R&D Mechanical Engineer - W76-1 System Life Extension (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

We are seeking a highly motivated Systems Mechanical Engineer to become part of the W76-1/W76-2 Joint Test Assembly (JTA) Weapon System Team. Our team executes design, development, and qualification of the new instrumented JTA flight test body for the W76-1/W76-2 weapon systems. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to participate in a range of engineering projects including designing systems and components, designing test configurations, test planning and coordination, system integration, production planning and support, modeling and simulation, large-scale system tests, and providing occasional support to stockpile activities. This position requires close coordination with the internal Sandia teams supporting the JTA development and test activities, as well as our external partners at Los Alamos National Labs, KCNSC, Pantex, NNSA, and Navy.

The successful candidate will become intimately familiar with the detailed function of W76-1/-2 nuclear weapon components, subsystems, and systems, and gain a breadth of knowledge across all phases of the product realization lifecycle from concept exploration, design, development, qualification, production, sustainment, to retirement. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to exercise investigative freedom in engaging the broad Nuclear Weapons community.

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

• Develop detailed understanding of customer requirements and ensure maturation of requirements for specific systems aspects or components.

• Design and analyze mechanical, system, and subsystem assemblies.

• Integrate and test subassemblies.

• Team with experts to plan, execute and analyze data from testing.

• Plan and execute testing for environmental, performance, and safety qualification.

• Develop system level understanding of collected data and support anomaly resolution.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite in Albuquerque, NM and travel occasionally (up to 25% of the time).

Salary Range

$104,100 - $207,100

• 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

• Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or a relevant STEM field, plus one (1) year of directly related experience; OR Bachelor's degree in stated field, plus five (5) years of directly related experience.

• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance.

• Ability to participate as requested in random polygraph testing.

Qualifications We Desire

• Self-motivated, positive individual comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.

• Ability to integrate into and work effectively across multiple technical teams and with management.

• Experience using engineering principles to conduct trade studies to identify system solutions.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare and deliver presentations to customers and various levels of management.

• Previous experience working on a JTA development program.

• Knowledge and understanding of Nuclear Weapon Systems.

• Experience with test instrumentation, test plans, defining test objectives and methods.

• Experience building test bodies and/or familiarity with creating procedures for building test artifacts.

• Familiarity with test facilities around SNL (i.e., Shock/Vibe Lab, etc.) and experience coordinating with them.

• Active DOE Q clearance (or DoD equivalent).

• Familiarity with SNL drawing and authorization system, product development and qualification, testing and evaluation, modeling, and simulation.

• Familiarity working with mechanical design tools, such as CREO.

• Experience working with the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), DOD customers, DOD contractors, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC), and Pantex.

About Our Team

Department 7222 has responsibility for the W76-1/2 nuclear weapon stockpile and suite of activities. In addition to established stockpile work there are a multitude of development and qualification projects including the JTA3, Mk4B, ALT939 ISA program, and D5LE2. Production activities in several areas continue at KCNSC and require frequent communication. Additionally, 7222 leads the development of testers and operational activities for hardware management and engineering leadership for all W76-1/2 test body assembly and disassembly activities. Our department is also the interface with test and computational simulation organizations to manage schedule and budget associated with qualification.

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.