Cleared Senior/Principal R&D Mechanical Engineer - Design Lead, Onsite

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

Benefits offered by this job

Affordable housing

Reasonable cost of living

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories seeks a Cleared Senior/Principal R&D Mechanical Engineer to lead the design of mounts and structural components for high-visibility programs in New Mexico. The role emphasizes independent work, advanced FEA, and cross-disciplinary collaboration to meet rigorous security and performance requirements.

Candidates will oversee prototypes, ensure manufacturability, and produce technical reports for stakeholders.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline and five (5) years of directly relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Active DOE Q Clearance or equivalent to start.
• Graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field is a plus.
• Experience with mechanical design and product realization in the NNSA complex.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, and ability to work in multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the mechanical design and development of mounts and structural components aligned with program requirements and standards.
• Perform detailed Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and simulations to validate design under operational conditions.
• Collaborate with systems, electrical, materials, and manufacturing teams to integrate designs into larger systems.
• Oversee prototype fabrication, testing, and validation, driving design improvements.

Skills

Mechanical design

FEA

CAD software CREO

SolidWorks

CATIA

NX

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline

Graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering (desirable)

Tools

CREO

SolidWorks

CATIA

NX

FEA tools

Job description

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Cleared Senior/Principal R&D Mechanical Engineer - Design Lead, 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 highly independent, self-motivated R&D Mechanical Engineers to join Sandia National Laboratories in pivotal design leadership roles supporting the newly authorized Hardened Deeply Buried Targets (HDBT) Program of Record. These positions offer the opportunity to shape the future of a new, quick-moving, and highly visible program.

On any given day you may be called on to:

Lead the mechanical design and development of mounts and structural components, ensuring alignment with program requirements and technical standards.

Perform detailed Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and other simulations to validate design integrity under operational conditions.

Collaborate with systems engineers, electrical engineers, materials scientists, and manufacturing teams to integrate mechanical designs into larger systems.

Oversee prototype fabrication, testing, and validation activities, analyzing results to drive design improvements.

Prepare technical reports, presentations, and documentation for internal and external stakeholders.

This position will require some travel as needed. 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 DOE Q Clearance or equivalent to start .

Qualifications We Desire:

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

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

Experience with mechanical engineering and product realization in the NNSA complex.

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

Direct experience working on or with a Weapon Systems team

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

Extensive experience in mechanical design and analysis, particularly with mounts, fixtures, or structural components.

Proficiency with CAD software (e.g. CREO, SolidWorks, CATIA, NX) for detailed mechanical design.

Strong background in Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and structural simulation tools.

Experience with materials selection and understanding of mechanical properties relevant to mount design.

Knowledge of manufacturing processes and design for manufacturability (DFM).

Familiarity with vibration, shock, and thermal analysis related to mount and structural design.

Experience with prototype development, testing, and validation of mechanical systems.

Understanding of systems engineering principles and integration of mechanical components into larger systems.

About Our Team:

Our team leads the modernization efforts for the B61-13 and continues this vital work through the newly authorized Hardened Deeply Buried Targets (HDBT) Program of Record. We provide systems engineering and management support for the stewardship of nuclear weapon systems developed in New Mexico. Committed to ensuring the safety, security, and reliability of these weapons throughout their lifecycle, we prioritize advancing new technologies and maintaining technical excellence as central to our mission and Center activities.

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