Mechanical Engineer 3 - Gas Processing Systems

Key Skills

3D CAD, AI Robotic systems, Algorithms, AutoCAD, Design, Effective communication skills, Employee life cycle, Mechanical, Operations, Statistics

Job Description

The ideal candidate is a well-organized, self-starter, with a high capacity for attention to detail, and interest in working on applied, national security focused projects. The candidate will work as a technical lead on tasks/sub-tasks, receiving guidance from the principal investigator/task lead and is expected select and develop technical approaches with occasional oversight on complex problems. They will be responsible for performing the following technical tasks with the level of quality, timeliness, and cost to meet required project and sponsor expectations. Responsibilities include:

• Produce 3D CAD designs and review designs of others
• Engage and coordinate with various PNNL crafts services to complete tasking creating custom parts, system fabrication and integration
• Define and lead project work and team (1-5 staff) at a small task/project level, reporting results to the larger team on time and manage small tasking within budget
• Perform hands on work in the lab using general tools and equipment
• Contribute to proposals, embrace expectations for quality, safety, and security

Responsibilities

• Designs, analyzes, manufactures, and maintains mechanical systems. Designs, produces, and operates machinery.
• Applies principles of engineering, physics, and materials science as well as an understanding of core areas including mechanics, kinematics, thermodynamics, materials science, structural analysis, and electricity along with tools like computer-aided design and product lifecycle management to design and analyze manufacturing plants, industrial equipment, and machinery; heating and cooling systems; transport systems; aircraft; watercraft; robotics; medical devices; weapons; and others.
• Researches, plans, designs, and develops mechanical products and systems such as instruments, controls, robots, engines, machines, and mechanical, thermal hydraulic, or heat transfer systems for production, transmission, measurement, and use of energy.
• Designs, develops, and implements numerical methods for Computational Fluid Dynamics or Structural Mechanics analyses using advanced programming techniques.
• Conducts research and evaluation of technologies and methods for efficient operation and control of energy, water, and other resource use in buildings and connected systems.
• Develops, analyzes, and tests technologies, facilitating their adoption and integration in commercial and residential buildings. Conducts state-of-art whole building energy simulation modeling at a large scale to address building type and climate zone variation across the country.
• Conducts engineering and economic analysis to advance building energy codes and appliance standards.
• Develops and applies building performance evaluation methods and field studies to identify building envelope, systems, and operational efficiency measures.
• Develops and applies meter and building automation system data measurement and monitoring methods to understand and optimize building performance.
• Optimizes the performance of building control systems with architectures systems integration and algorithms for maintaining the specific process within a desired range.
• Evaluates the impact of statutory and regulatory requirements on buildings and energy-using equipment.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS/BA and 5+ years of relevant work experience -OR-
• MS/MA and 3+ years of relevant work experience -OR-
• PhD with 1+ year of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated skills in 3D CAD software such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or similar.
• Demonstrated experience leading design efforts to production.
• Experience in gas processing hardware: Valves, fittings, sensors, etc.
• Hands-on experience in a lab-type atmosphere assembling hardware and testing.
• Experience in applying principles of engineering, physics, and component specification as well as an understanding of core areas including mechanics, kinematics, thermodynamics, materials science, structural analysis, and electricity.
• Applied electrical systems experience (e.g., low-voltage analog and digital systems).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and ability to communicate engineering outcomes to non expert technical staff and scientists.
• Experience leading tasks/small projects with teams of 1-5 staff.
• Experience and/or familiarity with gas processing systems.
• Experience with various radiation detector types
• FEA or CFD simulation experience is a plus.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively on diverse, interdisciplinary teams.

Previous technical experience in the following areas:

• Experience with machine design (statics/dynamics and stress analysis), heat transfer, and fluid mechanics.
• Basic knowledge of machining operations (mill, lathe, CNC, EDM, etc.) and welding techniques (MIG, TIG, orbital welding systems, etc.).
• CAD/drafting including finite element analysis.
• Gas processing and high vacuum experience.

Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment

• Laboratory work with vacuum, pressurized gases, cryogenics, radiation sources, and control/measurement systems
• Occasional domestic and international travel

Additional Information

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.

Requirements: 

• U.S. Citizenship
• Background Investigation: Applicants selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter in accordance with 10 CFR 710, Appendix B.
• Drug Testing: All Security Clearance positions are Testing Designated Positions, which means that the candidate selected is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. In addition, applicants must be able to demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the requisite Questionnaire for National Security Positions (QNSP). 

Note: Applicants will be considered ineligible for security clearance processing by the U.S. Department of Energy until non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for 12 months can be demonstrated.

Testing Designated Position

This position is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). The candidate selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing for illegal drugs, including marijuana, consistent with the Controlled Substances Act and the PNNL Workplace Substance Abuse Program.