Senior/Principal Electrical Engineer - Space Systems Design, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories; New Mexico; On-site; USD 118,000 - 236,000; Full time

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico seeks an experienced electrical engineer for space systems design and RF to advance space flight payloads. You will work with DoD/IC sponsors, mature enabling technologies, and lead full lifecycles from concept to deployment.

The role requires strong collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, proposal development, and occasional travel; onsite work is required due to security clearance. A DOE Q clearance is necessary.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and five years of directly relevant experience, or equivalent
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q and SCI clearance
• Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering or related field desired
• Experience with space flight systems and RF for space applications
• Experience leading teams and engaging with sponsors

Responsibilities

• Support or lead diverse multidisciplinary internal teams to realize new flight payloads
• Engage with external sponsors and Sandia leadership
• Generate and deliver proposals, reports, or presentations
• Independently design or develop solutions to complex technical problems
• Build and test space flight systems or prototypes
• Travel as needed to engage with sponsors and conferences

Skills

Electrical engineering

Space systems design

RF engineering

Proposal development

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline

Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

RF test equipment

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:

Sandia's Space Mission Engineering Program Office (SMEPO) strives to enhance national security by creating the future of space. To this end we seek the toughest unmet, space-based mission challenges for our DoD and IC partners. Solving these problems requires acting as a trusted resource, leveraging innovative ideas, applying differentiating technologies, and harnessing the strength of Sandia's unique capabilities.

We are seeking an experienced electrical engineer in space systems design and RF to join our space flight efforts in the areas of optical remote sensing, space control, and rapid realization. The successful candidate will have demonstrated the ability to strengthen partnerships, work with DoD or IC sponsors, mature enabling technologies, and execute space flight payloads through full lifecycle.

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

• Support or lead diverse, multidisciplinary internal teams to realize new flight payloads
• Engage with external sponsors and Sandia leadership
• Generate and deliver proposals, reports, or presentations
• Independently design or develop solutions to complex technical problems
• Build and test space flight systems or associated prototypes
• Identify gaps and opportunities to drive innovation
• Work in a secure environment, protecting information and results as required

Must be willing to support occasional travel. 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 and SCI clearance.

Qualifications We Desire:

The ideal R&D, S&E Electrical Engineer candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

• Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Ability to work independently and collaborate well in a multidisciplinary team of designers and test engineers.
• 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:

• Two or more years of experience with DOD or IC communities
• Two or more years of hands-on experience with space flight systems (designs/architecture, realization/build, testing and deployment)
• Experience with RF systems for space applications.
• Two or more years of project leadership experience with DOD or IC communities
• Experience implementing and leading SCI and/or Special Access Program (SAP) level technical projects
• Demonstrated ability to work well in a diverse, multidisciplinary teaming environment
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with external and internal partners
• Demonstrated ability to develop and present proposals (cost/schedule/scope/conceptual design) to internal and external partners
• Demonstrated ability to lead small teams
• Possess a strong dedication to positive teaming dynamics, strong written and verbal skills, detail oriented with a keen focus on supporting sponsors
• Experience designing optomechanical and electromechanical systems
• Ability to develop simple code to interface with mechanisms, components, testers, etc.
• Willingness to travel to engage with sponsors, conferences, etc.

About Our Team:

The Emerging Flight Technologies department is responsible for the development of space-based payloads in the nation's security interests. Efforts include:

• Rapid prototype development to create solutions for emerging threats.
• Developing resilient space electronic architectures. Moving traditional algorithms, which were designed to run on high-performance ground stations, to the edge.
• Payload and tech maturation in the areas of remote sensing, space control, space domain awareness, and space cyber.

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 and SCI access, both of which require US citizenship. SCI access may also require a polygraph examination. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain these levels of access 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 the 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.