Weapon System Engineer

LLNL$146K — $222K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance or ability to secure one; U.S. citizenship required.
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related field, or equivalent experience.
  • Familiarity with requirements development and engineering drawings.
  • Fundamental knowledge of engineering testing processes and data analysis.
  • Understanding of the design-to-production transition.
  • Knowledge of material properties and manufacturing methods.
  • Strong communication skills for multidisciplinary collaboration and presentations.
  • Willingness to travel up to 25% of the time.

Responsibilities

  • Utilize engineering knowledge to resolve complex technical and programmatic issues.
  • Take ownership of documentation, including product definitions and project plans.
  • Lead test operations and analyze results with team collaboration.
  • Address producibility and manufacturability issues, offering operational solutions.
  • Conduct and lead engineering design reviews and program meetings.
  • Perform additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

  • Recognized as one of the Best Places to Work by Glassdoor in 2026.
  • Flexible Benefits Package offered.
  • 401(k) retirement plan available.
  • Assistance provided for relocation costs.
  • Education reimbursement program for further studies.
  • Flexible scheduling based on project needs.
Full Job Description
Job Description

We have multiple openings for Weapon System Engineers to support cross-functional engineering activities in support of the Laboratory's nuclear weapon modernization mission. Staff will be responsible for supporting warhead component development and production, delivering mature product definition, and executing production agency qualification activities on time to meet program milestones and national deterrence requirements. You will work with a multi-disciplinary team to bring component, subassembly, and system level designs to sustained rate production. These positions are in the Defense Technologies Engineering Division (DTED), within the Engineering Directorate. DTED provides support for Strategic Deterrence (SD) Programs.

Depending on your assignment, this position may offer a hybrid schedule, blending in-person and virtual presence. You may have the 2exibility to work from home up to one day per week.

These positions will be filled at eitherlevel 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
  • Utilize comprehensive engineering knowledge and apply relevant experience and broad technical concepts and techniques to resolve complex technical and programmatic issues.
  • Have ownership of component and Product Realization Team documentation including product definition, project plans, qualification plans, design requirement documents, and interface definitions, following standard techniques and methodologies.
  • Lead engineering component test operations and collaborate with team members in analyzing results and writing technical reports.
  • Review and support producibility, manufacturability and/or surveillance process issues, and provide solutions to operational problems of varied complexity.
  • Participate in and lead formal and informal engineering design reviews, multi-site meetings, and program reviews.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the SES.3 level
  • Provide technical expertise in materials science, mechanical and electromechanical design, solving challenges of significant complexity.
  • Produce advanced conceptual and detail designs in support of on-going projects.
  • Lead and/or provide guidance and technical direction to multidisciplinary project teams in a growing, dynamic environment.
  • Provide guidance and/or formal mentoring to less experienced team members.

Qualifications
  • Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical field, or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
  • Familiarity and fundamental knowledge of and experience with requirements development and engineering drawings.
  • Fundamental knowledge of and operational experience with engineering testing processes, and demonstrated ability to conduct data analyses.
  • Familiarity with the transition from design to production.
  • Fundamental knowledge of and/or applied experience with material properties and manufacturing methods.
  • Strong verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate in a multidisciplinary team environment, present and explain technical information.
  • Ability to travel up to 25% time.

Additional qualifications at the SES.3 level
  • Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of hardware design, fabrication or testing processes.
  • Advanced knowledge of Systems Engineering principles including requirements development and verification.
  • Experience preparing and conducting design/project reviews, as well as performing and completing the subsequent documentation, tracking, and reporting of action items.
  • Experience organizing, directing, and monitoring schedule and budgets for multiple concurrent projects and the ability to reprioritize and change programmatic direction depending on emergent requests.

Qualifications We Desire
  • Active Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance or active Top Secret clearance issued by another U.S. government agency at the time of hire
  • Master's degree in Engineering or related field.
  • Ability to interpret specifications and mechanical drawings including Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T).
  • Experience in formal production definition releases, configuration management, and Product Lifecycle Management systems.
  • Experience working in the NNSA's nuclear weapons program.Working knowledge of NNSA's Defense Programs Business Process Systems.

Pay Range

$146,340 - $222,564 Annually
$146,340 - $185,544 Annually for the SES.2 level
$175,530 - $222,564 Annually for the SES.3 level

This is the lowest to highest salary in good faith 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.

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 2026Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
  • Flexible Benefits Package
  • 401(k)
  • Relocation Assistance
  • Education Reimbursement Program
  • Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
  • Our values - visit https://www.llnl.gov/inclusion/our-values

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