Early Career R&D Mechanical Engineer - Equipment Qualification Engineer, Onsite

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

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work options

Relocation assistance

Generous benefits

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM seeks an R&D Mechanical Engineer to safely manufacture Neutron Generators and develop new generation designs. You will oversee production equipment, identify improvements, and guide processes from development to manufacturing, collaborating with cross-functional teams on complex projects.

The role requires on-site work, travel, and a DOE security clearance, with a focus on lean manufacturing and quality metrics in a high-security environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance.
• Graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Maintain technical oversight for Neutron Tube Production equipment and address issues affecting performance.
• Develop and qualify processes for Neutron Tubes and write initial work instructions.
• Provide guidance to process technologists and assist on the production floor and lab as needed.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to improve Center metrics.
• Coordinate with NGE partners to advance equipment characterization and qualification.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma

Analytical skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Tools

MRP system

Measuring and testing equipment

Job description

Job ID: 699138

Location: Albuquerque, NM

Contract type: Full-Time

Employment nature: Regular

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.

• 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 R&D S&E, Mechanical Engineer who can safely manufacture Neutron Generators for War Reserve weapon systems and the development of new processes and generator designs.

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

• Be responsible for maintaining technical oversight responsibility for new Neutron Tube Production equipment, recognizing problems that can impact performance, and taking initiative to solve them expeditiously.
• Identify new technology, process development and qualification, and authoring of initial work instructions/operating procedures to support the development and production of Neutron Tubes.
• Provide technical guidance and direction to process technologists and serve as a process consultant to assist in the daily operations of the production floor and development lab, when necessary.
• Manage and propose continuous improvement initiatives to improve Center metrics.
• Work closely with our partners in the NGE to ensure equipment characterization and qualification moves forward efficiently.

This position requires some travel.

Due to the nature of the work, successful candidate must 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.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance

Qualifications We Desire

The ideal R&D Mechanical Engineer candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

• Graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Experience with mechanical engineering and product realization in the NNSA complex.
• 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:

• Experience in a manufacturing environment with knowledge of industry standard Manufacturing Resources Planning (MRP) system and related business practices
• Experience with product realization processes or process development.
• Experience in providing technical support to manufacturing or development operations
• Current/active DOE security clearance
• Systems oriented person able to manage production process maintenance activities, and identify/manage associated process risks
• Ability to conduct analyses as needed to optimize the manufacturing processes to balance quality, responsiveness and pre-defined metrics
• Ability to learn the technical aspects of manufacturing processes in order to apply integrated technical judgment as required to anticipate, innovate, and deliver solutions
• Demonstrated capability to monitor process health by identifying, collecting, and analyzing effective metrics and presenting results
• Able to successfully multi-tasking across multiple projects
• Willingness to actively participate in Lean Six Sigma program
• Dedication to a culture of safety and security
• Experience working in a fast-paced production environment
• Greenbelt or Blackbelt Certified
• Strong analytical skills

About Our Team

Neutron Tube Value Stream Department (7562) is the sole source supplier of neutron tubes for nuclear weapons in the United States. We provide the technical leadership in various engineering disciplines to pursue state-of-the-art solutions in product and process engineering to manufacture sophisticated high-vacuum tube devices. We sustain and ensure the highest quality and reliability of this specialized product by operating in an agile production environment for low volume, low product mix with high yields, minimal variation, and compliance with all environmental, safety, security, and health mandates.

Our team members are experts in realizing the conceptual design and development of miniature particle accelerators. We apply the practical knowledge and expertise for fabrication of the devices using a combination of complex processes, including thin-film deposition, metallization, thermal operations, plating, brazing, welding, encapsulation, and testing. We employ the most advanced concepts in resource planning, lean manufacturing, and defect prevention to meet our mission assignment.

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.