Materials Research Automation Engineer – Materials Research Staff Member

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

$117,180 - $148,608 Annually for the SES.1 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.

Job Description

We have an opening for a Materials Research Automation Engineer Staff Member to work in our Advanced Manufacturing & Materials Processing Section (AMMP). You will collaborate with a team of engineers and scientists to design, build, integrate, test, and maintain automation systems for the acceleration of materials discovery. Specifically, you will leverage industry-proven concepts and industrial automation technologies including but not limited to programmable logic controllers (PLC's), human machine interfaces (HMI's), machine vision systems, sensors, actuators, and various robot systems to build platforms capable of high-throughput, ML-driven, materials discovery. These positions are in the Materials Engineering Division (MED), within the Engineering Directorate.

In this role, you will

• Work independently, under general direction, to solve problems of limited complexity using standard techniques and methodologies and fundamental knowledge, and by adhering to defined practices and procedures.
• Design automation systems capable of high-throughput experimentation for materials discovery.
• Perform research and development of one or more of the following areas: Architected Responsive Materials, Additive/Advanced Manufacturing, High-throughput automaton, Material Modeling and Microscale Material Testing, alloy development.
• Organize, analyze, and present data from research, including documenting methods, assumptions, results, and insights in reports and presentations.
• Conduct research and analysis to address well defined problems.
• Pursue independent (but complementary) research interests and interact with scientists internal and external to the Laboratory.
• Collaborate with others in a multidisciplinary team environment to accomplish research goals, while also contributing to the fulfillment of technical projects and organizational objectives.
• Publish research results in peer-reviewed scientific or technical journals and present results at external conferences seminars and/or technical meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field, with an emphasis/concentration in Mechatronics, or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Fundamental knowledge and experience using architecting, programming, and commissioning complex PLC-based control systems for industrial applications.
• Experience and proficiency in programming and commissioning industrial robots (SCARA, 6-axis articulated).
• Fundamental knowledge of Beckhoff PLC architecture, programming, motion control, safety, and product lines.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Python, IEC 61131-3 (PLC) programming languages, SPEL+, and UR Scripting.
• Experience programming and tuning closed-loop control systems such as PID.
• Experience using Computer Aided Design (CAD) software tools for the design and simulation of mechanical assemblies.
• Experience with one or more of the following areas: Responsive metamaterial design, advanced additive manufacturing/3D printing systems (Nanoscribe, BMF systems), multimaterial printing, and alloy preparation and characterization.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary and dynamic team environment utilizing experience and fundamental knowledge of experimental design, techniques, and execution.
• Sufficient organizational and verbal and written communication skills to effectively collaborate in a team environment and present and explai