Experienced Electrical & Computer Engineering, Automation & Instrumentation Integration, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 117,500 - 235,700; Full time

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM, is seeking a software/hardware integration research engineer or scientist to lead automation and instrumentation for the Z-Beamlet Laser (ZBL) facility.

The role requires overseeing ZBL system architecture, collaboration across Sandia organizations, and advancing AI/ML diagnostics within the control system. Onsite work and active security clearance are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 5+ years of directly relevant experience or equivalent
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance.

Responsibilities

• Perform hands-on lab work while leading software and engineering teams across organizations.
• Define requirements and develop project and implementation plans for integrating new hardware, instrumentation, and diagnostics into the ZBL control system.
• Integrate, test, and debug new functionality and instrumentation into the ZBL control system by combining software with hardware solutions.
• Develop capabilities to integrate AI and ML diagnostic and analysis tools into ZBL operations.
• Respond to, troubleshoot, and resolve issues affecting the ZBL control system and automated instrumentation to minimize operational impacts.
• Track project progress and provide updates to stakeholders for timely delivery.
• Prepare documentation on ZBL control system architecture, software, instrumentation, and performance.
• Present research findings at conferences and publish in peer-reviewed journals.

Skills

Team leadership

LabVIEW knowledge

Software-hardware integration

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline

Tools

LabVIEW

Allen-Bradley PLC

SCADA

Job description

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 a software/hardware integration research engineer or scientist to lead the integration, development, and operation of automation and instrumentation solutions for the Z-Beamlet Laser (ZBL) facility.

ZBL is one of the largest pulsed lasers in the world and used for scientific research in the areas of inertial confinement fusion and high‑energy‑density science.

The position will be responsible for overseeing and improving the ZBL systems and architecture for computer control, automation, diagnostic recording, and electronic imaging and requires close collaboration and teaming across several organizations at Sandia.

We are offering a unique opportunity to blend traditional engineering practices with innovative problem‑solving, allowing you to make a significant impact on our projects, rapidly bring your designs to life, and contribute to cutting‑edge scientific advancements.

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

• Perform hands‑on lab work while leading software and engineering teams across organizations.
• Collaborate with R&D engineers to define requirements and develop project and implementation plans for integrating new hardware, instrumentation, and diagnostics into the ZBL control system.
• Integrate, test, and debug new functionality and instrumentation into the ZBL control system by combining custom software with hardware solutions.
• Develop new capabilities to integrate AI and Machine Learning (ML) diagnostic and analysis tools into ZBL operations.
• Quickly respond to, troubleshoot, and resolve issues affecting the ZBL control system and automated instrumentation to minimize operational impacts.
• Track project progress and provide regular updates to stakeholders to ensure timely delivery of automation and instrumentation solutions.
• Prepare detailed documentation on the ZBL control system architecture, software, instrumentation, and performance specifications.
• Present research findings at national and international conferences and publish in peer‑reviewed journals.

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

Salary Range

$117,500 - $235,700

*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 and five (5) years of directly relevant experience, 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 Engineering candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

• Advanced degree or equivalent experience in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or related discipline.
• Ability to work independently and collaborate well in a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and technologists.
• Outstanding verbal and written skills, including the ability to develop and present briefings that are clear and compelling.

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

• Proven ability to successfully integrate instrumentation hardware and LabVIEW software
• Experience developing and executing test plans to validate performance of automated instrumentation systems
• Proficiency in designing, troubleshooting, and maintaining complex LabVIEW applications
• Proficiency in maintaining and troubleshooting Allen‑Bradley PLC applications (Ladder Logic, SCADA)
• Demonstrated success in facilitating team collaboration, developing project requirements, managing developer workloads, aligning software goals with overall project milestones and resources, and tracking and communicating progress toward completing project deliverables

About Our Team

The Laser Operations & Engineering Department is responsible for developing and applying laser‑produced x‑ray sources and detectors to support high‑energy‑density science experiments performed on Sandia's Z pulsed‑power facility. The department is composed of a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and technologists that work together in a collaborative environment to support scientists from around the world that work on Z to pursue research in the areas of inertial confinement fusion, condensed matter physics, atomic physics, shock physics, radiation transport, and planetary science.

Department staff develop and operate a suite of high‑power lasers including the multi‑kilojoule nanosecond‑class Z‑Beamlet and picosecond‑class Z‑Petawatt lasers, some of the largest and most powerful lasers in the world. Department staff also develop high‑speed solid‑state x‑ray cameras and sensors using custom ASICs and photodiode arrays. Other unique experimental capabilities include x‑ray calibration sources and detectors, thin‑film optical coating system for meter‑scale optics, and target chambers and diagnostics for performing research on high‑power laser‑plasma interaction. This team is part of the Radiation, Electrical and High Energy Density Science (REHEDS) Research Foundation at Sandia.

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.