Nuclear & Hazardous Materials Technician

Work Location

Los Alamos National Laboratory – Los Alamos, NM

Employment Type

Full-Time / Onsite

Clearance Type

DOE Q Clearance (Position will be cleared to this level)

Job Summary / Overview

Omega Technical Services is seeking Nuclear & Hazardous Materials Technicians I, II, III for the Plutonium Capability Low Level Waste and WCRRF Waste Operations (NPI-10) Division at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, NM. 

The Plutonium Capability Low Level Waste and Waste Characterization, Reduction, and Repackaging Facility (WCRRF) Operations group (NPI-10) is looking for highly motivated individuals to serve as level 1 Nuclear & Hazardous Materials Technician to join our TA-55 LLW Operations. NPI-10 ensures safe, efficient, and compliant waste management generated at the TA-55 Plutonium Facility, the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research (CMR) building, the TA-50 Radioactive Liquid Waste Treatment Facility (RLWTF), the Radiological Laboratory Utility Office Building (RLUOB) and Waste Characterization Repackaging Facility (WCRRF). We also provide ample opportunities to learn new skillsets and maintain a supportive environment when challenges arise. How we do our work is just as important as what we do. Our team members comply with a variety of nuclear management related requirements; work independently on challenging concurrent projects requiring close cooperation, adaptability, initiative, and willingness to provide support wherever needed to meet LANL's National Security Mission.

The Nuclear and Hazardous Materials Technician will interface with teams within the NPI division, with other groups within TA-55 and the Laboratory. The Technician will also provide support to move, load, transport, and store hazardous containers and/or waste material. As well as perform and review inspection and characterization information on containers to ensure proper handling and storage. Specific duties may include but are not necessarily limited to; technical assistance in fabrication, assembly, inspection, testing, analytical instrumentation, handling drums and/or other containers of hazardous materials or hazardous waste, operating forklifts and/or other mechanical loading/handling equipment, and performing nuclear material move transactions.

Nuclear and Hazardous Materials Technician 1

• Safety and security are a primary responsibility for all Laboratory employees. Assures safety and security compliance, maintains required safety and security training, and makes safety and security an integral part of every task, including taking the necessary steps to stop work if continuing the job is unsafe or compromises security.
• On track to gain sufficient experience so that all work, materials, processes and final product can meet quality specifications and can be completed according to established requirements.
• Conducts technical work in the laboratory space or work area, as instructed by supervisor. Records procedures, equipment, parameters used in technical work; captures finding and data. Analyzes routine findings and data, develops preliminary interpretation of results, summarizes outcomes, and plan next stages of routine technical work. Works primarily with supervisor in the conduct of technical work.
• Performs work at an entry technician level. Assignments are characterized by specific and detailed instructions for routine or semi-routine tasks, within established priorities, procedures, processes, requirements or specifications. Work is reviewed for soundness of judgement, overall adequacy and accuracy.
• Under supervision, loads, transport packages, and/or stores drums and/or other containers of hazardous waste and material.
• Under supervisions perform inspection and characterization information on waste containers to assure proper handling and/or storage.
• Ensures all hazardous material, hazardous waste or manufacturing results, materials, processes and final products meet quality specifications and are completed according to established requirements.
• Fosters a mutually respectful and inclusive work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment.
• Under supervision monitors VI/VE activities to prevent prohibited items, sort, segregate and repackage waste items. Beginning level understanding and under supervision, adheres to all Laboratory and industry regulatory guidance and governance specific to the management hazardous wastes and hazardous materials.
• May operate forklifts and/or other machinery to aid in the handling and/or loading of containers and manufacturing equipment.

Nuclear and Hazardous Materials Technician 2

• Safety and security are a primary responsibility for all Laboratory employees. Assures safety and security compliance, maintains required safety and security training, and makes safety and security an integral part of every task, including taking the necessary steps to stop work if continuing the job is unsafe or compromises security.
• Has gained sufficient experience so that all work, materials, processes and final product can meet quality specification and can be completed according to established requirements.
• Conducts technical work in the laboratory space or work area, as instructed by supervisor. Records procedures, equipment, parameters used in technical work; captures finding and data. Analyzes routine findings and data, develops preliminary interpretation of results, summarizes outcomes, and plan next stages of routine technical work. Works primarily with supervisor in the conduct of the technical work.
• Performs work at the semi-skilled technician level. Assignments are characterized by instructions for routine tasks, within established priorities, procedures judgement, overall adequacy and accuracy. Work is performed under limited supervision.
• Under supervision moves, loads, transports, packages, and/or stores drums and/or other containers of hazardous wastes and material.
• Under supervision performs inspection and characterization information on waste containers to assure proper handling and/or storage.
• Ensures all hazardous material, hazardous waste or manufacturing results, materials, processes and final products meet quality specifications and are completed according to established requirements.
• Fosters a mutually respectful and inclusive work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment.
• Assists in the upkeep and maintenance of records reflecting storage area, inventory and inspections, waste profiles, disposal requests, shipping paperwork, and waste characterization information.
• Operates forklifts and/or other machinery to aid in the handling and/or loading of containers and manufacturing equipment.

Nuclear and Hazardous Materials Technician 3

• Ensures all work, materials, processes and final product meet quality specifications and are completed according to established requirements.
• Under minimal supervision moves, loads, transports, packages, and/or stores drums and/or other containers of hazardous wastes and or hazardous materials.
• Under minimal supervision performs and reviews inspection and characterization information on containers to assure proper handling and/or storage.
• Performs the upkeep and maintenance of records reflecting storage area, inventory and inspections, waste profiles, disposal requests, shipping paperwork, and waste characterization information.
• Ability to perform VI/VE activities to prevent prohibited items, sort, segregate and repackage waste items. Understands and adheres to all Laboratory and industry regulatory guidance and governance specific to the management of hazardous wastes and hazardous materials.
• Assists in conducting research, investigating alternative solutions, and recommending solutions on problems affecting material handling, waste handling or manufactured items.
• May serves as the point-of-contact or SME for waste or manufacturing activities.

MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Job Requirements: NHMT-1

• Able to learn to work to technical objectives of assignments.
• Understands success in a team environment and the need for collaborative behavior.
• Understands the need for safety, security, and quality assurance practices for work assignment, and learns and implements required practices for the work assignment.
• Basic knowledge of handling and/or transporting hazardous waste and hazardous materials.
• Basic knowledge with applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations relating to the handling of solid, liquid, hazardous, radioactive, and/or mixed wastes.
• Basic introductory understanding of work hazards, safety practices, operating configurations, and lock-out/tag-out policies and procedures.
• Ability to understand inspection and/or characterization data on waste containers.
• Familiar with the Laboratory's waste handling policies, practices, and procedures.
• Familiar with legal requirements and environmental impacts affecting facility operations and administration.
• Ability to complete job specific/site specific required training

Minimum Job Requirements: NHMT-2

• Demonstrated experience in emerging technical specialty.
• Works to technical objectives of assignments.
• Works in a team environment and exhibits collaborative behavior.
• Basic knowledge of and experience with handling and/or transporting solid, liquid, hazardous, radioactive, and/or mixed wastes.
• Basic knowledge of applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations relating to the handling of hazardous wastes.
• Basic understanding of work hazards, safety practices, operating configurations, and lock-out/tag-out policies and procedures.
• Basic level understanding and under supervision adheres to all Laboratory and industry regulatory guidance and governance specific to the management of hazardous wastes and hazardous materials.
• Ability to understand inspection and/or characterization data on waste containers.
• Assists in conducting research, investigating alternative solutions, and recommending solutions on problems affecting material handling, waste handling or manufactured items.
• Ability to aide in the preparation of waste handling reports or manufactured build paperwork.
• Knowledge and implementation of required safety, security, and quality assurance practices for the work assignment, including calibration concepts and protocols as appropriate.
• Knowledge of the Laboratory's fissile material handler, material handling and or waste handling policies, practices, and procedures for the work assigned.
• Knowledge of legal requirements and environmental impacts affecting facility operations and Administration.
• Ability to complete job specific/site specific required training.

Minimum Job Requirements: NHMT-3

• Technical work, such as radiological materials handling; analytical procedures; materials characterization or testing; assembly; mechanical systems; welding; etc.
• Specialized training and knowledge for working in hazardous environments such as those involving, radiological or fissile materials.
• Reading drawings and schematics and using digital test equipment.
• Knowledge in computers software applications such as the MS suite.
• Knowledge of and experience with handling and/or transporting hazardous wastes.
• Knowledge of applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations relating to the handling of solid, liquid, hazardous, radioactive, and/or mixes wastes.
• Understanding of work hazards, safety practices, operating configurations, and lock-out/tag-out policies and procedures.
• Ability to understand inspection and/or characterization data on waste containers.
• Ability to conceptualize and communicate major elements of waste handling processes, policies, and procedures to technical and non-technical personnel.
• Ability to aide in the preparation of waste handling reports or manufacturing build paperwork.
• Knowledge of the Laboratory's fissile material handler, material handling or waste handling policies, practices, and procedures.
• Knowledge of legal requirements and environmental impacts affecting facility operations and administration.
• Maintain Job specific/site specific required training.
• Maintain relevant certification and training requirements for the performance of their duties (e.g., CDL, preparation of waste profile forms, incidental crane, etc.
• Work to technical objectives of assignments.
• Work successfully in a team environment and exhibit collaborative behavior.

Communication: Ability to follow detailed procedures effectively, both orally and in writing and demonstrated experience in aiding in the preparation of reports.

Skills/Expertise: Ability to operate mechanical equipment such as forklifts or other types of mechanical lifting devices. Ability to work with radioactive or other hazardous materials as dictated by programmatic needs. Basic knowledge of handling and/or transporting hazardous waste and hazardous materials. Ability to understand inspection and/or characterization data on waste containers.

Teamwork: Demonstrate ability to work as a team member in a conscientious, professional, and responsible manner in a multi-disciplinary environment, and interact effectively with a variety of organizations.

Education/Experience:  Position requires a High School diploma or equivalent.
 

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Basic knowledge of one or more of the following: NNSS Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC), LANL WAC, and the LANL Mew Mexico Environmental Department permit.
• Some experience with nuclear criticality safety, material control and accountability, radiological protection, safety basis compliance, waste minimization, and waste management.
• Basic knowledge of Low-Level Waste or other regulated waste packaging requirements. Some experience with accounting/management systems such as WCATS and LANMAS.
• RADWORKER, HAZWOPER, RCRA certification and the ability to obtain certification as a forklift operator. Site specific training at TA55, RLWTF, RLUOB, CMR, and WCRRF.
• An active Q clearance with HRP

Why Omega Technical Services?

Omega Technical Services is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business and a trusted partner supporting the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, and other government clients on mission-critical projects.  We offer competitive pay, benefits, and the opportunity to work on impactful projects in national security and technology.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Omega Technical Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, or status as a qualified individual with a disability or protected veteran.