Cleared Senior/Principal R&D Systems Engineer - W93/Mk7 Advanced Flight Testing

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.

Are you ready to play a pivotal role in the first Phase X program in over 40 years by designing, building, and testing flight bodies for the W93 program? We are looking for an innovative R&D Systems Engineer who can think creatively and proactively identify alternative solutions to ensure that program schedules are met. If you excel at building strong relationships with diverse partners and possess excellent communication skills to convey the overarching vision, you may be the perfect fit for the W93/Mk7 Flight Test Team.

This position is vital for advancing national security and ensuring the success of the W93 program, offering an exciting opportunity for those passionate about contributing to critical defense initiatives. In this impactful and challenging role, you will support the design of environmental flight bodies and the environmental qualification of Joint Test Assemblies

On any given day you may be called on to:

• Conduct requirements discovery, negotiation, and verification for both mission objectives and missile compliance.
• Collaborate with other laboratories, design partners, sponsors, and stakeholders to ensure the W93/Mk7 program's maturation plan remains on schedule.
• Support the realization and testing of flight bodies in laboratory, ground, and flight environments.
• Analyze test data and providing insights to inform design decisions and program direction.
• Develop and maintain documentation related to system requirements, design specifications, and test plans.
• Participate in design reviews and technical meetings to communicate progress and address challenges.
• Identify and mitigate risks associated with system design and testing processes.
• Engage in continuous improvement initiatives to enhance engineering processes and methodologies.

External partners include our DoD stakeholder (USN), DOE/NNSA, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lockheed Martin Space (LMS), and the Kansas City National Security Center (KCNSC). Internal partners encompass a variety of components, design definitions, test and evaluation teams, foundational research, and computational simulation.

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

$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.

• A bachelors 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.
• Active DOE Q clearance or equivalent required to start with the ability to obtain and maintain Sigma 15 access.

The ideal R&D Systems Engineer 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), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), and Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC).
• Experience working on engineering design, qualification, production, or related projects.
• 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:

• Experience with stockpile or development ND systems, including ND reentry systems and JTA experience.
• Strong background in aerospace engineering, with demonstrated experience in system testing, integration, and troubleshooting.
• Proficiency in Requirements Management and Verification, with experience in requirements discovery and negotiation.
• Experience with bench, lab, and flight body instrumentation, including data collection, processing, and analysis.
• Experience collaborating with SNL test facilities and organizations, demonstrating effective partnership across disciplines.
• Experience leading system trade studies and managing multiple projects within appropriate scope, budget, and time frame.
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully in a fast-paced environment, adapting to changing priorities and vague requirements.

The W93 Flight and System Enabling Technology Department is responsible for Flight Test planning and integration, System test asset builds, and the entire suite of logistics including the Integrated Surety Architecture. We directly engage across much of the Nuclear Security Enterprise including SNL/CA, LANL, PX, NNSA, LM, Navy, and KCNSC.

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.

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.

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.

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.