonstrated experience leading or contributing to technical teams, projects, or organizational efforts. Ability to influence across organizational boundaries, navigate competing priorities, and build trust.

Communication
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to articulate complex technical and institutional considerations to diverse audiences.

Education/Experience
Position requires a Master's degree in a STEM field from an accredited college or university and 6 years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Desired Qualifications:
  • Current DOE Q clearance
  • PhD in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline
  • Working knowledge of DOE, NNSA, DoD, NASA, or related mission agencies
  • Demonstrated experience mentoring students, postdocs, or coaching early career researchers

Physical Requirements:

  • Physical movement between buildings located primarily within a half-mile radius, which may include movement across uneven and/or inclined ground.
  • Physical movement within large interior facility spaces and corridors, which may require travel up and down stairs.
  • Direct interaction with hardware, equipment, and instruments in office and laboratory environments.

Work Environment:

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:

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.

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.

No Clearance: Position does not require a security clearance. Selected candidates will be subject to drug testing and other pre-employment background checks.

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.

Employment Status Full Time

Appointment Type Regular

Regular

About Los Alamos National Laboratory

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a United States Department of Energy national laboratory initially organized during World War II for the design of nuclear weapons as part of the Manhattan Project. It is located a short distance northwest of Santa Fe, New Mexico in the southwestern United States. LANL conducts research in fields such as national security, space exploration, renewable energy, medicine, nanotechnology, and supercomputing. It is the largest institution of its kind in the world. LANL is managed and operated by Triad National Security, LLC, which is composed of Battelle Memorial Institute, the University of California, and the Texas A&M University System.
Learn more about Los Alamos National Laboratory
Size
12,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1943

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