Early Career R&D Mechanical Engineer - Purchased Product Engineer, Onsite

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

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque seeks an R&D S&E Mechanical Engineer to join the Purchased Product Value Stream, interfacing with product realization teams and suppliers for mechanical parts used in nuclear weapon design, development, and production.

On any given day you may lead supplier qualification, define material requirements, manage risk, and drive product life cycle from design through delivery, ensuring compliance with quality and verification plans.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent combination of education and experience demonstrates the ability to perform independent R&D work.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance is required or must be obtainable.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work in multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead identification, development, and qualification of suppliers to meet weapons requirements.
• Define material requirements and perform experiments to close knowledge gaps and improve design.
• Anticipate risk (sole source, sunset materials) and lead evaluations and decisions.
• Run product design definition through the life cycle (design–development–delivery).
• Apply quality management systems and develop verification and qualification plans with acceptance criteria.
• Manage multiple interfaces, internally and externally.

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline

Equivalent combination of education and engineering or scientific experience

Job description

Job ID: 699075
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Regular/Temporary: 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. 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 S&E Mechanical Engineer to join the Purchased Product Value Stream group. The selected candidate will be the technical interface to product realization teams and the commercial supply base for the design and delivery of mechanical parts/components used in nuclear weapon design, development, and production activities. You will also participate in the product realization process (design through delivery), including early engagement in the development phase to define, validate, and clarify requirements for mechanical parts/components destined for use in nuclear weapons.

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

• Lead the identification, development, and qualification of suppliers, assessing the technical capabilities of the suppliers to meet weapons requirements


• Lead efforts to improve fundamental understanding of material requirements, defining and conducting experiment work to close knowledge gaps and improve design definition


• Anticipate and maintain risk (i.e., sole source suppliers, sunset materials, technology development, etc.), identifying viable alternates and leading the technical evaluations and decision‑making process


• Run product design definition (drawings, specifications, etc.) through the product life cycle (design-development-delivery)


• Employ quality management systems and techniques, developing and managing comprehensive verification/qualification plans and defining acceptance criteria


• Manage multiple organizational interfaces, internally and externally

Due to the nature of the 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


• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance

Qualifications We Desire

The ideal R&D S&E 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:

• The ability to work in a fast‑paced, schedule driven environment


• Experience in application of the scientific method; gathering, analyzing and presenting technical data for decision making and problem‑solving purposes.


• Basic knowledge of design for manufacturing (DFM), Lean/Six Sigma, continuous improvement and their application, and additive manufacturing and use of additive manufacturing equipment

About Our Team

The Purchased Product Value Stream Department is responsible for purchased products and logistic operations in support of Sandia National Laboratories production mission activities. Major areas of responsibility include:

• Materials Planning - is responsible for developing the plan and authorizes procurement of production materials based on master schedule requirements.


• Purchased Product Engineering - is responsible for purchased products, including raw materials, tooling and end item components; serving as the liaison to design, product, and process engineers, production users, and suppliers in the areas of design definition, coordination of fabrication, and acceptance requirements.


• Inventory Management & Logistics - provides services in inventory management, materials movement, receiving, and shipping.


• Change Configuration Management Cell - manages the execution of product configuration in the Sandia drawing

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.