Cleared Senior/Principal R&D Systems Engineer - W93 Flight Test Lead, Onsite

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

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Relocation assistance

Generous vacation

Medical benefits

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories is seeking an R&D Systems Engineer to join the W93/Mk7 program as the Flight Test System Lead. You will drive the full range of flight test activities, from design to testing, coordinating with internal and external stakeholders to ensure mission success.

The role requires leading environmental flight body architectures, managing resources, and coordinating travel up to 25% for program reviews.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline and five (5) years of directly relevant experience.
• Active DOE Q clearance or equivalent with the ability to obtain and maintain a Sigma 15 security clearance.
• Graduate degree in Engineering or related field with independent research project requirement (desirable).

Responsibilities

• Execute the flight test strategy, coordinating modeling, simulation, and ground test efforts.
• Coordinate with LANL, LM, NNSA, and Navy on flight test activities.
• Lead development and sustainment of environmental flight body architectures.
• Oversee design and assembly integration of development flight bodies and JTA assets.
• Develop verification plans to demonstrate missile compatibility and meet flight test requirements.
• Coordinate flight schedules, logistics, range support and analyze flight data.

Skills

Communication skills

Leadership

Team collaboration

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree + 5 years experience

Graduate degree in Engineering (desirable)

Job description

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 Systems Engineer to join the W93/Mk7 program as the Flight Test System Lead. In this role, you will be a key member of a highly motivated, mission‑driven team responsible for executing the full range of flight test activities, including design, assembly, integration, and testing of flight test bodies.

You will work closely with external design agencies and internal stakeholders across the W93/Mk7 program to develop and implement a comprehensive flight test strategy that supports design evaluation, qualification data needs, and long‑term environmental assessment.

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

Execute the flight test strategy, ensuring seamless integration with modeling, simulation, and ground test efforts to meet design and qualification objectives.

Partner with program collaborators at LANL, LM, NNSA, and the Navy to coordinate and efficiently carry out planned flight test activities.

Lead the development and sustainment of environmental flight body architectures to support ongoing and future flight environment evaluations.

Oversee the design and assembly integration of targeted development flight bodies and Joint Test Assembly (JTA) assets, troubleshooting mechanical and electrical issues as they arise.

Develop and implement verification plans that demonstrate missile compatibility and fulfill flight test requirements.

Coordinate flight schedules, logistics, range support, and analyze flight data to ensure mission success.

Engage with experts across environmental analysis, design definition, and engineering disciplines to align flight test efforts with broader system goals.

Prepare for and participate in major test readiness reviews, evidence generation, and various internal and external meetings, including program reviews and working groups.

Lead and allocate resources effectively within the flight test team to achieve program objectives.

This position requires up to 25% travel to support program reviews and mission‑critical activities. 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 with the ability to obtain and maintain a Sigma 15 security clearance

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:

Academic or professional experience in test and evaluation, engineering design, qualification, production, or related modeling/simulation projects.

Experience with Navy Flight Test Programs or other large‑scale flight testing programs.

Proven ability to build and maintain relationships across DOE and DoD organizations.

Demonstrated leadership skills, both strategic and tactical, with experience driving teams to meet time‑sensitive schedules.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills, effective in collaborating with teams ranging from skilled technologists to PhD‑level engineers and scientists.

Experience working with multiple design agencies to deliver complex products.

Experience in telemetry system design, testing, analysis, or integration.

Systems engineering experience with complex, high‑reliability systems.

Experience with nuclear deterrent (ND) components or system design, development, or production.

Ability to prioritize competing requirements to optimize system‑level outcomes.

Capability to manage and execute multiple simultaneous tests at various stages of execution.

Commitment to operational safety, security, and quality, including experience with activity‑level work.

About Our Team:

The W93 Flight and System Enabling Technology Department is responsible for Flight Test planning and integration and System test asset builds, We directly engage across much of the Nuclear Security Enterprise including SNL/CA, LANL, PX, NNSA, LM, Navy, and KCNSC.

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.