Underground Utility Locator 3 (Designer/Drafter 3)

What You Will Do

Make an Impact. Protect Critical Infrastructure. Shape the Future of the Laboratory.

Join a highly skilled team that plays a vital role in protecting the people, infrastructure, and mission-critical operations of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The Utilities and Infrastructure (UI) Engineering Group provides essential subsurface mapping and utility investigation services across all Laboratory Technical Areas. Your work directly supports safe excavation, construction, and maintenance activities that enable the Laboratory's national security mission.

As an Underground Utility Locator, you will apply your surveying and locating expertise to identify, verify, and map subsurface utilities using electromagnetic locating systems, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), GPS, AutoCAD, and other advanced field technologies. You will support projects ranging from routine maintenance to major infrastructure upgrades-ensuring that all underground utilities, including electrical, water, gas, sewer, steam/condensate, and communications systems, are accurately located and documented prior to any excavation.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys independent fieldwork, takes pride in technical accuracy, and values teamwork with engineers, construction supervisors, project managers, and contractors. Successful candidates are safety-driven, detail-oriented, and skilled at interpreting plans, maps, and subsurface conditions. You will contribute to a culture of excellence, continuous improvement, and respectful collaboration across the institution.

In this role, your primary responsibilities will include:

• Perform underground utility investigations using electromagnetic locating equipment, GPR, and related technologies
• Interpret utility prints, as-built drawings, GIS data, and site conditions to determine probable utility alignments
• Clearly and accurately mark utilities in the field using paint, flags, and whiskers following APWA color guidelines
• Collect GPS survey data for undocumented lines, utility upgrades, and new installations
• Create and update detailed subsurface utility maps using AutoCAD
• Prepare and issue complete excavation permit packages, including permit coversheets and updated utility maps
• Coordinate with GIS and mapping teams to ensure newly identified utilities are correctly captured and documented
• Review NM811 tickets and provide technical guidance regarding third-party utilities
• Maintain, troubleshoot, and properly care for locating instruments, transmitters, receivers, GPS units, and GPR equipment
• Communicate field findings to PICs, Superintendents, Project Managers, and excavation personnel
• Support safe-dig operations and reinforce excavation safety protocols
• Participate in ongoing professional development, training, and certification activities

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

• Intermediate experience using underground utility locating tools, including electromagnetic locating systems
• Ability to read and interpret utility drawings, as-builts, GIS layers, and site maps
• Experience using AutoCAD or similar CAD platforms to produce or revise utility drawings
• Understanding of subsurface utility engineering (SUE) concepts and utility marking standards
• Working knowledge of common underground infrastructure: electrical, water, sewer, natural gas, steam/condensate, and communications systems
• Strong documentation skills, including accurate field notes, sketches, and written reports
• Effective verbal and written communication skills; ability to collaborate with engineers, construction personnel, and contractors
• Demonstrated commitment to working safely in outdoor environments with variable weather and terrain

Education/Experience for Designer/Drafter 3: Position requires an Associate's Degree in an Engineering or Technical field and 3 years of related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Desired Qualifications:

• Hands-on experience operating GPR equipment and interpreting GPR data
• Prior use of GPS survey equipment for utility locating or mapping
• Familiarity with digital utility mapping workflows and documentation systems
• Knowledge of 811 damage-prevention practices, SUE levels, and excavation safety standards
• Ability to troubleshoot locating equipment and interpret anomalies
• Experience working with GIS or mapping teams to integrate field data into enterprise mapping systems
• Experience merging GPS survey data and CAD files into GIS environments

Work Location: This position is onsite in Los Alamos, NM. Field assignments may vary based on operational needs and management direction.

Essential Job Functions: Field duties may include walking, standing, kneeling, crouching, bending, working in excavations, navigating uneven terrain, lifting up to 50 lbs, climbing steps/ladders, and working outdoors in varying weather conditions (snow, rain, heat, cold). Ability to work safely in construction zones, high-traffic areas, and restricted-security environments is required.

Position Commitment: Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position in order to be eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the time required, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. The position commitment for this position is 1 year.

Note to Applicants: Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China - including the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau - as well as citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and the Russian Federation, who are not Lawful Permanent Residents ("green card" holders) are prohibited from accessing facilities that support the mission, functions, and operations of national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, which includes Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Why You'll Love This Job:

• Your expertise truly matters. Every locate you perform directly protects people, infrastructure, and mission-critical operations that support national security. Your work will have a clear, immediate impact-every day.
• You'll work with cutting-edge technology. From GPR to GPS survey equipment to advanced electromagnetic locating systems and CAD/GIS tools, you'll use a full suite of modern instruments to solve complex subsurface challenges.
• No two days are the same. You'll work across a wide variety of sites and conditions, interpreting clues, solving problems, and uncovering the unseen. This role blends technical skill, fieldwork, and investigative thinking.
• You'll be part of a respected, highly skilled team. Our locators are valued experts who collaborate closely with engineers, project managers, construction teams, and GIS specialists. Your insights will influence planning, design, and safe-dig decisions across the Laboratory.
• Your professional growth is a priority. LANL offers regular training, certification opportunities, and ongoing technical development in utility locating, SUE practices, GPS/data collection, CAD/GIS integration, and more.
• You'll contribute to a mission bigger than yourself. Few locating roles allow you to support national-level scientific and security projects. Here, your work helps enable research and infrastructure essential to the nation.
• You'll work in an environment that values safety, integrity, and teamwork. This role is ideal for someone who takes pride in doing things right and wants to be part of an organization that supports high standards.

Where You Will Work

Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:

• PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network
• Dental and vision insurance
• Free basic life and disability insurance
• Paid maternity and parental leave
• Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
• Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
• Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)
• Onsite gyms and wellness programs
• Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)

Additional Details

Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.

Clearance: Q (Position will be cleared to this level). Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government, and must meet eligibility requirements* for access to classified matter. This position requires a Q clearance. and obtaining such clearance requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Dependent upon the position, additional authorization to access classified information may be required, which may or may not be available to dual citizens. Receipt of a Q clearance and additional access authorization ultimately is a decision of the Federal Government and not of Triad.

• Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order 472.2 for additional information.

New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.

Regular Position: Term status Laboratory employees applying for regular-status positions are converted to regular status.

Internal Applicants: Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy P701 for applicant eligibility requirements.

Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to protected categories such as race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.

The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request a disability accommodation, email applyhelp@lanl.gov or call (505) 664-6947, opt. 3.