Cleared Senior/Principal R&D Electrical Engineer - Lead Systems Functional Electrical Test (FET) Engineer, W87-1, Onsite

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

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Generous benefits & 401k

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories is seeking a highly motivated Lead Engineer to join the W87-1 program, leading a team of test engineers in functional electrical testing across lab and remote sites.

You will develop test plans, oversee schedules and budgets, and provide critical technical direction for installation, calibration, and operation of test equipment. A DoE Q clearance is required for this role, with potential travel and strict onsite work requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and five years of directly relevant experience or equivalent.
• Active DOE Q clearance or equivalent and ability to obtain Sigma 15.
• Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering or related field is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Oversee a team of test engineers conducting functional electrical testing in the lab and at remote sites.
• Develop test plans and procedures; participate in test readiness reviews.
• Coordinate with system-level test team to ensure automated test equipment meets testing requirements.
• Provide regular status updates to management on high-priority testing activities.
• Troubleshoot anomalies and root-cause failures during testing to implement mitigations.
• Work onsite 100% of the time with potential up to 10% domestic travel.

Skills

Functional electrical testing

Team leadership

Independent research

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline

Graduate degree (preferred)

Tools

ATE

Board-level design

Calibration

Job description

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Cleared Senior/Principal R&D Electrical Engineer - Lead Systems Functional Electrical Test (FET) Engineer, W87-1, 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:

Envisioning your future as a Sandian

Few careers offer the chance to make a difference on a national scale. Joining the W87-1 program at Sandia National Laboratories means contributing directly to our nation¿s nuclear deterrence strategy and global security. As part of one of the largest and highest-priority programs at our laboratory, W87-1 team members play a critical role in our nation¿s strategy for nuclear deterrence and global peace.

Join Our Dedicated Team

As a member of the W87-1 team, you will find a collaborative workplace that offers excellent opportunities to learn, gain visibility, and advance your career. We foster a supportive environment where team members look out for one another and are empowered with decision‑making authority and resources to drive success. Our outstanding benefits package supports a healthy work‑life balance.

We are seeking a highly motivated Lead Engineer to join our team of test engineers and technologists contributing to multiple weapons programs. Our organization brings extensive mission experience and technical expertise, and we are eager to grow our team with a Lead Engineer who has a broad skill set, a desire to learn about weapon systems, and a commitment to developing new capabilities.

As a Lead Engineer, you will:

Collaborate with W87-1 systems partners and internal stakeholders to ensure program success.

Oversee a team of test engineers conducting functional electrical testing in the lab and at remote sites. Manage test schedules and budgets effectively.

Provide regular status updates to management and system leads on high-priority system testing activities.

Develop test plans, benchtop assembly procedures, and participate in planning and attending test readiness reviews.

Integrate lower-level designs and subsystems into complete systems, working across diverse engineering domains including hardware, software, mechanical, and aerospace.

Provide technical direction to electronics technicians for installation, calibration, troubleshooting, and operation of electrical, controls, data, and instrumentation hardware and systems.

Troubleshoot anomalies and failures during testing and development to identify root causes and implement mitigations.

Coordinate with the system-level test team to ensure automated test equipment meets testing requirements.

This role may require up to 10% domestic travel, depending on program needs.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite 100% of the time.

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.

An active DOE Q clearance or equivalent and ability to obtain a Sigma 15.

Qualifications We Desire:

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

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

Ability to work independently and collaborate well in a multidisciplinary team of designers and test engineers.

Outstanding verbal and written skills, including the ability to develop and present briefings that are clear and compelling.

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

System-level testing experience, including benchtop, ground integration, and environmental testing.

Experience working on nuclear weapon programs and projects.

Experience working in a laboratory environment and overseeing activity-level work (ALW), including familiarity with high voltage and other safety hazards.

Proficiency with automatic test equipment (ATE), both hardware and software.

Board-level and/or component-level circuit design experience.

Developing test plans and conducting test or design reviews.

Providing technical direction to electronics technicians in installation, calibration, and operation of test equipment.

Troubleshooting complex anomalies and failures during testing and development to identify root causes and implement mitigations.

About Our Team:

The Systems Electrical Test Department (2332) focuses on functional electrical testing and the development of system-level testers to support major ND modernization efforts. Our department is currently responsible for all functional electrical system-level testing on the W80-4, W80-5, W93, and W87-1 programs. We maintain and operate multiple laboratories across SNL and interact extensively with the design, environmental testing, and qualification teams of major ND modernization programs.

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.

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 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
• 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