Early Career R&D Systems Electrical Engineer - Nuclear Deterrence Systems, NM/CA, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 122,000 - 238,000; Full time

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM and Livermore, CA seeks an early‑career R&D Electrical Engineer to join multidisciplinary teams delivering critical national security work.

You will contribute across the full lifecycle of complex electrical systems, from requirements to fielded systems, collaborating with engineers, production partners, and external stakeholders. Travel <25% and onsite work are required. The role emphasizes design, testing, modeling, and qualification activities within Sandia's national security programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance.
• Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop understanding of customer, system, subsystem, and component requirements.
• Define and mature electrical and system requirements with stakeholders.
• Perform analysis and testing to verify requirements.
• Develop system-level architecture and perform trade studies for electrical components.
• Plan, execute, and analyze ground and flight test activities.
• Collaborate with engineers, production partners, and SMEs.
• Plan and conduct experiments, modeling, and simulations.
• Represent electrical design in design reviews and forums.
• Plan and execute environmental, functional, safety, and qualification tests.
• Support hardware assembly, integration, and anomaly resolution.

Skills

Teamwork

Communication

Clearance eligible

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Graduate degree in EE or related

Tools

C/C++

Python

PSpice/LTSpice

Cadence/OrCAD

MATLAB/Simulink

LabVIEW

ModelSim

Oscilloscopes

Spectrum analyzers

Job description

• Albuquerque, NM;Livermore, CA
• Full-Time
• 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 develop next-generation electrical systems that help advance national security.

We are seeking early career R&D Electrical Engineers to join multidisciplinary teams delivering critical national security work in support of nuclear deterrence, advanced systems engineering, electrical design, product realization, testing, qualification, assessment, and sustainment.

This is mission-connected engineering. In this role, you will contribute across the full lifecycle of complex electrical systems and subsystems, from requirements and design maturation to integration, testing, qualification, production realization, fielded‑system support, and system‑level assessment. Your work may support actively fielded systems, systems in development, flight test vehicles, qualification programs, component and subsystem integration, and lifecycle sustainment activities.

You will work closely with systems engineers, component engineers, production partners, subject matter experts, customers, and external stakeholders across the Nuclear Security Enterprise to solve complex and ambiguous engineering challenges. This position offers opportunities to contribute technically, represent Sandia on internal and external teams, and help deliver mission‑critical outcomes.

In this role you will:

• Develop a detailed understanding of customer, system, subsystem, and component requirements.
• Define, capture, and mature electrical and system requirements in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Perform analysis and supporting testing efforts in support of requirements verification.
• Develop system-level architecture and perform trade studies to integrate electrical components and subsystems for strategic deterrent applications.
• Plan, execute, and analyze ground and flight test activities to verify and qualify hardware and software.
• Collaborate with systems engineers, component engineers, production partners, and Science & Technology experts.
• Plan, execute, and analyze experiments, modeling and simulation activities, and engineering tests.
• Represent electrical design considerations in design reviews, programmatic meetings, and multi‑organizational forums.
• Plan and execute environmental, functional, safety, qualification, development, characterization, flight, laboratory, and component testing.
• Support hardware assembly, subassembly integration, test execution, and anomaly resolution.
• Conduct technical analyses and trade studies using performance, risk, cost, schedule, manufacturability, and mission needs.
• Partner with production agencies and external organizations to support product realization, production documentation, and lifecycle sustainment.
• Maintain technical, design, production, and systems engineering documentation.
• Support stockpile assessment, maintenance, qualification, modernization, and sustainment projects.
• Build effective relationships with Sandia organizations, NNSA, partner design agencies, production agencies, customers, and other stakeholders.
• Apply analytical thinking, sound engineering judgement, and strong communication skills to solve complex problems with multidisciplinary teams.

This position also requires the ability to travel, typically less than 25%, to support the mission.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite 100% of the time.

Applicants on this requisition may be interviewed by multiple organizations at Sandia National Laboratories.

Salary Range

$121,900 - $237,800

*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 U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance.

Qualifications We Desire

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

• Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Ability to work independently and collaborate well in a multidisciplinary team of designers and test engineers.
• Outstanding verbal and written skills, including the ability to develop and present briefings that are clear and compelling.

We are especially interested in candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Hands‑on experience with modeling, simulation, qualification, or production of electrical systems and components.
• Familiarity with tools and languages such as C/C++, Python, PSpice/LTSpice, Cadence/OrCAD, MATLAB/Simulink, LabVIEW, HDL, ModelSim, oscilloscopes, and spectrum analyzers.
• Experience defining specifications for components and systems, and evaluating electrical interfaces and requirements documentation.
• Leadership or mentoring experience in an academic, internship, or professional setting.
• Fundamental knowledge of systems engineering concepts and principles.
• Demonstrated teamwork skills and the ability to collaborate across internal organizations and external partners.

About Our Team

The 8200 ND Systems Center provides systems engineering, integration, qualification, and product realization expertise for the W80-4 Life Extension Program, the W80-5 Modification Program, and Stockpile sustainment for B83-0/1, W87-0, W80-1 and Mk21 programs. We are also home to Sandia Livermore capabilities for assembly, fabrication, and testing in support of both modernization and stockpile programs.

Center 8200 spans Sandia's Livermore and Albuquerque campuses and is positioned to leverage engineering talent and advanced facilities at both locations in support of Sandia's mission. We maintain strong partnerships with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the Nuclear Security Enterprise, and our Department of War partners.

Across our systems engineering activities, Center 8200 is focused on delivering and maintaining a safe, secure, and reliable stockpile while innovating how we execute our work with greater acceleration and efficiency.

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.