Optical Engineer I

Share Between $68k and $102k Per Year Position range in Northern Region $83k - $176k Per Year Optical Engineer I Nevada National Security Site

Occupation:

Photonics Engineers

Location:

Los Alamos, NM - 87544 Positions available: 1 Job #: 11149

Source:

Nevada National Security Site

Posted:

03/09/2026

Web Site:

www.nnss.gov

Job Type:

Full Time (30 Hours or More) Job Requirements and Properties Help for Job Requirements and Properties. Opens a new window. Work Onsite Full Time Schedule Full Time Job Description Help for Job Description. Opens a new window. The Stockpile Experimentation and Operations, Technology and Operations (SEO T&O) Directorate is seeking a highly motivated individual with a strong work ethic and willingness to learn to join the Radiography and Imaging Systems Team within the Dynamic Instruments Section of SEO T&O. Dynamic Instruments is comprised of approximately 35 scientists, engineers, and technicians, and is the core for innovative diagnostic design, simulation, fabrication, characterization, and fielding in support of the NNSS' stockpile stewardship mission. The Radiography and Imaging Systems Team is specifically responsible for providing novel optical designs based on scientific requirements, making improvements/adjustments to current optical designs, diagnostic development for both visible and radiographic imaging, developing and characterizing all parts of the imaging chain, and participating in fielding efforts for stockpile stewardship experiments and other applications across the NNSA complex. The successful applicant would work as part of a small team designing, assembling, testing and characterizing, and providing fielding support on complex optical diagnostic systems for a wide variety of scientific experiments conducted at locations within the NNSS complex and national laboratory facilities under the supervision of experienced scientists and engineers. Some travel may be required. Key Responsibilities

• Develop solutions to routine technical problems of limited scope.
• Assist in optical analysis of various imaging systems.
• Perform hands on work in a lab that includes system assembly and performance characterization.
• Exercise discretion and judgement in collaboration with peers regarding how principles and methods are selected for and applied to work.
• Closely coordinate work efforts through interaction with peers, project leaders, and supervisor. May communicate with others internally to the NNSS.
• Execute projects with disciplined engineering principles including earned value management and configuration control
• Shadow work of more experienced engineers, scientists, and technicians while driving design innovation in a small team.

Additional Information Help for Additional Information. Opens a new window.

Minimum Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) required for Civil, Mechanical and Electrical engineering degrees;
• Or, Calculus-based STEM bachelor's degree in engineering
• Or, for Architects, Certification from the National Council or Architectural Registration Board (NCARB)
• Or Professional Engineer license
• Skill building experience must demonstrate either deeper technical specialization or additional cross-disciplinary knowledge. Graduate research experience may be recognized.
• Must be willing and able to travel as required by the job.
• The primary work location will be at the Los Alamos Operations located in Los Alamos, New Mexico.
• Work schedule for this position will be 4/10s, Monday through Thursday (subject to change).
• Pre-placement physical examination, which includes a drug screen, is required. MSTS maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing.
• Must possess a valid driver's license.

MSTS is required by DOE directive to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants offered employment with MSTS are also subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment. In addition, Applicants for employment must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship, at least 18 years of age. Reference DOE Order 472.2, "Personnel Security". If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted. Department of Energy Q Clearance (position will be cleared to this level). Reviews and tests for the absence of any illegal drug as defined in 10 CFR Part 707.4, "Workplace Substance Abuse Programs at DOE Sites," will be conducted. Applicant selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation, required to participate in subsequent reinvestigations, and must meet the eligibility requirements for access to classified matter. Successful completion of a counterintelligence evaluation, which may include a counterintelligence-scope polygraph examination, may also be required. Reference 10 CFR Part 709, "Counterintelligence Evaluation Program." MSTS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. MSTS is a background screening, drug-free workplace. Annual salary range for this position is: $67,704.00 to $101,566.40. Starting salary is determined based on the position market value, the individual candidate education and experience and internal equity. Visit the Employer site for more details Help for Employer Information. Opens a new window. Nevada National Security Site Social Links Connect with Nevada National Security Site Other Local Jobs from Nevada National Security Site Help for Other Local Jobs from. Opens a new window. Change to Grid view Pause Carousel Previous Slide Next Slide Slide 1 Slide 2 Slide 3 Optical Engineer II Nevada National Security Site Los Alamos, NM Photonics Engineers Regular | $83,075.20-$124,612.80 Year Government - 4 weeks ago The Stockpile Experimentation and Operations, Technology and Operations (SEO T&O) Directorate is seeking a highly motivated individual with a strong work ethic and willingness to learn to join the Radiography and Imaging Systems Team within the Dynamic Instruments Section of SEO T&O. Dynamic Instruments is comprised of approximately 35 scientists, engineers, and technicians, and is the core for innovative diagnostic design, simulation, fabrication, characterization, and fielding in support of the NNSS' stockpile stewardship mission. The Radiography and Imaging Systems Team is specifically responsible for providing novel optical designs based on scientific requirements, making improvements/adjustments to current optical designs, diagnostic development for both visible and radiographic imaging, developing and characterizing all parts of the imaging chain, and participating in fielding efforts for stockpile stewardship experiments and other applications across the NNSA complex. We are seeking to hire a highly motivated optical engineer in the Nevada National Security Sites (NNSS) Los Alamos Office, located in Los Alamos, NM. The successful applicant would work as part of a small team designing, assembling, testing and characterizing, and providing fielding support on complex optical diagnostic systems for a wide variety of scientific experiments conducted at locations within the NNSS complex and national laboratory facilities under the supervision of experienced scientists and engineers. Some travel may be required. Key Responsibilities

• Develop solutions to routine technical problems of limited scope.
• Assist in researching and analyzing data.
• Assist in developing solutions to problems of well-defined scope.
• Assist in optical analysis of various imaging systems.
• Perform hands on work in a lab that includes system assembly and performance characterization.
• Exercise discretion and judgement in collaboration with peers regarding how principles and methods are selected for and applied to work.
• Closely coordinate work efforts through interaction with peers, project leaders, and supervisor. May communicate with others both internally to the NNSS and with external collaborators.
• Participate in customer and program meetings as a contributor.
• Execute projects with disciplined engineering principles including earned value management and configuration control.
• Shadow work of more experienced engineers, scientists, and technicians while driving design innovation in a small team.

General Requirements (Outer) Skills (Inner) Specialized (Center) 0% Occupation 0% Education 0% Work Experience 0% Location 0% Salary N/A Job Skills N/A Shift N/A Min. Age N/A Drivers Lic. N/A DL Endorsements N/A Typing N/A Security Clearance N/A Language This chart is used to compare your background against this job to help to determine if you would be a good fit for this position. You match 0% of the General Job Requirements. You match 0% of the Skills Required, and you match 0% of the Specialized Job Requirements. End of interactive chart. View Share Detector Scientist II Nevada National Security Site Los Alamos, NM Mathematicians Regular | $83,075.20-$124,612.80 Year Government - 4 weeks ago Are you interested in joining some of the brightest talent in the world to strengthen the United States' security? Join the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), where our employees apply their expertise to create solutions for challenging, complex, and classified high-energy experiments that strengthen U.S. nuclear security. The Stockpile Experimentation and Operations Directorate is seeking a junior-level career scientist to engage with our national security mission in research, development, and experimentation. You will have the opportunity to work on teams that ensure the security of the United States and its allies by: supporting the stewardship of the nation's nuclear deterrent; executing national-level experiments in support of the National Nuclear Security Administration's National Laboratories; working with national security partners such as the Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, and other federal agencies on important national security activities; and providing long-term environmental stewardship of the NNSS's Cold War legacy. Candidate will assist in the design, modeling, characterization, testing, and experimental fielding of advanced electro-optical diagnostics, imaging, and radiographic systems for high-energy experimentation and systems characterization, with specific task direction and supervision from more experienced scientists, engineers, and project managers. Mentorship of less experienced workers in discipline is to be expected, with advancement opportunity commensurate with demonstrable expertise. Some fielding work occurs in nuclear and/or high-hazard facilities. Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to solutions of problems and issues with well-defined scope and moderate complexity, frequently applying established technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, and techniques, as well as technical knowledge to address problems and complete tasks with general supervision and limited guidance from more senior personnel, yet maintain frequent coordination with supervisor, project management, and related organizations.

• Productively and actively contribute to team endeavors yet exercise some independent discretion and judgement in how principles and methods are applied.
• Assist in researching, compiling, and analyzing scientific data, implement and use advanced computational methods and technological solutions for both operational and experimental needs, and initiate material procurement requests.
• Prepare technical reports and presentations, contribute insight and value to customer-project-programmatic meetings.
• Apply technical knowledge and skill to define specifications, propose designs/models, contribute to proposals and offer publications and constructive voice within the technical/scientific community.

General Requirements (Outer) Skills (Inner) Specialized (Center) 0% Occupation 0% Education 0% Work Experience 0% Location 0% Salary N/A Job Skills N/A Shift N/A Min. Age N/A Drivers Lic. N/A DL Endorsements N/A Typing N/A Security Clearance N/A Language This chart is used to compare your background against this job to help to determine if you would be a good fit for this position. You match 0% of the General Job Requirements. You match 0% of the Skills Required, and you match 0% of the Specialized Job Requirements. End of interactive chart. View Share See all jobs from Nevada National Security Site Location/Work Site Information Help for Location/Work Site Information. Opens a new window. Cost of Living Calculator Help for Cost of Living Calculator. Opens a new window. Compensation and Benefits Help for Compensation and Benefits. Opens a new window. Job Type and Required Hours Help for Job Type and Required Hours. Opens a new window. Work Experience Help for Work Experience. Opens a new window. Education and Training Help for Education and Training. Opens a new window. Skills Required Help for Skills Required. Opens a new window. Specialized Job Requirements Help for Specialized Job Requirements. Opens a new window. Occupation Information for Photonics Engineers Help for Occupation Information for Photonics Engineers. Opens a new window. Other Jobs and Employers Help for Jobs Available , opens a new window. Career Ladder Help for Career Ladder. Opens a new window. Personal Requirements Help for Personal Requirements. Opens a new window. Nature of the Work Help for Nature of the Work. Opens a new window. Work Values and Activities Help for Work Values and Activities. Opens a new window. This job was posted at http://www.nnss.gov/ on 03/09/2026. Change Job Search Criteria Print Job Order Opens in new window [ Do you have a comment or concern about this job posting? ]