Startup Engineer

Strategic Management Solutions, LLC (SMSI) provides expert management consulting, program and project management, and technical consulting services to government and private-sector clients. SMSI has built a strong reputation for client-focused performance, delivering innovative solutions and measurable results that help clients achieve their goals, meet critical commitments, and successfully reach key milestones.

Job Summary

SMSI is seeking a Startup Engineer to support our client, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The Engineer is responsible for serving as the primary liaison between PSD-DO and PPI-DO, representing PPI in the Project Owner Role (POR) on construction projects. This position requires working onsite at LANL and active Q clearance.

The position requires exceptional organizational, analytical, communication, and project management skills, with a proven ability to lead, mentor, and coordinate multidisciplinary construction teams while maintaining a strong focus on safety, security, quality, schedule, and cost performance.

Responsibilities

• The Startup Engineer is responsible for serving as the primary liaison between PSD-DO and PPI-DO, representing PPI in the Project Owner Role (POR) on construction projects.
• Ensure end-user requirements are met across design, procurement, installation, and hot testing.
• Mentor new PPI employees on PF4 operations and plant functionality.
• Collaborate closely with project disciplines through meetings, walkdowns, design reviews, equipment inspections, and testing to keep project execution on budget and schedule.
• Develop, maintain, and submit project schedules, cost estimates, budget forecasts, and other required program documentation.
• Coordinate facility upgrades requirements with personnel requests and anticipated technical and operational needs.
• Monitor project milestones, deliverables, resources, and performance to ensure commitments are met.
• Support planning and execution of facility improvements to enhance technical capabilities and meet future mission requirements.
• Maintain effective communication and coordination among technical personnel and program management.
• Emphasize and promote safety, security, environmental stewardship, and compliance while accomplishing program objectives.
• Identify program risks, resource constraints, schedule concerns, and cost issues and provide recommendations to management.
• Maintain accurate program documentation and records in accordance with applicable requirements.
• Train and mentor designated replacement personnel to ensure continuity of ongoing program management responsibilities and processes.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of organizational and mission requirements.
  
  
  

Required Skills/ Abilities

• 20 years of experience supporting LANL in construction or technical management is required.
• Experience mentoring and coordinating multidisciplinary technical teams and project deliverables.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop schedules, cost estimates, forecasts, and program reports.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to brief management.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while meeting established schedules and deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively in a highly regulated, safety-conscious, and security-focused environment.
• An active DOE Q clearance is required.
• US citizenship is required.
• An active Real-ID driver’s license is required.
  
  
  

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline and a minimum of 20 years of relevant technical experience at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).

Equal Opportunity Employer

Strategic Management Solutions, LLC (SMSI) is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.