Cleared Senior/Principal R&D Systems Engineer - W80-5 Flight Test Task Team, CA/NM, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 140,000 - 281,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Flexible work arrangements

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque seeks a Flight Test Task Team Engineer to support ground and flight tests for the W80-5 program, working with FT3 leadership and program teams to execute joint tests with external partners. This role emphasizes rigorous planning, safety, and technical execution across NSE partners.

Onsite work is required 100% of the time with travel up to 25% to support mission goals, offering career growth within the NSE and collaborations with LLNL, Pantex, and NNSA.

Qualifications

• 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-level security clearance or equivalent DOD Top Secret level security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Plan & Coordinate: Conduct programmatic and technical planning for system integration tests (functional electrical, mechanical, thermal, ground, and flight tests).
• Execute & Troubleshoot: Partner internally and externally to execute system-level testing in both lab and field settings. Identify test-related issues, troubleshoot underlying causes, and provide technical solutions to keep testing on schedule.

Skills

Flight test planning

System integration testing

Technical troubleshooting

Cross-agency collaboration

Safety & security requirements

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

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

The W80-5 System Qualification team has an immediate opening for a Flight Test Task Team (FT3) Engineer (R&D S&E Systems Engineer). As part of this high performing team, you will be responsible for supporting ground and flight tests for the W80-5 program. The successful candidate will work closely with the FT3 leadership, the Flight Test Lead, and the broader W80-5 program teams at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), to execute joint tests with key external partners. Your work will be critical in establishing flight test surveillance programs, verifying requirements, and applying test results to overall system qualification. This position offers significant career growth opportunities and involves high-level coordination across the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE), including Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories (LLNL), Pantex, and NNSA. As an FT3 engineer, you will partner closely with the qualification engineering team in the execution of system-level testing and troubleshooting to resolve issues that arise during the development and integration phases. Critical thinking skills are required to identify and resolve complex issues during integration testing.

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

• Plan & Coordinate: Conduct programmatic and technical planning for system integration tests (functional electrical, mechanical, thermal, ground, and flight tests). This includes requirement interpretation, clarification, and the authoring of test procedures and administrative documentation.
• Execute & Troubleshoot: Partner internally and externally to execute system-level testing in both lab and field settings. You will identify test-related issues as they arise, troubleshoot underlying causes, and provide technical solutions to keep testing on schedule.
• Analyze & Report: Assist in the analysis and interpretation of complex test data, authoring technical reports and documenting lessons learned to inform future efforts.
• Collaborate: Work across multiple agencies and organizations to define requirements, manage mutual responsibilities, and resolve technical trade-offs for optimal system-level outcomes.
• Ensure Safety: Establish and maintain rigorous safety and security requirements for activity-level work in various test environments.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite 100% of the time.

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

Applicants on this requisition may be interviewed by multiple organizations at Sandia National Laboratories.

Salary Range

$139,900 - $280,600

*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 bachelors 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-level security clearance or equivalent DOD Top Secret level security clearance.

Qualifications We Desire

The ideal R&D S&E 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 National Laboratory (LLNL), Los Alamos National Laboratory, 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:

• Master's degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or a related discipline plus 10 years of relevant experience; or Bachelor's in a STEM discipline plus 14 years of relevant experience.
• Experience in management and execution of complex projects.
• Demonstrated experience in developing positive relationships with other Sandia organizations, external partners, customers, and stakeholders.
• Ability to set direction, resolve ambiguity, and respond flexibly in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
• Knowledge of nuclear weapon product realization process, policies, design, qualification, and production.
• Experience working on a system or component qualification team.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, including ability to present to diverse audiences.
• Ability to work well in a cross-functional team environment.
• Experience with fabrication of prototypes.
• Experience with electrical, mechanical and environmental tests.
• Experience with requirements development for components and/or systems.
• Experience in working with DoW personnel supporting joint DOE/DoW testing.

About Our Team

The W80-5 Systems Engineering departments are responsible for the systems engineering and integration of the warhead associated with the SLCM-N program. In close collaboration with NNSA NA-125, Navy, and NSE partners, the team works to design, integrate and deliver assets to strengthen our Nuclear Deterrence Mission.

The team is comprised of a group of dedicated and motivated engineers, primarily in Mechanical, Electrical, and Systems Engineering. The W80-5 program is focused on rapid execution and moved from warhead selection to Conceptual Design Review in just one year. The team is looking for new members with an eye for streamlining processes and efficient execution.

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.