Cleared Senior/Principal W76-0 Weapon System Engineer, 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

Telecommuting options

Generous vacation

401k

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM is seeking a highly motivated Systems Engineer to join the W76-0 Weapon System Team. The successful candidate will support assessment activities for the W76-0 Arming, Fuzing, and Firing assembly and will have the opportunity to spearhead engineering projects including designing test configurations and coordinating large-scale system tests.

This role requires close coordination with teams supporting the W76-0 test and sustainment efforts across

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and five years of directly relevant experience or an equivalent combination.
• Active DOE Q Clearance or equivalent to start.
• Experience with data analysis and test planning.

Responsibilities

• Analyze data collected from test sites and document results in assessment reports.
• Lead test planning activities and coordinate with test facilities.
• Communicate project objectives to stakeholders and author reports.
• Improve processes and procedures at Sandia test laboratories.
• Collaborate with engineers to address knowledge gaps and anomalies.
• Peer review design efforts and concepts across the Labs.

Skills

DOE Q Clearance

Test planning

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline

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:

We are seeking a highly motivated Systems Engineer to join the W76‑0 Weapon System Team. The successful candidate will support assessment activities for the W76‑0 Arming, Fuzing, and Firing assembly and will have the opportunity to spearhead and engage in various engineering projects. These projects may include designing test configurations, planning and coordinating tests, system integration, modeling and simulation, data analysis, and other annual assessment activities. This position requires close coordination with the teams supporting the W76‑0 test and sustainment efforts across Sandia National Labs, as well as our partners across the Nuclear Security Enterprise.

On any given day, a W76‑0 Systems Engineer may be called on to:

• Analyze data collected from multiple test sites and annually document the results in an assessment report for the W76‑0¿s Arming, Fuzing, and Firing assembly.
• Partner with systems, component, and surveillance engineers to identify and address knowledge, data, and capability gaps
• Lead test planning activities, coordinate with test facilities, and execute large‑scale system‑level tests.
• Communicate project objectives to stakeholders and author reports detailing project results.
• Improve processes and procedures at the Weapons Evaluation Test Laboratory, Pantex, and Kansas City National Security Campus.
• Prioritize testing efforts appropriately to meet System Surveillance needs and assess knowledge gaps.
• Collaborate effectively with diverse personalities and adapt to various work styles.
• Guide a multidisciplinary team of engineers and domain specialists to successfully address anomalies and resolve system‑related issues.
• Brief SNL management and customers on the status of the weapon program and as part of the Annual Assessment process.
• Use engineering principles to conduct trade studies to identify system solutions.
• Partner with modeling and simulation teams to engage SMEs and direct work appropriately.
• Be called upon to peer review design efforts and concepts across the Labs.
• This position may require occasional travel.

The successful candidate will become intimately familiar with the detailed function of W76‑0 nuclear weapon components, subsystems, and systems, and will have the opportunity to exercise investigative freedom in engaging the broad Nuclear Weapons community.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant will be required to work onsite in Albuquerque, NM. This position will require some travel to locations including, but not limited to Livermore, CA; Los Alamos, NM; Amarillo, TX; Washington, DC; and Kansas City, MO may be required for this position.

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 is required 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:

• Solid understanding of nuclear weapon systems, including fundamental nuclear surety principles.
• Self‑motivated and positive, with the ability to integrate and work effectively across multiple technical teams and with management.
• Experience using engineering principles to conduct trade studies to identify system solutions.
• Experience with test instrumentation, test planning, and defining test objectives and methods.
• Familiarity with SNL test facilities (i.e. Lightning facility, ACRR, Hermes, Saturn, Shock/Vibe Lab, etc.) and experience coordinating with them.
• Experience building test bodies and/or developing procedures for building test artifacts.
• Familiarity with SNL drawing and authorization system, product development and qualification, testing and evaluation, modeling, and simulation.

About Our Team:

We are responsible for the W76‑0/1/2 nuclear weapon stockpile and suite of activities. In addition to our established stockpile responsibilities, we are engaged in numerous development and qualification projects, including the JTA3, Mk4B, and ALT939 ISA program. Ongoing production activities at KCNSC necessitate frequent communication across various areas.

Additionally, our team (2222) leads the development of testers and operational activities for hardware management, providing engineering leadership for all W76‑0/1/2 test body assembly and disassembly activities. We also serve as the primary interface with test and computational simulation organizations to effectively manage the schedule and budget related to qualification efforts.

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.

Job ID: 698554

Job Family: RD

Regular/Temporary Position: R

Full/Part-Time Status: F