Early- Mid Career Systems Engineer - Advanced & Exploratory, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories; New Mexico; On-site; USD 87,000 - 169,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Generous vacation

Medical benefits

Work/life balance amenities

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico seeks an engineering and operations systems engineer to contribute to the design of future systems. You will join a cross-functional team developing and integrating engineering solutions for secure weapon system programs, from concept to deployment.

The role requires a DOE Q clearance and onsite work, with collaboration across program management, information, and security teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent related experience required.
• Active DOE Q clearance and ability to obtain Sigma 14/15.
• Experience partnering with customers/stakeholders and leading cross-disciplinary teams.
• Experience reviewing end-to-end work processes and negotiating requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deploy onboarding/offboarding strategies, tools, and processes.
• Collaborate with information and configuration management to create an enduring strategy.
• Manage tests and test materials planning and execution.
• Establish security posture across multiple classification boundaries.
• Coordinate program reviews and communicate status on cost, schedule, and performance.

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant discipline, or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience

Job description

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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 early to mid-career, hardworking, and dedicated Engineering and Operations Systems Engineer who is passionate about engineering systems development activities for future Sandia programs and work for our customers.

The successful candidate will join a highly integrated, highly motivated, cross-functional team contributing to the system design of new and conceptual nuclear weapon systems. Programs managed in this department range from technology demonstrators to system prototypes preparing for adoption into the early phases of the realization process. The successful candidate will:

Develop and deploy strategies, tools, and processes for effective onboarding and offboarding

Work with Information Management and Configuration Management professionals to develop an enduring and extensible strategy for the weapon system

Partner with Program Management to articulate risks and interfaces with stakeholders and provide risk mitigation strategies

Help manage the acquisition, planning, and execution of tests and test materials

Help the team establish an effective security posture across multiple classification boundaries

On any given day, you may be called on:

Collaborate with information, configuration management, and high-security professionals to develop effective strategies and processes that operate across multiple classification boundaries and program-appropriate limits.

Partner with internal teams (Systems, Product Realization, Mission Realization) and external stakeholders to define program goals, acquire and maintain materials, and develop logistics, deployment, and training plans supporting test, qualification, assembly, and system implementation.

Plan, direct, and coordinate projects for internal and external customers by defining system/subsystem requirements, project scope, schedules, cost estimates, and deliverables; develop comprehensive project plans using advanced management techniques.

Manage project resources and teams to ensure timely delivery, applying earned value management and other performance metrics to monitor progress, analyze variances, and support decision‑making.

Provide technical leadership and tactical planning throughout project execution, including evaluating system functionality, recommending integrated solutions, overseeing change management, identifying risks, and developing mitigation and contingency plans.

Coordinate negotiations with customers and partners to establish deliverables, stakeholder requirements, and project constraints.

Conduct technical and program reviews to communicate status on cost, schedule, and performance to management and customers.

Analyze data and deliver work products that inform future technology development needs for Sandia.

Recommend project initiation, expansion, or discontinuation based on performance and strategic alignment.

Prepare and deliver progress reports, proposals, requirements documentation, and presentations.

Develop logistics, deployment plans, and training resources to support system implementation.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant will be required to work onsite.

Salary Range:

$87,400 - $168,800

*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:

Bachelor's degree in relevant discipline, or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience. Equivalent experience in lieu of degree must be directly related experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of the job.

Active DOE Q-level security clearance and ability to obtain and maintain Sigma 14/15

Qualifications We Desire:

Demonstrated experience to partner with customers/stakeholders and direct the efforts of a cross‑disciplinary team

Demonstrated ability to review and understand end‑to‑end work processes

Demonstrated ability to work closely with customers and suppliers to define expectations and mutual responsibilities

Demonstrated experience with developing strong/trusting relationships with internal and external stakeholders, customers, and partners

Evidence of successfully negotiating requirements

Evidence of successfully operating in an ambiguous space

Demonstrated experience with the technology maturation process and maturing technologies

Demonstrated experience with coordination and reporting through the Program Management Office (PMO)

About Our Team:

Our team is developing transformational, threat‑informed solutions that enable the Nuclear Security Enterprise to meet emerging national security needs with a responsive nuclear deterrent. We develop safe, secure, trusted, and mission‑capable weapon designs and architectures. We partner internally and integrate across the Nuclear Security Enterprise (including LLNL, LANL, KCNSC, PX, and others) to provide thorough, objective information to our Nation¿s decision makers. We do this through preparing for Programs of Record and Urgent Operational Needs, maintaining systems and digital engineering capability, and cultivating national and international relationships.

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.

• Affordable housing, reasonable cost of living
• Minimal traffic congestion compared to larger cities