Manager, Digital and Quality Engineering (5492)

Sandia National Laboratories; New Mexico; On-site; USD 164,000 - 278,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Flexible work arrangements

Generous vacation and medical benefits

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories seeks a proactive Manager for the newly formed Digital and Quality Engineering Department (Center 05400/IMS). You will lead the 5492 team, drive the Digital Engineering platform (MBSE, digital thread, PDM), and ensure program-wide quality policies are upheld across diverse projects.

The role requires DOE Q clearance, strong leadership, and ability to coordinate with program and technical leads while managing budget and field operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 8+ years of directly relevant experience or equivalent
• Active DOE Q-level security clearance (or DOD equivalent)
• Two+ years of leadership experience preferred
• Graduate degree in science or engineering (MS/PhD) preferred
• Experience with digital engineering initiatives and digital thread concepts

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the 5492 department workforce ( recruitment, training, performance mgmt )
• Design, deploy, and improve the Digital Engineering platform (MBSE, requirements, digital thread, PDM)
• Oversee center quality assurance policies and practices
• Collaborate with Center 05400 managers and QA/digital engineering teams
• Manage department budget and operations
• Foster a culture of excellence, innovation, and mission assurance
• Support fielding operations at remote testing facilities as needed
• Travel up to occasional on-site requirements and interactions with Sandia partners

Skills

Leadership

Digital engineering

MBSE

Requirements management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline

MS or PhD preferred

Tools

MBSE

PDM

Digital Thread

Requirements Management

Job description

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Manager, Digital and Quality Engineering (5492)

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 qualified and enthusiastic leader to serve as the Manager for the newly established Digital and Quality Engineering Department, Organization 5492, within Center 05400. This pivotal role will oversee the development, implementation, and maintenance of the Center's Mission Assurance System (MAS) and Digital Engineering policies.

A key responsibility will be leading the ambitious implementation of a comprehensive Digital Engineering platform that integrates multiple critical components including Model‑Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), Requirements Management, Digital Thread, Product Data Management (PDM) systems, and more. This platform will link requirements through build and launch, ensuring seamless digital integration across the lifecycle of our projects.

What You Will Do

Lead and manage the 5492 department workforce, including recruitment, training, performance management, and career development.

Drive the design, deployment, and continuous improvement of the Digital Engineering platform for Center 05400, integrating MBSE, requirements, digital thread, PDM, and other systems.

Oversee quality assurance policies and practices across the center.

Collaborate closely with Center 05400 managers, program and technical leads, and corporate Quality Assurance and Digital Engineering organizations.

Manage operational, budgetary, and financial responsibilities for the department.

Foster a culture of excellence, innovation, and mission assurance within the team.

Support fielding operations at remote testing facilities as needed.

Navigate a fast‑paced environment with interactions across multiple Sandia and external organizations.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite 80% of the time with occasional travel required.

Salary Range:

$163,700 - $278,000

*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 a relevant discipline and eight (8) 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.

Active DOE Q-level (or DOD equivalent) security clearance.

Qualifications We Desire:

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

Two or more years of demonstrated leadership experience.

A graduate degree in science or engineering (MS or Ph.D.).

Outstanding interpersonal skills in developing trusting relationships with peers, staff, management, customers, and stakeholders.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills in the development and delivery of presentations, proposals, reports and documentation.

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

Experience with digital engineering initiatives and the integration of stove‑piped MBSE, requirements, and other documentation processes that yield a digital thread

Bachelor's degree in aerospace, systems, computer science, software or other STEM engineering field.

Experience with Center 05400 operations.

Established network within Sandia, especially in Quality and Digital Engineering communities.

Experience supporting field operations at remote test sites such as Kauai Test Facility, Kodiak Launch Complex, NASA Wallops, and others.

Strong interpersonal skills with a proven ability to build trust and relationships at all organizational levels.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills tailored to diverse audiences.

Experience in developing partnerships, recruiting and mentoring staff, strategic planning, and roadmap creation.

Established network within Sandia, especially in Quality and Digital Engineering communities.

Proven success leading high‑performing, multi-disciplinary teams.

Track record of delivering products on time, within budget, and to high‑quality standards.

Ability to identify process gaps and implement impactful improvements.

Experience supporting field operations at remote test sites such as Kauai Test Facility, Kodiak Launch Complex, NASA Wallops, and others.

Demonstrated agility in adapting to changing requirements and environments.

About Our Team:

The Integrated Military Systems (IMS) Center 05400, s tewards and develops core technologies for advanced flight systems, aerospace precision navigation, guidance and control, target recognition and defeat, directed energy and military systems analysis. Our team leverages decades of experience, advanced technologies, and rapid prototyping to deliver innovative, high‑quality solutions.

Organization 5492 employs a diverse team of technical staff and technologists specializing in Digital and Quality Engineering. Our Quality Engineers support center programs in quality compliance, while Independent Quality Operations Officers (IQOs) document flight build and testing activities to ensure mission success.

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
• At Sandia, recruiters manually review resumes on each job posting instead of using a resume screening software program
• By following the best practices outlined, this ensures that recruiters can accurately determine your qualifications for the position