Cleared Senior/Principal, Deputy Chief Engineer, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories; New Mexico; On-site; USD 118,000 - 236,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Affordable housing

Minimal traffic congestion

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico seeks a Cleared Senior/Principal Deputy Chief Engineer to join a core team designing and flight testing a new re-entry vehicle. Onsite work, with DoD sponsorship, and a DOE security clearance are required for this senior role.

You will lead across system requirements, software/algorithms, and electrical/avionics areas, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and external partners in a high‑stakes environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and five years of directly relevant experience.
• DOE Q-level security clearance or equivalent to start and maintain.
• Ability to travel up to 25% of your time.
• Graduate degree in Engineering or related field preferred.
• Experience with nuclear security enterprise facilities and projects.
• Experience across engineering design, qualification, production or modelling/simulation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the team in system and component requirements, software and algorithms.
• Develop electrical ground support equipment, avionics, and controls.
• Contribute to multi‑disciplinary design reviews and schedules.
• Respond to quick-turn sponsor requests and manage funding gaps.
• Communicate updates and risks to DoD sponsor and stakeholders.
• Define and execute project development from concept to launch.

Skills

Security clearance

Flight vehicles

Electrical testing

Systems engineering

Leadership

Team leadership

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

MS in Aeronautical/Electrical Eng

Tools

Microsoft Project

P6 scheduling

Job description

Cleared Senior/Principal, Deputy Chief Engineer, 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. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide

Extraordinary co‑workers

Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world

Career advancement and enrichment opportunities

Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten‑hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part‑time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)

Generous vacation, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

World‑changing technologies. Life‑changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://www.sandia.gov

*These benefits vary by job classification.

What Your Job Will Be Like:

We are seeking a Deputy Chief Engineer to join our core team designing and flight testing a new re‑entry vehicle. This position requires a commitment to the long‑term success of the program, which will result in multiple flight tests for the US DoD. Our current team includes an experienced Chief Engineer, Lead Mechanical, Aero, and Test Engineers, a dedicated System Engineering team, and Flight Software and Avionics teams. We are looking to fill out the organizational structure by hiring a Deputy with experience preferably in Electrical Engineering, Software and Algorithms, Aeronautical engineering, or a related field that complements the existing team’s skills. Our program is entering an exciting phase of execution after successfully completing our Systems Requirements Reviews for the conceptual designs for the vehicle.

On any given day you may be expected to work closely with our internal team across the Labs, collaborate with our external partners on the East Coast, or communicate updates, challenges and successes to our DoD sponsor. You may be responsible for leading the team in responding to quick‑turn requests from the sponsor ranging from updates on requirements, to funding gaps, to questions about integration and test schedules. You will be expected to contribute to technical areas ranging from system and component requirements; software and algorithms; development of electrical ground support equipment; avionics; navigation/guidance and controls; autonomous flight control systems.

*Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.

Salary Range:

$117,500 - $235,700

*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 US DOE Q-level security clearance or equivalent required to start and the ability to obtain and maintain.

Ability to travel up to 25% of your time.

Qualifications We Desire:

The ideal R&D S&E Systems Engineer candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

Graduate degree in Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).

Experience working with Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) laboratories and plants including Pantex, Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), and Kansas City National Security Campus/New Mexico Operations (KCNSC/NMO).

Experience working on engineering design, qualification, production, or related modeling/simulation projects.

Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.

Also, for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience:

MS in Aeronautical or Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.

Experience working in a classified environment.

Flight vehicles.

System level electrical testing.

Creating electrical/software block diagrams.

Microsoft Project or other scheduling tools (P6).

Understanding of risk and best practices for mitigation strategies and communication methods.

Demonstrated leadership and teaming in a complex and fast paced environment.

Experience in all phases of project development from concept to launch.

Outstanding interpersonal skills in developing trusting relationships with peers, staff, management, customers, and stakeholders.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills in the development and delivery of presentations, proposals, reports and documentation.

About Our Team:

The mission of the Air and Space Defense Department is to develop and deliver innovative vehicle front‑end concepts, designs, and flight tests tailored to a diverse array of missions and sponsors. We collaborate closely with both internal and external partners to transform advanced concepts into reality, addressing critical National Security needs. Our team comprises a mix of seasoned professionals and early‑career engineers, collectively supporting the missions of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), Department of Defense (DoD), and Department of Energy (DOE).

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:

Sandia is required by DOE 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 obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance and SCI access, both of which require US citizenship. SCI access may also require a polygraph examination. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain these levels of access may be impacted.

Applicants offered employment with Sandia are subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by the DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.

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.

• Affordable housing, reasonable cost of living
• Minimal traffic congestion compared to larger cities