Cleared Senior/Principal R&D Systems Engineer - UK Integration W93/A21 Programs, Onsite

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

Benefits offered by this job

Affordable housing

Minimal traffic congestion

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories in the United States seeks a Cleared Senior/Principal R&D Systems Engineer to bridge the UK Integration program with US efforts. The role requires coordinating with AWE and the UK MOD, traveling internationally up to ~25%, and working onsite at Sandia.

A DOE Q clearance is required to start, with a strong focus on complex systems engineering across multinational teams. Ideal candidates will lead architecture, requirements, and test activities, perform cost

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree + 5 years of directly relevant experience.
• Active DOE Q clearance to start.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary interface between AWE and Sandia National Laboratories to coordinate program planning and integration.
• Lead technical work across systems engineering domains, including architecture, requirements development, and test activities.
• Perform trade studies and gap analyses to inform decisions and schedule.
• Develop cost estimates and forecasts for UK contracts; support budget planning and resource allocation.
• Collaborate with partners across Sandia, Los Alamos, Lockheed Martin Space, AWE, MOD, Navy, and NNSA.

Skills

Systems engineering

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline

Job description

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Cleared Senior/Principal R&D Systems Engineer - UK Integration W93/A21 Programs, 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 be at the forefront of groundbreaking systems engineering that bridges international defense programs? We are seeking a dynamic R&D Systems Engineer to drive innovative solutions that seamlessly integrate efforts between the W93/Mk7 program and the UK¿s A21/Mk7 initiative.

You will join a highly motivated, mission‑driven group dedicated to advancing national security through close collaboration with technical experts, leadership, and stakeholders from both the US and UK. Your role will be pivotal in aligning system engineering efforts across multiple organizations, ensuring that complex technical and programmatic challenges are met with precision and creativity. You will engage extensively with partners at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) and the UK Ministry of Defense (MOD), acting as a key liaison and technical leader.

Success in this role means bridging diverse perspectives and translating complex technical details into shared understanding, enabling effective collaboration across international teams. You will demonstrate sensitivity to cross‑cultural communication nuances, particularly in interactions with UK partners, ensuring clarity and mutual understanding.

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

Serve as the primary interface between AWE and Sandia National Laboratories, coordinating program planning and integration efforts to ensure smooth collaboration.

Lead, facilitate, and contribute to technical work across systems engineering domains, including system architecture, design, requirements development, and test and qualification activities. This includes conducting trade studies and gap analyses to inform decision‑making.

Apply expertise in qualification and test execution, including critical analysis of test data to assess quality and inform program decisions.

Actively participate in UK-related Working Groups, helping to produce high‑quality deliverables that meet rigorous deadlines.

Prepare and support presentations and documentation for technical and programmatic reviews tailored to both UK and US audiences.

Assist in developing cost estimates and forecasts related to UK contracts, supporting budget planning and resource allocation.

Collaborate closely with partners across Sandia, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lockheed Martin Space, AWE, MOD, Navy Strategic Programs, and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to drive program success.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite. This role requires travel ( ~25%, occasionally higher), including international trips.

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: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:

Previous experience working with Nuclear Deterrence (ND) systems organizations.

Experience in systems engineering of complex systems.

Experience with ND component or system design, development, or production.

Demonstrates strong programmatic thinking with the ability to assess and anticipate the broader implications of technical work, including impacts on project scope, schedule, and budget.

Exhibits strategic foresight and proactive problem‑solving skills to identify future needs and execute plans in advance, ensuring alignment with long‑term program objectives and successful delivery.

Ability to work independently and collaboratively, demonstrating initiative and leadership.

Demonstrated ability to plan and execute technical work effectively.

Ability to negotiate competing requirements to achieve optimal system‑level outcomes.

Skill in identifying, understanding, and articulating constraints, options, and paths forward.

Commitment to operational safety, security, and quality.

About Our Team:

The W93 UK Integration Department leads SNL's technical and programmatic activities in support of the A21/Mk7 program. In addition, the department is responsible for establishing and building internal and external partnerships with NNSA Federal Program Managers, the US Navy, Sandia nuclear weapons systems and component organizations, the Sandia science & technology community, the Kansas City Plant National Security Campus (NSC), UK Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), and many others.

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