About Careertakes

👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, National security research and nuclear facility operations.

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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What You’ll Do

Confidential Client is seeking a Process Engineer (Welding) to support R&D and high-value manufacturing initiatives. This posting covers two hiring levels (R&D Engineer 1 and R&D Engineer 2). The role focuses on welding- and manufacturing-related process engineering, problem solving, and operational support for mission-critical work.

Key responsibilities include:

• Serve as a contributing member of R&D and operations teams to address welding engineering challenges.
• Apply engineering principles to research, design, test, analyze, verify, and validate process and technology solutions.
• Support process development, process improvement, and troubleshooting for manufacturing operations.
• Support operations to maintain equipment operability and ensure compliance with Conduct of Engineering, Conduct of Maintenance, Conduct of Operations, Quality, and Safety programs.
• Execute experiments and data analysis to validate process performance and inform improvements.
• Learn and apply advanced analysis techniques and institutional processes used by the engineering community.
• At the R&D Engineer 2 level: lead or independently deliver complex engineering tasks, develop new methods/technologies, provide project management support, and mentor junior staff.

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Minimum Qualifications

Minimum requirements (R&D Engineer 1 — entry level):

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (related discipline) or equivalent combination of education and technical experience.
• ~2 years of related engineering experience (candidates meeting the degree requirement but short on experience are encouraged to apply; exceptions may be considered).
• Beginner-to-intermediate knowledge of professional engineering concepts; demonstrated experience researching, designing, analyzing, testing, verifying, and validating engineering solutions.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes, system/component testing, and welding principles.
• Demonstrated ability to design and execute experiments and interpret data.
• Strong communication skills; ability to collaborate across technical disciplines and present results clearly.

Additional requirements for R&D Engineer 2 (higher level):

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (ABET-accredited preferred) plus ~4 years of related experience, or equivalent combination.
• Demonstrated experience across a broad range of complex engineering work (design or review of complete projects/systems/components).
• Experience developing and codifying engineering requirements.
• Intermediate analytical skills; experience with continuous improvement tools and qualification testing.
• Proven ability to mentor junior staff and lead project work.

Security/eligibility:

• This role requires the ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance — U.S. citizenship is required for Q clearance in nearly all cases.
• Position is subject to background investigation, Human Reliability Program (HRP) requirements, and drug testing (including marijuana; federal law applies).

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Preferred Qualifications & Experience

• Welding engineering experience or certification (CWI or similar) preferred.
• Experience in glovebox or controlled-environment operations.
• Prior work in manufacturing/production requiring formal manufacturing, testing, and quality processes.
• Experience in a nuclear facility or national security R&D environment.
• Demonstrated work on atypical schedules or shifts.
• Familiarity with system/subsystem qualification testing and rigorous institutional engineering processes.

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Shift, Location & Commitment

• Shift: This posting is specifically for Shift C — weekend shift (Thursday to Sunday), 6:00 AM – 4:30 PM.
• Work location: Onsite in White Rock, NM (at the discretion of management).
• Position commitment: Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service to be eligible to apply for other posted Laboratory positions; this role has a 1-year position commitment.

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Compensation & Benefits

• Salary ranges (provided by Confidential Client):
  • R&D Engineer 1: $96,600 – $158,000 per year
  • R&D Engineer 2: $106,400 – $176,000 per year
• Benefits summary:
  • Medical (PPO or High Deductible options), dental, vision
  • Basic life and disability insurance
  • Paid parental leave
  • 401(k) with employer match
  • Tuition assistance and professional development
  • Paid time off and holidays; onsite wellness resources
  • Relocation assistance available (outside a 50-mile radius)

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Important Notes & Compliance

• This role involves work that supports national security programs. Certain foreign nationals may be ineligible for access to the facilities or the required clearance. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a DOE Q clearance except in very rare circumstances.
• Selected applicants will be subject to federal background checks and ongoing HRP-related screening.
• New-employment drug test required; a positive result for marijuana may result in termination regardless of state law due to federal requirements.

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Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency

Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.

If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.