R&D Mechanical Engineer - Responsive ND Architectures (Experienced) - Onsite

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 vacations, 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

Are you looking to do innovative, creative, and impactful engineering? We develop advanced technologies to ensure global peace. Join us in our critical mission to ensure the safety, security, and reliability of our nation's nuclear deterrents!

We are seeking a hardworking and dedicated Mechanical Engineer to help support the Responsive Nuclear Deterrence (ND) Architectures Team. This engineer is passionate about and able to lead development of mechanical definition to support engineering systems development activities for future Sandia programs and work for our customers. As a mechanical engineer, you will develop mechanical definition, procure hardware and conduct analysis, support and conduct testing to deliver flight grade hardware.

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

• Develop mechanical layouts for modular/adaptable hardware.

• Plan, conduct and execute testing activities.

• Conduct thermal or mechanical analysis.

• Plan, conduct, and execute Sandia's science and engineering programs within the spectrum of fundamental research, development, or demonstration.

• Create and apply scientific methods and engineering principals to develop or demonstrate new designs, concepts, materials, machines, products, processes, or systems.

• Define and guide development of advanced & exploratory weapons systems architectures and layouts.

• Define future technology development needs for Sandia

• Develop advanced engineering demonstrator and/or test units, conduct testing, and analyze test results

• Interface with external partners and stakeholders to define program goals and requirements

• Support flight testing activities across multiple projects to identify system dynamics/environments and as a testbed for maturation of emerging technologies

The selected applicant will work on-site in either Livermore, CA or Albuquerque, NM.

Travel will be required up to 25% of the time.

Salary Range

$130,100 - $258,900

• 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

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field with at least five years of relevant experience; Master's degree in one of the fields with at least two years relevant experience; or Ph.D. in one of these fields

• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance plus additional clearances, as needed.

Qualifications We Desire

• Proficiency in a CAD tool (Creo or Solidworks)

• Demonstrated experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Mechanical piece part design

• Requirements management, system themes, architectures, trade studies, interface definitions, qualification, and comprehensive knowledge of system integration/components

• Test design and implementation; requirements verification; functional decomposition

• Proven technical background with experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Experience with instrumentation, data collection, processing and analysis

• Thermal or structural modelling and simulation

• Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)

• Hands-on testing and debugging complex systems in a lab/test facility environment(s)

• Optimization methods and processes, trade space analysis, and decision making tools

• Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)

• Test and qualification background or experience

• Evidence of good verbal and written communication skills, including significant writing, interpersonal, and formal briefing capabilities.

• Proven ability to work within multidisciplinary team environments and in conjunction with diverse collaborators.

• Evidence of independent resourcefulness in the development of new ideas or programs.

• Evidence of the ability to conduct engineering work in a systems context.

• Evidence of successfully navigating requirements ambiguity.

• Background and understanding of nuclear weapons across the lifecycle is desired, but training in the organization to fill experience gaps is acceptable.

About Our Team

As part of the Advanced Systems and Transformation Center, the Responsive Nuclear Deterrent (ND) Architectures Department is responsible for creating, maturing, maintaining, and deploying standardized nuclear weapon interface solutions around data and power for use in ND missions and telemetry. Given that Modularity/block upgrades are the goal for next-generation weapon designs, our team enables modular solutions by using standard, flexible interfaces that meet emerging needs with proven survivability characteristics and varied capabilities that can be leveraged across future programs of record. With our products, component development and system integration efforts are simplified and resilient to late requirements changes without requiring major concession or redesign; multiple options can be carried forward until late in the development cycles; and fielded systems will be upgraded readily without interface redesign. This adaptable/standardized approach is applied to a suite of flight test telemetry hardware that this team deploys in support of multiple projects.

In addition, our department is responsible for establishing and building internal and external partnerships with our National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Federal Program Managers, Air Force and Navy program managers, Sandia nuclear weapons component organizations, the Sandia science & technology community, system analysis and strategic partnering groups, the Kansas City Plant National Security Campus (NSC), and many others.

Posting Duration

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) 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.