Senior/Principal R&D Microwave & Sensor Engineer - Radar ISR Mission Engineering, Onsite

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

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Flexible work arrangements (9/80, 4/10

Telecommuting

Generous vacation

401k

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories is seeking a Senior/Principal R&D Microwave & Sensor Engineer for Radar ISR Mission Engineering, onsite in New Mexico. The role involves analysing radar systems, developing concepts, and integrating subsystems, with leadership in testing, modeling, and documentation.

Requirements include a Bachelor's in a relevant field and 5 years of experience, with DOE Q clearance eligibility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and five years of related experience or equivalent
• DOE Q level security clearance eligibility required
• Graduate degree preferred for advanced role with independent research experience
• Experience with RF/microwave test equipment and measurement techniques

Responsibilities

• Analyze, design, and develop radar systems, subsystems, and modules
• Develop Concepts of Operation and system-level design and integration
• Develop test and qualification plans
• Lead or support formal program reviews
• Negotiate requirements with customers
• Deliver hardware within schedule and budget
• Develop technical documentation
• Troubleshoot problems and support anomaly resolution
• Work onsite with occasional travel and relocation assistance

Skills

Radar systems

DSP

MATLAB

C/C++

Python

RF/microwave test equipment

Digital communications

Electronic warfare

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline

Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

VNA / network analysis

Job description

Senior/Principal R&D Microwave & Sensor Engineer - Radar ISR Mission Engineering, 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 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 R&D S&E, Microwave & Sensor Engineering

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

Analyze, design, and develop radar systems, subsystems, and modules

Develop Concepts of Operation

System‑level design and integration

Develop test and qualification plans

Develop models for computational analysis of systems and processes

Lead or support formal program reviews

Negotiate technical and programmatic requirements with customers

Deliver hardware within schedule and budgetary constraints

Shape, guide or lead research activities to support program needs

Develop technical documentation

Troubleshoot problems and support anomaly resolution activities

Serve as a technical interface to other design and support organizations

Due to the nature of work, successful candidate must be able to work onsite. The position will require occasional travel. Relocation provided for those that qualify.

Applicants on this requisition may be interviewed by multiple organizations at Sandia National Laboratories.

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 level security clearance.

Qualifications We Desire:

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

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).

Laboratory skills and knowledge of RF and digital test equipment.

Knowledge of RF, Digital Communications, Electronic Warfare, and Cyber Security systems and principles.

Ability to work successfully in a dynamic, interdisciplinary, teaming environment.

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

Strong foundation in radar fundamentals and digital signal processing (DSP).

Demonstrated experience with one or more of the following:

radar system hardware

radar software

system modeling/analysis

RF scattering phenomenology

Programming experience in MATLAB and/or similar numerical computing environments; proficiency in one or more general‑purpose languages (e.g., C/C++, Python, Rust, Java, Fortran).

Experience using RF/microwave test equipment and measurement techniques (e.g., VNA/network analysis, spectrum analysis, noise figure/noise characterization, power measurements).

Key Technical Areas (experience in two or more):

PGA/firmware development (VHDL/Verilog); hardware realization of DSP algorithms; high‑speed chip‑to‑chip interfaces.

Edge/embedded software development (C/C++/Rust); acceleration using GPU/TPU; CUDA or similar frameworks.

Antenna design and analysis.

Experience in preparing, publishing and presenting technical information including patents

About Our Team:

The Radar ISR Mission Engineering Department (5349) develops and fields high‑performance radar systems and associated technologies supporting Nuclear Weapons (NW), National Security Programs (NSP), homeland security, interagency partners, and internal R&D. We specialize in end‑to‑end (tip‑to‑tail) radar system development, spanning electromagnetic design, radar/antenna development, electronics, firmware and software, modeling and simulation, systems engineering, integration, and test to deliver mission‑ready capabilities for niche national needs, including environments involving countermeasures and system resiliency.

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.