Cleared Senior/Principal R&D Systems Engineer Qualification Discipline Lead, Onsite

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

Benefits offered by this job

Affordable housing

Low traffic congestion

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories, based in Albuquerque, NM, seeks a Cleared Senior/Principal R&D Systems Engineer Qualification Discipline Lead. This onsite role leads qualification plans for modernization weapons systems, coordinating with NNSA and NSE partners.

Requirements include a bachelor’s degree with five years of relevant experience and an active DOE Q clearance. Travel up to 25% may be required, with clearances and security are emphasized.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and five years of directly relevant experience.
• Active DOE Q clearance or equivalent to start.
• Graduate degree in Engineering or related field desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead qualification plans and manage test, modeling/simulation, and analysis activities to close knowledge gaps.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across sites to verify and validate system requirements.
• Coordinate with stakeholders including government agencies to ensure programmatic alignment.
• Guide 1–2 disciplines within qualification and drive system-level integration.

Job description

Cleared Senior/Principal R&D Systems Engineer Qualification Discipline 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:

Are you ready to step into a pivotal leadership role as a R&D Systems Engineer Qualification Discipline Lead, where your expertise will directly contribute to the development and qualification of advanced modernization weapons systems? Join our dynamic W87-1 Team and be at the forefront of system verification and validation efforts that ensure the safety and security of our nation.

In this exciting position, you will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to tackle complex engineering challenges that push the boundaries of innovation. You will engage with leading experts across the Nuclear Security Enterprise, making a tangible impact on national defense.

On any given day, you may be called on to:

Own, Plan, and Execute: Lead the implementation of qualification plans, guiding test and modeling/simulation teams to fill knowledge gaps by achieving critical knowledge points. Your leadership will ensure each knowledge point meets rigorous standards and drives the success of modernization efforts.

Dynamic Problem-Solving: Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams across the Nuclear Security Enterprise to address real-time challenges. Your critical thinking and adaptability will be essential as you navigate the complexities of system qualification.

Foster Collaborative Partnerships: Coordinate efforts with Components, Systems, Modeling/Simulation, Test, and subject matter experts across multiple sites and time zones to ensure seamless integration and verification of requirements.

Innovative System Integration: Apply your expertise to integrate Weapon Response (WR), Joint Test Assessment (JTA), and Trainer components at the system level through iterative design and testing phases. Your insights will be invaluable during early development, shaping the future of our systems.

Engage with Key Stakeholders: Work closely with the National Nuclear Security Administration and partner Design Agency Labs to ensure technical and programmatic requirements are met, maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of our national security initiatives.

Drive System Excellence: Lead 1-2 disciplines within qualification, embracing new challenges and opportunities for innovation every day.

Location and Travel: Due to the nature of the work, this position requires onsite presence in Albuquerque, NM, Travel up to 25% annually may be required.

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 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 Laboratory (LLNL) 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:

Experience in a weapon system or related department with knowledge of Nuclear Deterrence (ND) Product Realization.

Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively within fast-paced, multidisciplinary teams, fostering strong partnerships across various systems and sites.

Strong adaptability and problem-solving skills, with a proactive approach to navigating ambiguity and addressing challenges as they arise.

Proven leadership experience successfully leading multidisciplinary teams in complex system qualification, verification, or validation efforts within high-consequence environments.

Expertise in qualification planning and execution, including developing, owning, and implementing qualification plans that integrate test, modeling/simulation, and analysis activities to close knowledge gaps.

Hands-on experience with systems integration, particularly integrating multiple subsystems or components at the system level through iterative design and testing cycles.

Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with the ability to effectively convey technical status, risks, and decisions to senior leadership and external partners, including government agencies.

About Our Team:

The W87-1 System team is responsible for designing and qualifying the W87-1 warhead. We are a multidisciplinary team made up of electrical, mechanical, and systems engineering. The team includes core partners in project management, reliability, quality, nuclear safety, surveillance, engineering sciences, and material sciences. We collaborate closely with LLNL as Design Agencies for the program and the System Qualification and Test Teams work closely with LLNL, LANL, and LM to execute joint system tests.

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