Job Description (show details...)

Summary

Provides technical support associated with various types of measurement, equipment calibration, and inspection. Types of measurements may include, but are not limited to, dimensions, density, optics, radiation, and nuclear material accountability. Equipment calibrations may include, but are not limited to, dimensional, physical, and electrical. Specific duties may include setting up and operating a wide variety of precise testing and/or inspection equipment, conducting precision measurements, tests, and inspections, validating results, and reporting data. Provides technical expertise in assembly of high-reliability custom hardware, and methodologies to inspect and verify the performance. Establishes and maintains an organizational quality assurance program, developing the formal documentation processes, and ensuring implementation. Establishes and maintain a formal documentation, archival and retrieval system that supports trend analysis, and failure resolution. Reviews recommended corrective actions for engineering changes, failure reports, and nonconforming materials and approve for the quality assurance organization. Develops and implements training plans that meet industry standards for high-reliability hardware. Acts as the Instructor to teach the training modules to assemblers and inspectors. Ensures an audit plan is in place and that audits are performed on a periodic basis. Reviews and approves new assembly processes and procedures. Works independently and acts as a lead member of the quality assurance team.

Job Duties

1. Safety and security are a primary responsibility for all Laboratory employees. Maintains required safety and security training, assures safety and security compliance, 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.
2. Determines conditions under which tests are to be conducted and phases of advanced test operations.
3. Perform or manage the set up, calibration, operation, maintenance, and repairs of a wide variety of precise and complex inspection equipment.
4. Conducts and/or manages precision measurements, tests, and inspections on instruments, materials, parts, and assemblies to determine their conformance to precision specifications.
5. Validates and authenticates advanced measurements and/or experimental results.
6. Prepares detailed technical reports for use by management and engineering personnel.
7. Develops advanced calibration and/or measurement techniques for new or one-of-a-kind instruments, equipment, and/or systems.
8. Manage the design and implementation of cost-effective methods of testing and troubleshooting systems and equipment.
9. Coordinates the labor, schedules, and equipment required for testing and evaluating standard and special devices.
10. Characterize trends in instrument performance that require recalibration or servicing of the instrument/equipment.
11. Exercises considerable latitude in determining technical objectives of assignments, which may be completed without established procedures.
12. Provides solutions to a variety of technical problems of sophisticated scope and complexity.
13. Work is performed without appreciable direction.
14. Performs access control and MASS transfers.
15. Establishes and maintains instrument control limits.
16. May direct activities of less experienced quality control inspectors/technicians, as assigned.
17. Within assigned area, monitors the performance and overall progress of less experienced inspectors /technicians to ensure adherence to applicable governing procedures.
18. May ensures the development of training modules for training Laboratory inspectors and provision of the training following the module.
19. May be responsible for the receipt inspection, operations or construction quality control program activities within an assigned area of responsibility.
20. Responsible for the performance of a broad range of quality control inspection and test activities within an assigned area of responsibility.
21. Ensures that the activities of assigned subcontractors are monitored to determine compliance of construction, material and installation with project specifications and quality control criteria.
22. May supervise a specific quality control discipline, e.g., civil/structural, mechanical, receipt inspections, etc.
23. Responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating processes, procedures, and applications contributing to the overall objectives of maintaining an effective quality control inspection / test program.
24. Prepares quality control (QC) procedures for review, approval, and issuance per approved Los Alamos National Security procedures.
25. Prepares quality control inspection plans, procedures, and checklists.
26. May function as a receipt inspector 3.
27. Ensures the preparation, review, indexing, classifying, storing, preserving, safekeeping, maintenance, and transmitting administrative and QC records.
28. Participates in the planning, conduct, and reporting management assessments within assigned areas.
29. Interfaces with the issues management system/personnel to assure completion of required and scheduled corrective actions.
30. May represent area of QC inspection/testing responsibility with all levels of management, Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA), external suppliers, contractors, and other Laboratory personnel.
31. Independently coordinates with directorate / division level issues management coordinators, facility operations directors, and DOE/NNSA facility representatives to prioritize and resolve all open issues and corrective actions associated with identified non-conformances.
32. Initiates, validates, and closes non-conformance reports issued to report non-conformances identified during inspection and testing activities.
33. May develop a materials and test equipment (MTE) program/procedure that addresses use, control, and calibration of MTE.
34. May approve applicable facility integrated work documents (IWDs).
35. May use Lean Six Sigma yellow belt techniques to improve quality control (QC) processes.
36. Collects and analyzes customer feedback data and conducts continuous quality improvement activities.
37. Reports metrics assigned to area of responsibility and initiates improvements thereto.
38. Ensures all ESHQ quality assurance results, materials, processes and final products meet quality specifications and are completed according to established requirements.
39. Fosters a mutually respectful work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment.
40. Responsible for establishing and maintaining an organizational quality assurance program, developing the formal documentation processes, and ensuring implementation based on programmatic and organizational need as directed by line or program management, self-initiates work on daily basis.

Job Knowledge

• Advanced knowledge of physics, chemistry, mathematics, and/or electronics.
• Advanced knowledge and experience related to mathematical problem solving.
• Senior experience operating a variety of testing and/or inspection equipment relating to the measurement of dimensions, density, optics, radiation, and/or nuclear material accountability.
• Senior experience making dimensional, physical, and/or electrical calibrations.
• Advanced experience with precision, accuracy and bias values.
• Advanced knowledge with destructive and non-destructive assay and the ability to differentiate.
• Senior experience and demonstrated skill in conducting research, investigating alternative solutions, and recommending solutions on problems affecting test-measurement development and administration.
• Senior skill to conceptualize and communicate major elements of test-measurement.
• Senior skill in the preparation and presentation of test-measurement results.
• Applies advanced knowledge of the job, test-measurement technical and Laboratory policies and principles to complete a wide range of tasks.
• Senior knowledge of legal requirements and environmental impacts affecting test-measurement development and administration and environmental impacts associated with materials used to assemble electronic hardware.
• Knowledge and experience with accountability, verification and confirmation measurements and the ability to differentiate.
• Knowledge and experience in monitoring the performance of qualified instruments for trends that may require the recalibration or servicing of the instrument.
• Experience with material control, access control and MASS.
• Familiarity with precision and accuracy for instrument control.
• Technical knowledge of receipt inspection methods and quality control field inspections relating to a single discipline. Interfacing with all areas, or in a multi-discipline position assigned to a single area.
• Senior-level knowledge of common and unique work hazards, occupational safety practices, operating configuration, and lock-out/tag-out policies and procedures.
• Proven ability to understand and interpret various physical, civil/structural, mechanical, and electrical documents, blueprints, drawings, and schematics.
• Proven ability to manage multiple tasks concurrently with no supervision.
• Expert knowledge and experience with electrical design, assembly, repair, and installation processes.
• Expert knowledge of electrical components to determine value, polarity, and proper orientation.
• Expert knowledge of machining and mechanical assembly practices.
• Expert knowledge of electro-static discharge (ESD) affects to electronic components and mitigating techniques.
• Ability to read and understand electrical and/or mechanical assembly instructions, drawings, bill-of materials, and other related specifications.
• Knowledge of the Laboratory's ES&H-related policies, practices, and procedures including use of proper personal protection equipment to mitigate exposure hazards.
• Ability to lead, instruct and direct the work of others

Education

• Position typically requires a recognized degree in an engineering or scientific discipline; or specialized courses in related engineering disciplines; or American Society for Quality Inspector Certifications; or six years of satisfactory performance as a receipt inspector 2 in the corresponding inspection, examination, or testing activitiesor, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.  At this level, additional training, certification, and/or education may be expected, including associate’s degrees and graduation from technical institutions.

Direction

A. Supervision Received

• Receives functional and operational direction from the manager.

B. Supervision Exercised

• Provides functional and operational direction to reporting test-measurement technical support, suppliers, and/or clerical employees, if assigned.

C. Contacts

• Regular contact with engineers, other facility personnel, and technicians.

This description is not intended to be a complete statement of every aspect of the position, but rather to act as a guide to the essential functions to be performed. Assigned functions of this job may vary, and other duties and responsibilities may be assigned or changed at the discretion of management.