Senior/Principal R&D Electrical Engineer - Nuclear Verification, Onsite

Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 118,000 - 236,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Telecommuting options

Relocation assistance

Generous vacation

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque seeks a dedicated R&D Electrical Engineer to join our Nuclear Verification Department (6818). You will collaborate with mechanical, nuclear, microelectronics, and computer engineers to develop concepts, write proposals, and design and test hardware and firmware for verifying nuclear treaties while minimizing exposure of sensitive information.

The role emphasizes on-site work and requires a DOE Q-level security clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and five years of directly relevant experience or equivalent combination.
• Ability to obtain a DOE Q clearance is required.
• Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering or related field is desirable.
• Strong independent research capability and proposal development experience.

Responsibilities

• Build and test prototypes for monitoring and verification equipment.
• Design, modify, fabricate, and test electrical components including PCBs with digital/analog circuitry.
• Design and test embedded firmware using microcontrollers and FPGAs.
• Support design, development, testing, and fielding of verification devices like sensors and seals.
• Contribute to electronics trust and security concepts.
• Research emerging technologies for export control and security considerations.

Skills

Digital circuit design

Analog circuit design

Embedded systems

Microcontroller programming

FPGA development

C programming

Python

MATLAB

Radiation detection

Nuclear nonproliferation

Security clearance planning

Technical writing

Proposal leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant discipline

Five years of directly relevant experience

DOE Q clearance eligibility

Graduate degree (preferred)

Tools

GEANT4

GADRAS

MCNP

Python

MATLAB

C/C++/Java

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 a dedicated R&D Electrical Engineer to join our dynamic team someone passionate about solving critical challenges related to our nation's security. In this role, you will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of mechanical, nuclear, microelectronics, and computer engineers to develop concepts, write proposals, and design and test hardware and firmware that advance technologies for verifying nuclear weapons treaties while minimizing the risk of exposing sensitive information.

• Build and test prototypes for monitoring and verification equipment.
• Design, modify, facilitate the fabrication of, and test electrical components, including printed circuit boards with digital and analog circuitry.
• Design, modify, and test embedded firmware, including the use of microcontrollers and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).
• Support projects in the design, development, testing, and fielding of verification and monitoring devices, including sensors, tags, and seals.
• Contribute to the field of electronics trust.
• Research and perform anticipatory analysis of emerging technologies for export control and international trade security considerations

Due to the nature of this work the selected applicant must 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 a DOE Q clearance

Qualifications We Desire

• 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:

• Digital and analog circuit design
• Embedded systems and electronic systems design
• Microcontroller programming and integration within hardware systems
• FPGA development
• C programming (proficiency in C, C++, or Java)
• Experience with microelectronics design and fabrication, including semiconductor devices and integrated circuits.
• Algorithm development and programming, with proficiency in Python and/or MATLAB
• Experience working on research and development projects, including redefining concepts into workable prototypes
• Experience in radiation detection techniques and sensors, including design or use of gamma or neutron detection systems
• Knowledge of radiation transport calculations and Monte Carlo N Particle (MCNP) transport software
• Experience using radiation modeling and simulation tools such as GEANT4 or GADRAS
• Knowledge of signal processing techniques, particularly related to radiation sensors
• Experience with cryptographic systems, including the use or implementation of digital signature and hashing algorithms
• Understanding of nuclear nonproliferation, arms control, safeguards, and export control topics
• Knowledge or willingness to develop expertise in nonproliferation and arms control
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Experience writing proposals and leading project teams
• Demonstrated ability to produce technical documents
• Proven ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams
• Active DOE Q-level or DoD equivalent security clearance
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally

About Our Team

The Nuclear Verification Department (6818) is making the world a safer place by helping the US Government to reduce nuclear threats. We give policymakers technical options for verifying declared nuclear warheads and materials to enable effective arms control treaties and agreements. We research, develop, evaluate, and field new technologies that increase our government's capability to verify treaties and manage nuclear materials. Our diverse work includes technical development of radiation detectors, information barriers, sensors, tags, seals, information management and protection, and other nuclear security technologies, often with ultra-low-power requirements. Our programs are performed collaboratively with scientists and engineers in the Global Security & Cooperation Center (6800), across Sandia, with other national laboratories and sites, and internationally.

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.