Cleared Senior/Principal R&D Mechanical Evaluation and Qualification Test Engineer - W93/Mk7 Pr[...]

Sandia National Laboratories; New Mexico; On-site; USD 117,500 - 235,700; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Flexible work arrangements

Generous vacation and benefits

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories seeks an R&D Mechanical Engineer to lead mechanical evaluation and qualification testing for the W93/Mk7 program, including collaboration with Lockheed Martin, Los Alamos, and UK partners.

You will coordinate with customers to align expectations, manage test facilities, and guide test hardware design and data analysis in a DOE-sensitive environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline; five (5) years of directly relevant experience, or equivalent combination.
• Active DOE Q clearance required to start.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical systems testing for the W93/Mk7 and UK Replacement Warhead programs.
• Bridge technical and programmatic domains by coordinating with multidisciplinary teams and external collaborators.
• Plan and execute mechanical environments testing, including ground and flight configurations.
• Manage testing interfaces, scheduling, and on-site support for successful test execution.

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline

Job description

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Cleared Senior/Principal R&D Mechanical Evaluation and Qualification Test Engineer - W93/Mk7 Program, 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 an R&D Mechanical Engineer to join the W93/Mk7 program as a Mechanical Evaluation and Qualification Test Engineer. In this role, you will lead mechanical systems testing for both the W93/Mk7 and the UK Replacement Warhead programs. You will become an integral part of our mission-driven team, collaborating closely with the W93 systems team, internal organizations (such as test facilities, experimentalists, and analysts), external design agencies, and key customers and stakeholders.

The successful candidate will effectively bridge technical and programmatic domains by building strong partnerships across multidisciplinary teams and external collaborators. Responsibilities include leading technical discussions with partnering design agencies (Sandia, Los Alamos, and Lockheed Martin) to clearly define program test objectives and integrate modeling, simulation, and physical testing approaches to achieve those goals.

Serve as the primary interface between Sandia, Lockheed Martin, and Los Alamos National Laboratory for planning and executing mechanical environments testing, including ground and flight configurations.

Coordinate proactively with customers and stakeholders to align expectations, track progress, and resolve issues related to evaluation and qualification efforts.

Manage complex logistics with testing facilities, ensuring smooth scheduling, timely hardware delivery, and on-site support for successful test execution.

Lead the development of mechanical test unit concepts, architectures, and physical layouts, including defining test hardware pedigree.

Collaborate on the design of ground and flight test bodies and design fixtures necessary to configure test units during mechanical testing.

Perform trade studies balancing performance, cost, risk, materials, functionality, and technology maturation.

Develop specifications and documentation for dynamic test and modeling strategies, laboratory and field test activities, test and analysis plans, test execution, and data analysis.

Engage with experts in structural dynamics, modal analysis, shock, and vibration testing within Sandia and partner agencies to support the mechanical evaluation and qualification program.

Inform the development of the W93 mechanical qualification plan.

Prepare presentations and support documentation for technical reviews.

Assist with Cost Account Management and Earned Value Management.

Represent the program while collaborating regularly with partners at Sandia, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lockheed Martin Space, Applied Physics Lab, Navy Strategic Programs, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the Atomic Weapons Establishment, and the UK Ministry of Defense.

Travel to testing locations m. 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 required 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.

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

Experience with accelerometers, strain gauges, instrumentation, and data acquisition.

Familiarity with dynamic effects testing facilities and their equipment.

Experience with shock response spectra, power spectral densities, and signal processing

Experience in system engineering of complex systems.

Experience with nuclear weapon (NW) component or system design, development, or production.

Demonstrated ability to plan and execute technical work while navigating constraints and trade-offs.

Ability to manage testing interfaces and negotiate competing requirements to achieve optimal system-level outcomes.

Strong organizational and leadership skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks effectively.

Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment, showing initiative and leadership.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills, capable of working with a diverse team ranging from skilled laborers to PhD engineers and scientists.

Commitment to operational safety, security, and quality.

About Our Team:

The W93 System Evaluation and Qualification Department (02382) has the primary responsibility to plan and coordinate evaluation activities for the W93/Mk7 Navy Strategic Reentry System Program. These activities involve modeling, simulation, and physical ground testing, in support of the maturation and ultimate qualification of the W93/Mk7 reentry body system design.

We work closely with our partners and program stakeholders, including NNSA Federal Program Managers, the US Navy, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Los Alamos National Lab, the Sandia nuclear weapons component organizations, the Sandia science & technology community, Kansas City Plant National Security Campus (NSC), the UK Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), and many others, to coordinate expertise and implement effective approaches to better understand system technical knowledge gaps and validate the system works as intended.

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.