Materials Engineer

Pantex Plant | Amarillo, TX

Key Responsibilities

• Daily Duties

• Utilize SAP for material definition, part numbers, raw material requisitions, and testing parameters, ensuring alignment with specifications and drawings.

• Review material lots for production and verify adherence to chemical and mechanical benchmarks.

• Evaluate weapon assembly and disassembly procedures, confirming material call-outs (e.g., adhesives, sealants, foams, coatings) meet design requirements.

• Ensure curing times, mixing ratios, and application techniques comply with engineering specifications.

• Respond to process issues or material failures on the production line or during acceptance testing.

• Initiate root-cause investigations and conduct engineering evaluations for failures.

• Coordinate with Quality Assurance to document issues via Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs).

• Generate technical justifications for "use-as-is" or scrap decisions.

• Monitor laboratory testing or pilot-scale blending and packaging operations.

• Ensure daily material testing procedures (e.g., tensile strength, durometer hardness, thermal properties, chemical composition) align with guidance.

• Calibrate testing equipment as required.

• Weekly & Collaborative Duties

• Collaborate with Pantex Process Engineers to align material processing requirements with production realities.

• Confirm material working-life constraints fit within assembly schedules.

• Coordinate with specialized tooling to accommodate material behaviors (e.g., viscosity, thermal expansion).

• Maintain continuous technical contact with Design Agencies at LANL, SNL, LLNL, and other sites like KCNSC to synchronize manufacturing plans with design intent and weapon certification.

• Proactively identify at-risk raw materials, chemical precursors, or COTS components due to obsolescence, legislative changes, geopolitical factors, or design flaws.

• Track at-risk items and coordinate Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) efforts to qualify alternative material substitutes.

• Project-Based & Advanced Engineering Duties

• Plan, design, and execute Design of Experiments (DoE) for material research and long-term weapon compatibility assessment.

• Determine critical engineering properties (e.g., elastic modulus, thermal conductivity, density, tensile strength).

• Apply materials science knowledge to propose process or material changes for performance optimization, cost reduction, and manufacturing yield improvement.

• Lead and manage modernization projects, including new equipment implementation (mixing, blending, packaging) and transitioning manual to advanced processes.

• Write and qualify standard operating procedures for new systems.

• Participate in Management Self-Assessments (MSAs), readiness reviews, and hazard analyses for new materials or process changes in nuclear explosive areas.

• Ensure material handling, storage (including high explosive storage), and application processes conform to Documented Safety Analyses (DSA) and federal directives.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Minimum Job Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in engineering/science/information technology discipline.

• Master's Degree in engineering/science/information technology discipline.

• Department of Energy (DOE) Order 426.2A Requirements:

• Baccalaureate in engineering or related science, 2 years job-related and at least 1 year nuclear experience, OR a DOE O 426.2A alternative.

• DOE O 426.2A experience requirements can be satisfied following employment. In the interim, newly hired personnel will not be assigned duties that could impact the safety basis of nuclear facilities.

• Requires a Q clearance; however, all qualified candidates will be considered regardless of current clearance status.

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Energy Q clearance is required.

• Position may require entry into Materials Access Areas (MAA) and participation in the Human Reliability Program (HRP).

• If HRP is required, candidate must complete a counterintelligence-scope polygraph, pursuant to 10 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 709.

• Medical requirements may apply.

• Pantex is a drug-free workplace. Candidates accepting a job offer will be required to pass a pre-placement physical, drug screening, and background investigation.

• U.S. citizenship is a requirement for security clearance applicants.

• All employees are subject to random selection for drug testing without advance notification.

• Preferred Job Requirements

• Minimum GPA for up to four years post-graduation, confirmed by transcript at the time of offer. Beyond four years from graduation, relevant experience will supersede GPA.

• Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum 3.0/4.0 cumulative GPA.

• Master’s Degree with a minimum 3.3/4.0 cumulative GPA.

• PhD with a minimum 3.5/4.0 cumulative GPA.

• General knowledge of materials engineering and testing, kitting, and materials handling.

• Knowledge of procedure writing and general understanding of the Unreviewed Safety Question (USQ) Process.

• Experience working with Design Agencies and familiarity with common documentation requirements.

• Knowledge of System Applications and Products in Data Processing (SAP).

• Demonstrated computer skills and knowledge of software applications including Microsoft Office.

• Ability to effectively communicate through oral and written word.