Early Career Computer Scientist - High Consequence Systems, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 102,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Telecommuting options

Relocation assistance

Work-life balance amenities

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque is seeking a computer scientist to enhance high-consequence systems for national security. You will apply algorithms, develop Python-based tools, and deploy in Linux environments using Docker/Kubernetes, CI/CD workflows, and Ansible automation.

The role requires collaboration across diverse teams, a solid foundation in software engineering practices, and a willingness to work on-site in New Mexico. DOE Q clearance and a relevant degree are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a relevant field.
• Ability to obtain and maintain DOE Q clearance.
• Experience with modern software development practices (Agile).

Responsibilities

• Develop software for high-consequence decision-making systems.
• Deploy solutions in Linux environments with containers.
• Collaborate using Git and GitLab with CI/CD pipelines.
• Apply algorithms and optimize computational efficiency.
• Learn emerging tech while collaborating with diverse team.

Skills

Python

Git/GitLab

Linux

Docker

Kubernetes

Ansible

CI/CD

SLURM

Cloud

Networking

DOE Q clearance

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline

Graduate degree in CS or related field

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Helm charts

Compose files

Dockerfiles

GitLab

Ansible

Puppet

Chef

Salt

CI/CD tooling

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 to hire an computer scientist with an interest applying their expertise to advance the state of the art managing high consequence systems for national security missions.

• Apply your knowledge of algorithms and the state of the art to complex problems.
• Develop software for high-consequence decision-making systems using Python, Bash, Ansible, and other automation tools.
• Collaborate using Git and GitLab while practicing feature-branch workflows, pull requests, commit deconfliction, and continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines.
• Deploy solutions in Linux environments, including Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and Ubuntu, using containers such as Docker and Kubernetes; schedulers such as cron, systemd, and SLURM; and cloud and container registries.
• Identify opportunities to improve computational efficiency.
• Continuously learn about emerging technologies, research, and algorithms while collaborating with a diverse group of colleagues.

Due to the nature of this work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.

Salary Range

$102,400 - $199,700

*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, 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.
• The ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance.

Qualifications We Desire

The ideal R&D S&E Computer Science candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

• Graduate degree in Computer Science or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Demonstrated software development skills and familiarity with modern software development practices and tools (e.g., Agile).
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams, and a passion to improve and expand technical skills.

Also, for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience:

• Experience with programming languages and systems such as Ansible, Python, Bash, Linux, and container technologies.
• Experience using containers and virtualization to isolate untrusted software, including virtual networking, basic routing concepts, and network isolation.
• Fluency with Linux operating systems and software engineering practices.
• Ability to configure containers and Python environments and modify the shell path to include new libraries.
• Knowledge of container-composition tools, including Helm charts, Compose files, and Dockerfiles.
• Experience deploying web services, websites, servers, applications, or large language model (LLM) frameworks.
• Experience with configuration management and automation tools such as Ansible, Puppet, Chef, or Salt.
• Experience with CI/CD and scheduling, including cron or systemd timers, SLURM or Kubernetes job workflows, Bash-based pipelines, or GitLab runners.
• Experience applying networking fundamentals, including Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP), ports and firewalls, DHCP, DNS, and secure tunneling using Secure Shell (SSH).
• Active DOE Q clearance.

About Our Team

The Computational Systems Engineering Department is a capability based organization that architects, develops, integrates, tests, and deploys large highly reliable mission critical systems using agile methodologies.

We have expertise in R&D and Information Technology across many disciplines including large-scale software engineering, computer science, and computer engineering.

Our specific capabilities include platform/cloud automation, computer hardware/software architectures, system administration, networking, cyber security, failover/redundancy, continuous integration, system integration/verification, and performance assessment.

We leverage these capabilities to innovate high-rigor solutions while supporting existing critical customer needs.

Our current responsibility includes support for nonproliferation and national security missions for the US Nuclear Detonation Detection System.

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

Sandia is required by DOE 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 obtain and 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.