Description

Job Title Operator 3/4

Location Los Alamos, NM, US

Organization Name IF-DSL - Institutional Facilities Data, S&M, and Leased Operations

Minimum Salary

Maximum Salary

Functional Job Title

Operator 3/4

What You Will Do

This position is open for external candidates only to apply.

Power the infrastructure behind one of the nation's most important missions.

The Institutional Facilities (IF) Division is seeking a motivated and technically skilled Operator to join our Data Center Facilities team. This is more than a facilities operations role-it's an opportunity to work on the critical infrastructure that enables world-class science, national security, and groundbreaking research at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

As an Operator, you'll be at the center of mission-critical operations, ensuring our facilities remain safe, reliable, and fully operational 24/7. You'll work alongside engineers, maintenance professionals, safety professionals, project teams, and customers to solve real-world challenges, respond to dynamic operating conditions, and keep complex systems performing at their best.

If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, enjoy troubleshooting sophisticated facility systems, and take pride in making a visible impact every day, this is the opportunity for you.

What You'll Gain: Beyond the daily impact, this role builds elite technical expertise in complex, high-reliability facility systems-skills that translate directly across data centers and critical infrastructure industries nationwide. You'll sharpen crisis-ready judgment through hands-on emergency response and develop the collaborative influence that comes from coordinating across disciplines and driving accountability in the field. For those ready to step up, the Operator 4 track offers direct project involvement-guiding upgrades, shutdowns, and mentoring subcontractors-building the track record for future engineering or leadership roles. It's career-defining experience and credibility that few opportunities can match.

This position will be filled at either the Operator 3 or Operator 4 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.

Operator 3 ($66,100 - $103,600)

• Performs routine facility walkdowns, procedures reviews, and inspections to ensure safety and efficient operation of the facilities, maintain awareness of conditions, ongoing work, and potential risks
• Identifies and communicates facility issues, hazards, equipment performance, or configuration concerns in a timely manner
• Supports configuration management by maintaining awareness and control of facility systems and changes, routinely performing equipment rotations
• Supports planning and execution of scheduled work by ensuring coordination between operations, maintenance, engineering, customers, and subcontractors
• Drives accountability in the field by ensuring work is performed as planned and within established controls
• Participates in technical aspects related to facility construction, design, and/or start-up activities
• Responds to unexpected operating conditions and troubleshoot equipment and systems to maintain operability
• Serves on a periodic and rotating on-call team, respond to abnormal and emergency events during off-shift hour s
• Supports Building Managers by identifying required work scope, verifying work status, and confirming work completion
• Performs escorting duties in support of maintenance or project activities

Operator 4 ($72,800 - $115,400)

In addition to the responsibilities outlined at the lower level, Operator 4 position:

• Contributes to the development of new principles, concepts and operational improvements
• Maintains involvement in project implementation and verification that the product meets expectations and requirements
• Makes recommendations regarding facility operating equipment and/or systems
• Coordinates and manages equipment shutdowns, upgrades, and/or installations and provides guidance to support maintenance and service subcontractors

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

• Proficient knowledge and experience in a wide variety of facility operations and maintenance activities including, but not limited to, mechanical, electrical, computing, or chemical processing systems
• Ability to understand and identify work hazards, safety practices, operating configuration, and experience with lock-out/tag-out policies and procedures
• Ability to communicate effectively through operations, maintenance, engineering, safety and customers
• Ability to evaluate and recommend solutions to problems regarding facility equipment maintenance and operations
• Proficient knowledge and experience using computer software to facilitate work processes
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
• Ability to understand and interpret various engineered facility or project documents, drawings, and schematics
• Ability to exercise judgment in facility operations where procedures may not fully define the response
• Ability to obtain DOE Q Clearance

Additional Job Requirements for Operator 4:

• Independently conceptualizes and communicates major elements of facility equipment and maintenance and/or upgrade activities
• Extensive knowledge with facility work control computerized work management systems
• Knowledge of legal requirements and environmental impacts affecting facility maintenance and operations
• Extensive knowledge and ability to identify work hazards, safety practices, operating configuration

Education/Experience :

Education/Experience at lower level: Associate's degree and 3 years of related experience; or equivalent combination.

Education/Experience at higher level: Associates Degree and 5 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination.

Desired Qualifications:

• Knowledge and experience operating in data centers and/or with facility systems such as emergency backup equipment, chillers, building automation or PLCs, cooling towers, water systems, chemical treatment, etc.
• Experience in responding to facility emergencies and abnormal conditions.
• Experience documenting field observations, issues, and work status clearly and accurately
• Experience working in a team-based operational environment with competing priorities
• Experience working in a high-consequence, mission-driven, or regulated operational environment
• Active Q Clearance

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 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:

Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter addressing how they meet the required and desired criteria.

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.

Employment Status Full Time

Appointment Type Regular

Regular