Senior/Principal PRT Lead - Code Management System Team, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories; New Mexico; On-site; USD 117,500 - 235,700; Full time

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories seeks an experienced R&D Systems Engineer to join the Code Management System team as a PRT Lead. The role focuses on delivering CMS products, applying systems engineering, and maturing requirements across the lifecycle.

Travel up to 15% and onsite work are required, with a DOE Q-level security clearance pursued. The position emphasizes leadership, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and the integration of MBSE approaches, to support critical nuclear weapon operations

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline and five years of directly relevant experience.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance.
• Graduate degree in Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement.
• Experience with MBSE methods and tools such as MagicDraw/Cameo.

Responsibilities

• Lead a Product Realization Team to deliver CMS products that meet requirements.
• Apply core systems engineering principles to deliver mission-driven outcomes across the product lifecycle.
• Elicit, define, decompose, allocate, trace, and manage system and component requirements.
• Coordinate product realization activities across design, development, production, and qualification.
• Mentor junior staff and engage with management.

Skills

Systems engineering

Leadership

MBSE

Requirements management

Risk management

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline

Graduate degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

MagicDraw/Cameo

Job description

Senior/Principal PRT Lead – Code Management System Team, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories is seeking an experienced R&D Systems Engineer to join the Code Management System (CMS) team as a Product Realization Team (PRT) Lead. CMS is used by the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Energy (DOE) to manage Permissive Action Link (PAL) codes and keys and support critical nuclear weapon operations such as recode/rekey, Limited Life Component Exchange (LLCE), training, deployment readiness, and assembly/disassembly. The system ensures authorized use and prevents unauthorized use of air‑delivered weapons.

What Your Job Will Be Like

• Lead a Product Realization Team to deliver CMS products that meet technical, programmatic, and mission requirements
• Apply core systems engineering principles to deliver mission‑driven outcomes across the product lifecycle
• Partner closely with domain experts and fellow engineers to develop, mature, and integrate product requirements, concepts, and technical solutions
• Elicit, define, decompose, allocate, trace, and manage system and component requirements
• Coordinate product realization activities across design, development, production, and qualification
• Identify, document, and elevate risks and issues that could impact mission execution, product quality, cost, or schedule
• Estimate, plan, and manage work scope, budgets, and schedules aligned to program priorities
• Support technical decision‑making through trade studies, design reviews, and cross‑functional coordination
• Balance multiple priorities and adapt quickly as technical and program needs evolve
• Build and communicate a roadmap aligned to a long‑term strategic vision for CMS product realization
• Integrate Model‑Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approaches and tools into day‑to‑day engineering where appropriate
• Mentor junior staff, influence technical direction, and engage effectively with senior staff and management
• Operate effectively both independently and in a collaborative team environment across multiple sites

Travel is required up to 15%. You must be able to work onsite 100% of the time.

Salary Range

$117,500 – $235,700 (range is estimated; actual salary depends on experience and qualifications, and geographic salary differential).

Qualifications We Require

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline and five (5) years of directly relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of 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‑level security clearance.

Qualifications We Desire

• Graduate degree in Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Experience working with Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) laboratories and plants including Pantex, Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), and Kansas City National Security Campus/New Mexico Operations (KCNSC/NMO).
• Experience on engineering design, qualification, production, integration, or related modeling/simulation projects.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering efforts to deliver complex products or systems in a mission‑focused environment.
• Experience coordinating product realization activities such as requirements maturation, design development, integration, verification, configuration management, and delivery planning.
• Experience developing or managing project budgets, schedules, and execution plans.
• Experience developing system requirements and maintaining traceability from mission need through implementation and verification.
• Experience with system architecture, design, and development in a high‑consequence engineering environment.
• Experience with MBSE methods and practical tool use (e.g., MagicDraw/Cameo or similar).
• Experience with the Product Realization Process 6.x process.
• Demonstrated ability to identify technical risks, work through ambiguity, and drive practical solutions with multidisciplinary teams.
• Leadership experience guiding junior staff, influencing senior technical staff, and engaging management.
• Ability to prepare clear written reports and deliver well‑organized briefings.
• Ability to learn new tools and processes quickly and execute within defined engineering frameworks.
• Track record of leading systems engineering or product realization activities within a technical domain.

About Our Team

You will contribute to a mission of national importance while working with highly skilled teams tackling complex, high‑consequence engineering challenges. This position is well‑suited for a systems engineer who enjoys turning ambiguity into clear requirements, leading multidisciplinary product realization efforts, coordinating execution across technical boundaries, and shaping a strategic direction that delivers operational value.

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 requires a DOE Q‑level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. A background investigation is conducted to meet classified access requirements. Substance abuse or other disqualifying behaviors may result in denial or termination of clearance.

EEO

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or 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, you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs. Additional steps may be necessary to ensure compliance prior to interview.