Senior/Principal R&D Cybersecurity Engineer - Microelectronics, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 118,000 - 236,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Relocation assistance

Generous vacation and benefits

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque seeks a R&D S&E Cybersecurity Scientist/Engineer to lead cybersecurity research focused on microelectronics hardware assurance and analysis.

The successful candidate will bring hands-on microelectronics hardware expertise and help define investigations from board to chip level, collaborating with engineers, materials scientists, and software specialists to deliver results for national-security stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline with five years of directly related experience.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q and SCI clearance which may require a polygraph test.
• Experience in microelectronics hardware analysis and laboratory investigations.

Responsibilities

• Define, plan, and execute hardware-focused cybersecurity investigations.
• Lead hardware analysis spanning system/board/subsystem/device/chip scales.
• Develop and document lab workflows and analysis processes.
• Synthesize lab data, modeling, and literature to support conclusions.
• Communicate findings to stakeholders through reports and presentations.

Skills

Cybersecurity research

Hardware analysis

Laboratory leadership

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline

Tools

FIB

SEM

EDS

AFM

CT

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 R&D S&E Cybersecurity Scientist/Engineer to conduct and lead aspects of cybersecurity research and development focused on microelectronics hardware assurance and analysis.

The successful candidate will bring strong experimental microelectronics hardware expertise and will help define and execute laboratory investigations that evaluate hardware implementations from the board level down to the chip and device level. You will collaborate with a broad, cross-disciplinary team - including microelectronics engineers, materials and packaging experts, analysts, and cybersecurity and software specialists - to design technically rigorous approaches and deliver impactful results for national-security stakeholders.

This role blends hands-on laboratory execution with technical leadership: defining hypotheses, developing experimental plans and processes, mentoring teammates as appropriate, and advancing microelectronics analysis capabilities to meet evolving hardware cybersecurity needs. Clear communication and stakeholder engagement are essential, including participation in technical meetings, planning discussions, and the dissemination of results to internal and external audiences.

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

• Define, plan, and execute experimental investigations addressing hardware-focused cybersecurity questions and mission needs
• Lead or significantly contribute to hardware analysis efforts spanning system/board/subsystem/device/chip scales
• Develop, improve, and document laboratory workflows and analysis processes; help drive capability maturation and best practices
• Synthesize evidence from lab data, modeling/simulation, and technical literature to produce defensible technical conclusions and recommendations
• Collaborate with software and cybersecurity experts to assess system behavior at the hardware/software boundary when needed
• Communicate technical findings to stakeholders in written deliverables, 1:1 technical exchanges, and broader presentations
• Contribute to proposal development and new research directions aligned with hardware cybersecurity mission priorities

Experience with advanced microscopy and sample preparation methods (e.g., FIB and/or SEM) and failure analysis is a plus.

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 which may require a polygraph test.

Qualifications We Desire

The ideal R&D Cybersecurity candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

• Graduate degree in Computer Science/Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Information Systems, Computer Forensics, Mathematics or a directly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Experience in one or more of the following: reverse engineering, software vulnerability assessment, web application assessment, computer networking, computer architecture, compilers, or similar computer security topics.
• Proficiency in scripting or high-level programming.
• Familiarity with secure-system design principles and information assurance principles.
• Excellent communication skills and a demonstrated ability to develop technical ideas and results and present them in oral and written form in a concise manner.

Also, for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience:

• Experience planning and executing laboratory-based R&D project work.
• Experience successfully proposing and leading laboratory-based R&D projects.
• Experience in one or more of the following: microelectronics fabrication, failure analysis, hardware reverse engineering, hardware analysis, microelectronics, or similar computer security topics.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Experience interacting and collaborating with FIB vendors.
• Experience in the tool life cycle process ¿ identifying, specifying/procuring, planning, installing new instruments.
• Experience with semiconductor device design, fabrication and integration.
• Willingness to learn the fundamentals of semiconductor device design, fabrication and integration.
• Proven record of communication skills (publications and presentations).
• Experience or working knowledge of complementary materials analysis tools such as energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), x-ray imaging or computed tomography (CT), focused ion beam (FIB), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
• Active DOE Q and SCI security clearance.

About Our Team

Dept 5642 manages a diverse set of activities and program responsibilities surrounding microsystems assessment capability. Activities include a) overseeing the health of assessment capabilities to ensure customer deliverables are met today and tomorrow; b) partnering with research departments within 5600 and outside to develop and implement assessment technology and capability roadmaps to ensure future capability needs are met; c) leading assessment capability infrastructure projects to meet customer needs; d) partnering with cross program efforts between NW and DSA to further develop opportunities to strengthen/develop assessment capabilities; and e) providing cross cutting technical support for continuous improvement benefiting the Center 5600.

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 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.