Satellite Ground Systems Engineering and Operations Systems Engineer (Experienced)

Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 102,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories seeks an Engineering and Operations Systems Engineer to support the US Air Force‑funded USNDS Ground System.

The selected candidate will have programmatic and SE interactions with Program Managers, Project Leads, and R&D Systems Engineers and will contribute to high‑quality technical writing and structured documentation for program deliverables, as well as provide CM support to various teams.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Engineering, Science, Mathematics, or equivalent plus one year of relevant experience (BS + 5 years; no degree +13 years).
• 2 years experience with large complex systems development, in addition to the education requirement above.
• Ability to obtain a DOE Q clearance.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with USNDS internal organizations involved in the Ground effort.
• Coordinate technical and programmatic activities with strong attention to detail.

Skills

DOE Q clearance eligibility

Education

Master's degree in Engineering, Science, Mathematics, or equivalent

BS + 5 years; no degree +13 years

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 Engineering and Operations Systems Engineer to support the US Air Force‑funded United States NuDet Detection System (USNDS) Ground System. The existing ground systems include mission algorithms for analyzing space‑based sensor data, interfaces to satellite communication channels, and complex system architectures that support the USNDS missions and support functions/analysis for the broader USNDS Systems Engineering (SE) department. The selected candidate will have programmatic and SE interactions with Program Managers, Project Leads, and R&D Systems Engineers and will contribute to high‑quality technical writing and structured documentation for program deliverables, as well as provide information and configuration management (CM) support to various teams.

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

• Collaborate with other USNDS internal organizations involved in the USNDS Ground effort.
• Coordinate technical and programmatic activities while maintaining strong attention to detail.
• Coach project members in document management activities, principles, and processes.
• Facilitate deliverable document reviews and approvals and ensure final CM of documents/deliverables using established processes and procedures.
• Ensure final configuration management (CM) of documents and deliverables.
• Maintain and update CM methodologies using existing procedures and tools.
• Prepare project results in accordance with USNDS PM processes and procedures.
• Develop clear, concise technical reports and structured documentation.
• Create and maintain Microsoft Office‑based templates (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Visio) to standardize document formats, improve consistency, and support mission‑wide documentation workflows.

Due to the nature of this work the selected applicant must work on onsite.

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

• Master's degree in Engineering, Science, Mathematics, or equivalent plus one year of relevant experience (BS + 5 years; no degree +13 years).
• 2 years experience with large complex systems development, in addition to the education requirement above.
• Ability to obtain a DOE Q clearance.

Qualifications We Desire

• 3 years' domain experience working on the USNDS Program
• Experience with ground systems.
• Experience with data acquisition and reduction workflows (e.g., DaRC or related processes).
• Experience in AS9100D standards, CM, and information management processes.
• Familiarity with government CM requirements and the ability to interpret and follow contract, statement of work, and DID requirements.
• Experience planning, creating, managing, and delivering all forms of documents using Microsoft Office software tools.
• Experience with technical writing, including structuring all forms of engineering content, reports, and documentation.
• Experience with Engineering Information Management Systems (EIMS) or comparable engineering document/data management systems.
• Familiarity with IBM DOORS or similar requirements management tools.
• Demonstrated adaptability and creativity in establishing new CM and information management processes, as well as a strong ability to follow established principles, processes, and procedures.
• Experience working with and supporting Systems Engineering (SE) teams and familiarity with the SE Lifecycle and its importance to managing large-scale, complex projects, including experience developing and documenting performance requirements for large projects and experience with formal system test processes.

About Our Team

We have researched and developed new monitoring systems and technologies for over half a century. Building on that legacy, today we support national security missions involving nuclear proliferation detection, treaty monitoring, arms control, and various needs within the national security communities. We lead the design, development, test, and delivery of the next‑generation ground segment of the United States Nuclear Detonation Detection System (USNDS). The team provides leadership and technical solutions throughout the acquisition life‑cycle of next generation ground systems. Working with USNDS partners to define future ground system performance and operational requirements, the department is responsible for ensuring all work is completed within the approved schedule and budget. Additionally, the team communicates status, facilitates issue resolution, and coordinates with the Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) acquisition customer and key USNDS partner community.

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.