Senior/Principal System Engineer - LAZAP Project Lead, Onsite

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

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque is seeking a dedicated R&D Systems/Electrical/Optical/Mechanical Engineer to lead the LAZAP program, calibrating and testing optical satellite payloads for USNDS. You will coordinate laser/optical and electromecanical systems, collaborate with engineers, and guide testing with other agencies.

The role requires a DOE Q security clearance, strong writing and communication skills, and the ability to work onsite in a dynamic, safety-conscious

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with five years of directly relevant experience or equivalent.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q security clearance.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills are highly desirable.
• Graduate degree in Engineering or related field is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Work with a multidisciplinary team to coordinate laser/optical/electromechanical/software test systems and safety controls.
• Be certified to operate all mission positions and lead data analysis and report generation after each mission.
• Develop and implement an R&D and Maintenance & Operations roadmap to improve capability and prevent obsolescence while maintaining safety.
• Report monthly milestones and budgets to USNDS Sandia program and customers as required.
• Maintain a strong safety environment and ensure work is conducted within the defined safety envelope.

Skills

Excellent communication

Laser/Optics experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline

Graduate degree in Engineering or related field

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 Systems/Electrical/Optical/Mechanical Engineer to be the technical LAZAP lead. LAZAP is a facility that supports the calibration and functional testing of optical satellite payloads for the U.S. Nuclear Detonation (NUDET) Detection System (USNDS). The testing is accomplished by directing a high-powered laser(s) thru a beam director to a target in space.

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

• Work with a team of engineers and technologists to collaborate on challenging laser / optical / electromechanical / software systems / safety systems, as well as being the point of contact to coordinate the testing with other agencies.


• Be certified to operate all mission positions. At the completion of each mission, you will lead the data analysis and report generation.


• A critical aspect of the project leading role is understanding the entire facility hardware and software architecture, creating and implementing an R&D and M&O (maintenance and operations) roadmap for capability improvements and the avoidance of equipment/software obsolescence while maintaining a safe work practice.


• Report the monthly milestone and budget status to USNDS Sandia National Labs program and line management as well as the customer when required.


• Maintain a strong safety theme, assuring a working environment within the defined safety envelope

LAZAP is located east of Sandia Tech Area 1 in Albuquerque, and a virtual tour of the facility may be viewed at the following link: https://tours.sandia.gov/lazap_info.php

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 security clearance

Qualifications We Desire

The ideal R&D S&E Systems Engineering candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

• 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, and Kansas City National Security Campus/New Mexico Operations (KCNSC/NMO). Experience working on engineering design, qualification, production, or related modeling/simulation projects.

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

• Proven experience with technical leadership (i.e. defining and overseeing technical projects, budgets, and up-reporting on progress)


• Demonstrated self-motivation, positive attitude and willingness to work in an environment sometimes requiring rapid and accurate decision making with potentially high consequences.


• Experience with formal project management (planning, scheduling, cost management) and corporate Work Planning & Controls process.


• Experience with high consequence safety themes and associated safety controls


• Experience with testing, data collection and interpretation, and troubleshooting


• Experience designing and troubleshooting complex electromechanical systems


• Excellent communication skills


• Experience with lasers, optics, video systems, and/or telescopes


• Software development / programming with one or more of the following: Microsoft C# and Visual Basic; SQL database; embedded microcontroller programming; Programable Logic Control (PLC) Ladder Logic; Satellite Toolkit (STK); C; QNX Realtime OS


• Electronic and/or electromechanical experience, including work with electronic circuits, and the maintenance and troubleshooting of instrumentation, electronics, and complex cables/harnesses


• Basic qualifications with laboratory-level machine shop tools


• Experience with material sourcing, selection, and procurement


• Dedication to a positive teaming dynamic while attaining shared objectives, strong written and verbal skills, and detail oriented with a keen focus on customer service


• Strong problem-solving skills, and a willingness to submit work for extensive review


• History of being proactive and following through on assignments while producing consistent, high-quality work


• Ability to prioritize and balance competing activities and manage ambiguity


• Ability to support night / off hour testing

About Our Team

The optics and sensors engineering department conceives, designs, and builds new integrated sensor systems to solve national problems with remotely sensed data. To execute the sensor development lifecycle, the department utilizes core competencies in optics and sensor sciences, sensor system engineering, advanced modeling and simulation, and data exploitation. Typical activities completed by the department include: -The optics and sensors engineering department conceives, designs, and builds new integrated sensor systems to solve national problems with remotely sensed data. To execute the sensor development lifecycle, the department utilizes core competencies in optics and sensor sciences, sensor system engineering, advanced modeling and simulation, and data exploitation. Typical activities completed by the department include:- Mission-to-system trade-space evaluation and conceptual design- Optical design development- End-to-end sensor performance prediction- Development of sensor requirements- Optical alignment and test- Sensor development and characterization- Sensor system qualification

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.

Essential Functions

If offered the position, you may be required to demonstrate your fitness to perform certain physical aspects of the position, including lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling.