Senior/Principal R&D Mechanical Engineer - Non-Destructive Environments and Diagnostics, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories; New Mexico; On-site; USD 138,600 - 235,700; Full time

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories seeks a Senior/Principal R&D Mechanical Engineer focused on Non-Destructive Environments and Diagnostics. You will join a team developing and applying transformative non‑destructive evaluation methods for national security, utilizing radiography, CT, ultrasound, and more in a state‑of‑the‑art environment.

You will collaborate with partners to advance NDE techniques, lead equipment oversight, and deliver data-driven results to leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline with five years of directly relevant experience or equivalent.
• Current active DOE Q clearance.
• Strong ability to perform independent research and development.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with internal and external partners to advance NDE techniques.
• Communicate results and recommendations to mission partners and leadership.
• Lead oversight of NDE equipment and infrastructure and guide strategic roadmaps.
• Ensure safe, effective operation of lab equipment and lead corrective actions as needed.
• Document results for customers and contribute to conference proceedings and papers.

Skills

Non-destructive testing

NDE techniques

Mechanical engineering

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Senior/Principal R&D Mechanical Engineer - Non-Destructive Environments and Diagnostics, Onsite

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 401(k), 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

Are you looking to be a leader on a team that handles tough challenges for national security? If so, we are looking for a highly motivated R&D S&E Experienced Staff member to join our Non‑Destructive Environments and Diagnostics (1529) team. Our team is responsible for developing and employing transformative non‑destructive evaluation methods for national security applications. We are recognized leaders in the field, specializing in capabilities such as radiography, computed tomography, ultrasound, eddy current, dye penetrant, and shearography. Our group balances laboratory and field testing with state‑of‑the‑art equipment to support our mission.

In this role, you will support science and engineering research, development, and application activities in support of Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) missions. On any given day, you may be called to:

Collaborate with internal and external partners (labs, universities, industry) to advance NDE techniques.

Communicate with Org. 1529’s mission partners to conduct a wide variety of experiments using non‑destructive techniques, identify the most appropriate approach for each project and clearly explain results and recommendations.

Lead the oversight of NDE equipment and infrastructure, guiding the technical roadmap decisions.

Ensure safe, effective operation of lab equipment and lead corrective actions as needed.

Partner with the team project priorities and develop innovative testing.

Shape the approach to data analysis and delivery of results, to support updates to leadership.

Document results for customers and contribute to conference proceedings and peer‑reviewed journal papers.

Conceive and implement new solutions and improvements to the group’s technical and operational procedures.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.

Salary Range

$138,600 – $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.

Current active DOE Q clearance.

Qualifications We Desire

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

Graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g. independent project, thesis, or dissertation).

Experience with mechanical engineering and product realization in the NNSA complex.

Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.

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

Graduate degree in Aerospace/Computer/Electrical/Materials/Mechanical Engineering or a highly related field.

Experience with non‑destructive testing and evaluation techniques.

Experience with engineering materials, processes, and product realization in the NNSA complex.

Strong verbal and written communication skills, for technical reports, proposals, and presentations.

Background in nuclear weapons, energy systems, national security, or aerospace applications.

Knowledge of scientific instrumentation, materials characterization, electrical or structural failure analysis, additive manufacturing, AI/ML for engineering, or autonomous systems.

Self‑directed, customer‑focused, with strong interpersonal, teaming, and analytical skills.

Demonstrated ability to understand and work across diverse technologies and disciplines; demonstrated ability to maintain and grow contacts across national security enterprise mission space.

Proven track record of team collaboration, customer engagement and trade studies to identify optimal system solutions.

Experience coordinating multi‑team efforts for complex systems.

Familiarity with anomaly investigations and cross‑functional teams.

About Our Team

The Non‑Destructive Environments and Diagnostics department (1529) is an integral part of the Experimental Solid Mechanics and Structural Dynamics group (1520) at Sandia National Laboratories. Our mission is to develop and employ innovative non‑destructive evaluation methods to support national security applications. We provide comprehensive support through design assistance, environment simulation, diagnostics, qualification activities, field testing, and engineering discovery. Our team collaborates closely with other departments and external entities to ensure accurate and reproducible data in mission‑relevant mechanical environments. We maintain a robust R&D portfolio focused on advancing non‑destructive testing methodologies and enhancing the qualification of systems critical to our nation’s security.

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

Position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q security clearance to start, or equivalent active security clearance with another U.S. government agency (e.g., DOD). Sandia is required by DOE directive 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 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.