Mechanical Engineer - Robotics and Autonomy Engineering, Hybrid

NCSL International; Albuquerque, Northern (NM, KY); Hybrid; USD 102,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Relocation assistance

Vacation & 401k

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories seeks an early-to-mid career research engineer to join our robotic systems team. You will develop algorithms and hardware for autonomous perception, planning and control, working within multidisciplinary groups on national security projects.

The role spans applied research to deployment of operational robotic systems, with opportunities to publish and contribute to funding proposals, while occasional telecommuting is available.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in engineering/science and ability to conduct independent R&D.
• Ability to obtain a DOE Q clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support development of robotic, autonomous systems for national security.
• Publish results in peer‑reviewed journals and develop competitive proposals.

Skills

Robotics

Machine learning

C++

Python

ROS/ROS2

Computer vision

Control systems

Signal processing

Education

PhD or Masters in Robotics/Mech/Electrical

Graduate project or thesis

Tools

Docker

Git

Matlab

ROS

Job description

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 early-to-mid career research engineer to join our dynamic team as a staff member to help us solve some of the most significant modern day technical challenges in national security.

• Work with a dynamic, multi‑disciplinary team on fast‑moving, innovative projects that progress from research to real‑world applications that serve the national interest
• Develop new methods that enable robotic systems to intelligently perceive, manipulate, and interact with the environment
• Create, design, and implement algorithms to enable advanced automation/autonomy, perception solutions, and action based on geometric and semantic perception of surroundings
• Develop novel algorithms for autonomous perception, planning, and action for the control of various mechatronic systems
• Develop and field novel robots, actuators, and autonomous control systems, including novel R&D drone and counter‑drone applications
• Work as part of multidisciplinary science and engineering teams doing cutting edge research and technology development to support the nation’s security needs
• Execute technical work with excellence to include participating in the development of competitive funding proposals, and publishing results in peer reviewed journals

The successful candidate will lead and support the development of novel solutions for robotic, electromechanical, uncrewed and/or automated/autonomous systems for projects in a fast‑paced team environment. Responsibilities will span the breadth of R&D from applied research to the development and delivery of operational systems.

This position is eligible for occasional telecommuting. The selected applicant must live within a reasonable distance for commuting to the assigned work location on a defined schedule.

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

• 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 a DOE Q clearance

Qualifications We Desire

The ideal R&D S&E Mechanical Engineering 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:

• A PhD or masters degree in Robotics/Mechanical / Electrical / Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, or similar, with a focus on automation, autonomy, and/or robotic systems
• Experience developing software algorithms and/or applications and/or development and realization of hardware
• Algorithm development or programming experience with one or more of the following: C, C++, Matlab, Python or similar languages
• Experience developing software algorithms and/or applications and/or development and realization of hardware
• Algorithm development or programming experience with one or more of the following: C, C++, Matlab, Python or similar languages
• Background/experience in developing/applying estimation and control theory/algorithms, especially for UAS/drones
• Experience developing and implementing challenging engineering solutions for end users, including experience with designing and integrating mechatronic hardware/software systems
• Experience in reinforcement learning (RL), especially in applied RL for UAS/drone control or agile robotics
• Experience with machine learning accelerated computing software libraries (e.g., jax, pytorch, tensorflow, etc. for python or ML libraries in other languages)
• Current or past focus on object detection, localization, estimation, autonomous navigation, planning, computer vision, machine learning, tracking, structure from motion, or related areas
• Strong software development fundamentals, including one or more of the following:
  • Languages: Python and C++
  • Experience with Git workflows
  • Experience with Docker environments
  • Familiarity with ROS and/or ROS2
• Experience with optical sensing
  • Experience with fiducial generation and detection algorithms (e.g. for Apriltags, QR-codes, or similar)
  • Understanding of camera calibration, image registration, image manipulation, and image processing
• Experience implementing advanced multi-sensor perception systems
• Experience developing nonlinear, adaptive control systemsExperience with multi-object control and/or tracking algorithms
• Training and/or developing machine learning algorithms for object classification, target recognition, and anomaly detection and characterization
• Experience with communication protocols (e.g., I2C, SPI, TCP/IP, EtherCAT) and physical layers (Wired, RF, Optical)
• Dynamic systems modeling and/or optimization

About Our Team

Organization 6565 Uncrewed Systems and Autonomy R&D specializes in robotics, mobile autonomy, advanced manufacturing automation, advanced controls, miniature mechatronic design and fabrication, electronics, human/machine interface and teaming, sensor systems, and computer vision systems. The department conducts both applied research and applications development of robotic systems resulting in numerous patents, papers, and deployed systems. The department conducts research, development, and application projects for a variety of customers, both internal to Sandia and across the national security establishment. The department also collaborates heavily with internal and external partners. The department is one of five in the Critical Asset Security for ND Group within the Weapon and Force Protection Center, and we partner across nearly all program areas 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.