Cleared Senior/Principal R&D Electronics Engineer - High Consequence Cryptographic Systems, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 118,000 - 236,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Relocation assistance

Excellent benefits

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM is seeking a driven R&D Electronics Engineer to join a high‑assurance team delivering cryptographic hardware for NSA‑certified systems. The role requires collaboration with multiple engineering disciplines to realize embedded solutions and ensure qualification and security requirements are met.

Applicants should have a bachelor's in a relevant field, 5+ years of experience, and an active DOE‑Q or DoD TS clearance with SCI access.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree + 5 years direct experience or equivalent.
• Active US DOE-Q or DoD TS security clearance with SCI access.
• Ability to obtain Sigma 15 access.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with systems, mechanical, electrical, and software engineers to deliver hardware products and ground stations.
• Design, analyze, and troubleshoot electrical circuits in embedded systems.
• Collaborate with KCNSC Global Security for manufacturing and testing assemblies.
• Participate in characterization, testing, and NSA qualification efforts.
• Characterize hardware against high reliability and environmental requirements.
• Contribute to project and NSA documentation.

Skills

Embedded systems design

Circuit analysis

Test & debug hardware

Documentation

Team collaboration

Security clearances

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Matlab

LabVIEW

LTSpice

ModelSim

Oscilloscopes

HDL simulation

EMI/EMC/TEMPEST

Job description

Job ID: 699240

Location: Albuquerque, NM

Employment Type: Full-Time

Contract: Regular

About Sandia

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

Organization 8452, one of three departments dedicated to realizing Use Control and other high assurance, NSA certified systems for a variety of DOE and DoD customers, is seeking a driven and results‑oriented R&D Electronics Engineer to join their dynamic and tightly integrated team. In this role, the selected applicant will be joining a team responsible for delivering multiple high consequence cryptographic systems as part of a critical capability to the warfighter. This position is an opportunity to have immediate and critical impact on our Nations security and deterrence mission in collaboration with the US Air Force, NSA, KCNSC, and other stakeholders.

On any given day, one may be called upon to:

• Work with other systems, mechanical, electrical, and software engineers to realize multiple hardware products and ground stations
• Design, analyze, and troubleshoot electrical circuits making up a complex embedded system
• Collaborate with KCNSC Global Security to manufacture, test, and troubleshoot electrical assemblies
• Participate in characterization, test, and witness testing both for qualification and for NSA certification, including environmental testing, security verification testing, and TEMPEST testing
• Characterize custom electrical hardware against high‑rigor reliability and environmental requirements
• Partner with Surety Engineering to gather and analyze evidence for qualification
• Own and contribute to both project and NSA documentation

In addition to the position described, this role provides opportunities to get involved with next‑generation R&D work with the Surety Technologies portfolio and involvement in other areas of Use Control, including Coded Switches and Code Management Systems.

The position requires the ability to travel up to 25% to support the mission.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant will be required 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 or DoD TS security clearance, with the ability to obtain and maintain an SCI clearance.
• The ability to obtain and maintain Sigma 15 access.

Qualifications We Desire

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

• Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Demonstrated experience with analog and digital circuit design and analysis.
• Hands‑on experience testing and de‑bugging circuitry, with clear mastery of tools such as oscilloscopes, logic/network/spectrum analyzers, function/pulse generators, etc.
• Proven experience with design and analysis tools (e.g., Matlab and LabVIEW), analog simulation codes (e.g., LTSpice), and HDL simulation codes (e.g.,ModelSim).
• 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:

• Demonstrated experience designing, realizing, procuring, and testing custom printed circuit boards for high‑consequence applications, including support of next-level assembly evaluations and off‑site testing of devices.
• Knowledge and experience in testing microelectronics and electronic systems in terrestrial and strategic radiation environments.
• Knowledge of EMI/EMC/TEMPEST design and mitigation, along with experience testing realized product for conformance.
• Understanding of the qualification process including environmental testing.
• Experience partnering with software and firmware engineers to characterize, test, and troubleshoot embedded systems.
• Active SCI clearance.

About Our Team

The High Assurance Product Realization group develops embedded and ground support equipment in support of National Security missions. We are a leader for high‑assurance National Security hardware, utilizing current and advanced electronic hardware approaches, tools, and techniques in developing information assurance subsystems. These responsibilities span research, design, development, production liaison, and existing product evaluation for Use Control applications. Our staff develop custom electronic technologies in support of the DOE/DoD Use Control community and specialize in real‑time embedded electronic design solutions with emphasis on security and reliability. The team also has a key role in the development, maturation, and deployment of advanced technologies for next‑generation weapon systems and information assurance products.

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.