Mechanical and Materials Engineer Academic Graduate Appointee

Company Description

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Are you interested in joining some of the brightest talent in the world to strengthen the United States’ security? Come join Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) where our employees apply their expertise to create solutions for BIG ideas that make our world a better place.

We are dedicated to fostering a culture that values individuals, talents, partnerships, ideas, experiences, and different perspectives, recognizing their importance to the continued success of the Laboratory’s mission.

Pay Range

$7,035.00 ‐ $8,040.00 monthly

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe 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.

Job Description

We have an opening for a Mechanical and Materials Engineer Academic Graduate Appointee. You will work under the guidance of staff members to execute on experiments and activities in the areas of mechanical systems design and software integration, materials formulation, materials characterization, and materials and manufacturing process development for projects in support of LLNL programs. This position is in the Materials Engineering Division (MED), within the Engineering Directorate.

In this role, you will

• Work under the general guidance of staff materials engineers in areas such as mechanical system design and software integration, materials and manufacturing processes development, materials processing, and materials characterization, to resolve process problems in the areas of functional materials and advanced manufacturing.
• Conduct, analyze and present data from experiments to develop and improve advanced manufacturing processes and understanding of materials.
• Determine solutions to technical problems involving the processing and utilization of materials by reviewing scientific and technical literature and experimental techniques.
• Disseminate results, including methods developed, and keep current on materials and manufacturing processes, development/characterization methods.
• Collaborate with scientists, engineers, and technicians to accomplish research goals.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field.
• Experience with fixture design and manufacturing for process improvement.
• Sufficient verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively collaborate in a team environment and to prepare, present, and explain technical results.
• Experience in hardware design (CAD) and software integration (LabView/MATLAB).
• Experienced in off the shelf 3D printing systems (FDM and SLA) and experience working with shop tools (mills, lathes, etc.).
• Strong initiative, interpersonal skills, creativity, and ability to work in a collaborative multidisciplinary team environment.  

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with several material characterization techniques.
• Familiarity with Lua scripting.
• Previous LLNL internship experience relating to mechanical integration of DIW and PuSL systems.

Additional Information

#LI-Onsite

Position Information

This is a one-year Academic Graduate Appointee, open to those who have been awarded a degree at the time of the employment offer.

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2025 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Flexible Benefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Our core beliefs - visit https://www.llnl.gov/inclusion/our-values

Security Clearance

None required.  However, this position involves U.S. Export Control; this work must be performed by a U.S. person (U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, U.S. national, or U.S. protected individual (e.g., refugee, asylee)).

If your assignment is longer than 179 days cumulatively within a calendar year, you must go through the Personal Identity Verification process.  This process includes completing an online background investigation form and receiving approval of the background check.  (This process d