Senior/Principal Electronics Technologist ¿ Telemetry & Data Systems, Tonopah Test Range, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 71,000 - 138,000; Full time

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories seeks an Electronics Technologist to join the Tonopah Test Range (TTR) team. The role focuses on maintaining, operating, and upgrading telemetry and data capture equipment, applying electronics and RF fundamentals to support national defense programs.

You will troubleshoot, repair, and integrate systems, operate encryption and data transmission gear, and collaborate within a multidisciplinary team on mission-critical operations at TTR in Tonopah, NV.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Minimum 5 years of verifiable experience in Electronics, Telemetry, or related RF systems.
• Willingness to work at Tonopah, NV remote site 3–4 days per week.

Responsibilities

• Support the range's flight test mission by keeping instrumentation ready for tests.
• Operate, maintain, upgrade, and troubleshoot electronic systems including antenna controls and data capture.
• Work with diverse technical equipment to diagnose issues in systems and networks.
• Troubleshoot components and integrate current tech into legacy systems.
• Develop procedures and calibrate equipment as needed.
• Ensure compliance with safety, range guidance, and infrastructure requirements.

Skills

Electronics

Telemetry

RF Systems

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Vocational-Technical Certificate or Associate Degree in a technical field

DOE Q clearance (desirable)

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

What Your Job Will Be Like:

We are seeking a field‑proven Electronics Technologist to join Sandia National Laboratories’ Tonopah Test Range (TTR) team. This multidisciplinary group designs, develops, maintains, and upgrades advanced systems supporting national defense programs, homeland security, and non‑defense applications. Tonopah Test Range engineering teams utilize state‑of‑the‑art technologies, including sophisticated software tools for design, analysis, modeling, and simulation.

In this role, you will actively engage in maintaining, operating, troubleshooting, repairing, and integrating electronic systems, most specifically telemetry and data capture equipment. You will apply your knowledge of electronics technology and RF fundamentals to support a variety of complex systems. Your daily work will involve operating and maintaining data capture and encryption instrumentation, working with related architectures, and supporting decryption and information assurance activities. You can expect to regularly handle and troubleshoot antenna control systems, electric drive systems, timing devices, data recorders, and encryption‑transmission equipment as part of the mission‑critical operations at Tonopah Test Range.

On any given day, you may be called on:

• Support the Laboratories¿ flight test mission by ensuring range instrumentation is maintained in a test‑ready status.
• Operate, maintain, upgrade, and troubleshoot electronic systems, including antenna controls, data capture, and data management systems.
• Work with a wide range of technical equipment to analyze and diagnose issues with systems and networks.
• Troubleshoot discrete component technology and integrate current technology into legacy systems.
• Develop procedures, documentation, and calibrate equipment as needed.
• Assist in developing future range processes and procedures, adhering to established range guidance, and ensuring compliance with operational, facility, and infrastructure requirements.
• Follow structured Work Planning & Controls processes and incorporate corporate safety and work planning processes to meet all safety and compliance requirements.
• Collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary team while also demonstrating the ability to work independently in a dynamic, high‑stress environment with tight deadlines.
• Communicate clearly and professionally through written reports, presentations, and proposals.
• Perform other duties as required by Range operations.

Location and Work Environment:

This position is based at the Tonopah Test Range (TTR), near Tonopah, NV. Applicants must be willing and able to live and work at this remote site for 3‑4 days per week. The role requires the ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team. You will report to work either directly at TTR or at a designated commuter vehicle location in Las Vegas, NV, for transport to the Range.

Salary Range:

$71,100 - $137,500

*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:

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent
• Minimum of five (5) years of verifiable and directly applicable experience in Electronics, Telemetry (Preferred), or other relevant RF Systems and technical disciplines.

Qualifications We Desire:

• Active or prior DOE Q clearance or DoD equivalent.
• Application knowledge of telemetry systems, data capture, as well as data encryption/decryption systems.
• Vocational‑Technical Certificate in a relevant mechanical or electrical concentration areas, and/or an associate’s degree in a relevant technical field.
• Demonstrated ability to operate, troubleshoot and repair to component level of mechanical and electrical systems.
• Analog and/or fiber optic cable design and fabrication experien