Cleared Experienced R&D Systems Research Analyst - Naval Reactor Safeguards, Part-Time, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 120,900 - 242,500; Part time

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories seeks a Cleared Experienced R&D Systems Research Analyst to support Naval Reactor safeguards on a part‑time onsite basis in Washington, DC. The role combines systems engineering with information protection to enable mission execution while preventing disclosure of restricted naval propulsion information.

You will engage with interagency and international counterparts, translate complex requirements into practical processes, and develop training and briefing materials

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline; five years of directly relevant experience or equivalent.
• Active DOE Q clearance or equivalent.
• Experience translating complex security and technical requirements into practical processes.

Responsibilities

• Review NNPI protection practices; identify gaps and mitigations.
• Develop safeguards-friendly information-protection framework for controlled materials.
• Define information boundaries, redaction rules, and release workflows.
• Prepare briefings and memos for government stakeholders and interagency partners.
• Support interagency coordination by translating safeguards needs into engineering requirements.
• Create training materials and job aids for government and contractor personnel.
• Produce monthly progress updates and assessments under tight timelines.
• Apply systems engineering to high-consequence security problems.

Skills

Naval Reactors experience

Systems engineering

Information protection

Interagency coordination

Technical writing

Executive briefing

Policy & compliance

Stakeholder engagement

Cross-disciplinary teamwork

Training development

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline

Graduate degree (desirable)

Job description

Cleared Experienced R&D Systems Research Analyst - Naval Reactor Safeguards, Part-Time, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation’s premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting‑edge work in a broad array of areas.

What Your Job Will Be Like

We are seeking a R&D S&E, Systems Research professional to support U.S. Government efforts at the intersection of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information (NNPI) and international/state safeguards implementation. This role requires deep, hands‑on experience with Naval Reactors (NR) programs and naval reactor plant information, strong systems‑engineering discipline, and the ability to translate complex technical and security requirements into workable information‑protection processes that still enable mission execution.

• Review and assess existing NNPI protection practices, identify gaps/vulnerabilities, and recommend mitigations consistent with applicable security requirements and directives.
• Develop or refine a safeguards‑aligned information‑protection framework that enables safeguards obligations (e.g., managed access, declaration review, controlled disclosures) while preventing release of restricted naval propulsion information.
• Define and document information boundaries, redaction rules, controlled release processes, and decision workflows for sensitive technical materials.
• Prepare briefings, talking points, technical summaries, and decision memos for Government stakeholders; communicate clearly with interagency and (as appropriate) international counterparts.
• Support interagency coordination by interpreting safeguards implementation needs and translating them into practical engineering and information‑protection requirements.
• Develop and deliver training and awareness materials (slides, job aids, reference guides) and support orientations for Government and contractor personnel.
• Produce monthly progress updates and contribute to written assessments and final deliverables under short timelines.
• Apply systems engineering methods to ambiguous, high‑consequence problems involving security, compliance, and technical program execution.
• Work onsite in Washington D.C.

Salary Range

$120,900 - $242,500

*Salary range is estimated, and actual salary will be determined after consideration of the selected candidate’s experience and qualifications, and application of any approved geographic salary differential.

Qualifications We Require

A Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and five (5) years of directly relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of directly relevant education and engineering or scientific experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform independent research and development.

Active DOE Q clearance or Equivalent.

Qualifications We Desire

• Graduate degree in a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• The ability to understand, synthesize, and draw insights from multiple types of data streams (e.g., technical, economic, policy) through the use of various analytical tools.
• Experience working as part of multidisciplinary teams examining complex systems.
• Knowledge of the fundamentals of good project management, especially as it pertains to the execution of federally‑funded work (e.g., proposal development through annal review, final delivery, and closeout).
• Experience working with federal sponsors in the defense and intelligence sectors, as well as their domestic FFRDC partners, international partnering agencies, and foreign governments.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams delivering critical information to customers in a succinct manner.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing systems engineering products (requirements, interfaces, verification/validation approaches, technical baselines, decision documentation, or comparable artifacts).
• Experience working in high‑security, controlled‑information environments with rigorous handling requirements (e.g., classified, controlled unclassified, export‑controlled, or similarly restricted information).
• Strong technical writing and briefing skills; ability to produce clear materials for senior technical and policy stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively across organizations and disciplines (technical, security, policy, program management).
• Deep, direct experience supporting Naval Reactors (NR) / naval nuclear propulsion programs, including familiarity with how NNPI is generated, used, protected, and reviewed in real operational/programmatic contexts.
• Experience applying or supporting NNPI protection rules and implementing practical processes for controlled review, redaction, and release.
• Background supporting IAEA safeguards, U.S. safeguards policy implementation, State System of Accounting and Control (SSAC) concepts, managed access, or declaration review processes.
• Experience building information‑protection frameworks that reconcile competing requirements (mission execution vs. information restriction), including boundary definition and governance/workflow design.
• Experience supporting Government stakeholder engagement: interagency coordination, meeting facilitation, and preparation of executive‑level briefings.
• Training development experience (job aids, slide decks, reference guides) for technical/security audiences.

About Our Team

The mission of the International Safeguards and Engagements Department (6817) is to provide technical solutions to the international safeguards regime and support the development of safeguards and export control competencies in partner countries. Through our US government sponsors we research technologies, build capabilities, and provide analyses to support the international nuclear nonproliferation monitoring regime’s mission of ensuring that nuclear activities are used for peaceful purposes.

Posting Duration

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of three (3) calendar days, including the 'posting date'. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

Security Clearance

Position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q security clearance to start, or equivalent active security clearance with another U.S. government agency (e.g., DOD). Sandia is required by DOE directive to conduct a pre‑employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants for employment need to be able to maintain a DOE Q‑level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

EEO

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.

NNSA Requirements for MedPEDs

If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug‑releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.

If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on‑site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.

Position Information

This Limited Term Employee (LTE) position is a temporary position for one year term, which may be renewed at Sandia's discretion up to a maximum of seven years.

Individuals in LTE positions may bid on regular Sandia positions as internal candidates, and in some cases may be converted to regular career positions during their term if warranted by ongoing operational needs, continuing availability of funds, and satisfactory job performance.

• At Sandia, recruiters manually review resumes on each job posting instead of using a resume screening software program
• By following the best practices outlined, this ensures that recruiters can accurately determine your qualifications for the position