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 & Analytical Chemistry.

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

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What You’ll Do

This role supports the Actinide Analytical Chemistry Group (C-AAC) quality program by assisting in development, implementation, and evaluation of processes, procedures, and applications that maintain an effective laboratory quality program. You will work with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) on the Quality Team and collaborate across teams to ensure analytical laboratory operations meet chemistry laboratory quality protocols and regulatory requirements.

• Support accreditation and maintenance of ISO 17025 and other relevant standards (e.g., NAP 401.1, NQA-1)
• Assist with writing and reviewing technical specifications, control plans, sampling plans, and inspection procedures
• Support planning, conducting, and reporting internal assessments, surveillances, and audits
• Help implement QA/QC practices, statistical process control, and data collection to identify trends and improvement opportunities
• Assist in initiating, validating, and closing non-conformance reports (NCRs), corrective actions, and preventive actions
• Maintain tracking systems for quality requests (e.g., ticketing, data package tracking) and QE records
• Provide technical support to laboratory personnel to apply QE policies, plans, and procedures
• Help ensure analytic results, data packages, processes, and final products meet quality specifications and customer expectations
• Contribute to process-improvement projects and help drive corrective/preventive actions to closure

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Role Levels & Typical Responsibilities

Quality Engineer 1 (Entry / Early Career)

• Typical salary range (provided by source): $87,800 - $143,000 per year
• Assist with implementation of institutional QA policies at the group level
• Support assessments and audits, and follow-up on corrective actions
• Apply basic quality control techniques, support documentation, and maintain tracking systems

Quality Engineer 2 (Experienced / Lead Contributor)

• Typical salary range (provided by source): $96,600 - $158,000 per year
• In addition to QE1 duties, expect to:
  • Prepare and train others on institutional QA policies and group procedures
  • Assist in managing investigations and causal analysis requiring corrective actions
  • Provide oversight of quality-owned processes (data package tracking, M&TE, NCRs)
  • Support ISO 17025 accreditation activities and group-level audits
  • Mentor QE1-level staff and lead process-improvement meetings

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What You Need

Minimum Qualifications — Quality Engineer 1

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, quality assurance, industrial systems engineering, or related field with a chemistry background, plus ~2 years related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Knowledge of chemistry laboratory analytical QA/QC and quality assurance methodologies
• Familiarity with ISO 17025, NAP 401.1, and NQA-1 protocols
• Understanding of audit and assessment practices and quality process improvements

Minimum Qualifications — Quality Engineer 2

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, quality assurance, industrial systems engineering, or related field with a chemistry background, plus ~5 years related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Demonstrated experience with laboratory QA/QC, ISO 17025, and audit practices
• Experience managing quality processes and driving process improvements

Desired / Preferred

• Experience with quality systems in analytical chemistry or other highly regulated laboratory environments
• Certifications in quality auditing or quality engineering
• Familiarity with Lean Six Sigma or similar process improvement techniques
• Active or prior Q clearance is advantageous

Notes on security and eligibility

• This position requires eligibility for a Q clearance. Obtaining and maintaining a Q clearance typically requires U.S. citizenship and successful completion of a federal background investigation. Confidential Client will follow all applicable federal requirements for clearance eligibility.

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Location & Work Arrangement

• Work location: Onsite in White Rock, NM (work may include a hybrid arrangement at management discretion). Occasional onsite reporting is required. Hybrid options, when offered, typically require the employee to be within a ~2 hour ground commute of the White Rock, NM worksite.
• This is a regular, full-time appointment (position commitment/eligibility requirements may apply per client policy).

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Compensation & Benefits

• Salary ranges provided in the source listing:
  • Quality Engineer 1: $87,800 - $143,000 per year
  • Quality Engineer 2: $96,600 - $158,000 per year
• Benefits (examples from the client’s program): medical, dental, vision, basic life/disability, paid leave, retirement plan, tuition assistance, wellness programs, and relocation assistance when applicable. Exact benefits depend on employment terms.

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Additional Details & Requirements

• The role may be subject to DOE/NNSA requirements and directives; candidates must meet applicable federal eligibility criteria for access to classified matter where required.
• New-employment drug testing and a substance-abuse policy apply; federal rules supersede state law regarding controlled substances.
• Reasonable accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities during the application and hiring process upon request.

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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.