Senior Systems Engineer - Nuclear Weapon Systems

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 an experienced Systems Engineer with a strong passion for nuclear weapon systems development.

The successful candidate will become an integral member of a dynamic, cross-functional team dedicated to improving the system designs of Advanced & Exploratory (A&E) nuclear warheads and delivery systems. This role involves collaborating with technical teams to consider the complete lifecycle, leading the execution from preliminary conceptual stages through prototype demonstration to prepare future systems for modernization & production.

Responsibilities

This candidate will perform engineering and coordinate efforts across multiple Sandia organizations and external partners to ensure seamless engineering integration, leveraging the right expertise and capabilities. This individual will actively participate in and periodically lead teams of subject matter experts spanning diverse technical disciplines. Key responsibilities include:

• Analyzing and understanding viable trade spaces to make informed system architecture decisions
• Innovating and evolving methods to modernize nuclear weapon systems and enhance Nuclear Deterrence realization processes
• Developing technical robust designs supported by defensible production and qualification programs
• Driving precise and accurate requirements development, balancing system constraints, evolving experimental data, and complex customer needs.
  
  

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

• Plan, lead, and conduct Sandia's science and engineering programs across fundamental research, development, and demonstration phases.
• Define and steer the development of weapons system architectures.
• Manage Sandia's Advanced & Exploratory (A&E) engineering programs, including preliminary research, technology development, and demonstrations within simulated environments.
• Analyze anticipated future deterrence requirements to synthesize weapon system and subsystem specifications
• Develop advanced engineering demonstrators and test units; conduct testing, analyze results, and integrate findings to inform evolving development roadmaps.
• Continuously update and refine project plans in response to new data and insights.
• Lead or oversee system-level design architecture studies.
• Engineer integrated systems by combining components and subsystems into fully functional solutions.
• Collaborate with external partners and stakeholders to negotiate and align program requirements and objectives.
• Contribute to defining Sandia's future technology development priorities.
  
  

This team is currently leading the early engineering development of weapons designed to hold Hard and Deeply Buried Targets (HDBT) at risk revitalizing and building upon expertise and capabilities pioneered by Sandia Labs decades ago. Designing hardware capable of withstanding these extreme environments presents significant technical challenges, and rebuilding the necessary skills and knowledge involves navigating both programmatic and technical uncertainties.

Due to the nature of work, the selected applicant will be located on-site at the Sandia Albuquerque, NM site. This position will require periodic travel up to 25%

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.

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• Active DOE Q level security clearance or equivalent with ability to obtain and maintain additional clearances as needed.
  
  

Qualifications We Desire

The ideal R&D S&E Electrical 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), Lawrence Livermore Laboratory (LLNL) 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.
  
  

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

• Demonstrated experience with nuclear weapons systems, nuclear deterrence (ND) components, Joint Test Assemblies, and Programs of Record.
• Proficiency in test and instrumentation methodologies, data acquisition, and data analysis.
• Solid background in fundamental design and engineering, particularly related to nuclear weapons systems and components.
• Proven ability to lead and conduct engineering activities within a systems engineering framework.
• Experience in weapons effects, penetration mechanics, or ground shock propagation.
• Experience developing prototype systems or components in the absence of week-defined requirements.
• Demonstrated success operating in ambiguous environments and comfort with managing uncertainty.
• Experience engaging with the modeling and simulation community to support engineering objectives.
• Proven technical background with experience in multiple of the following areas:
• Optimization methods and processes, trade space analysis, and decision-making tools.
• Multidisciplinary Design and Analysis methods.

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• Electronics simulation environments (PSPICE, Cadence, VHDL, etc.)
• 1760, 1553 communication protocols.
• System 1 to System 2 familiarity.
• Willingness and ability to periodically travel up to 25%.
• Computer Aided Design (Solidworks, CREO, etc.)
• Model Based Systems Engineering (MagicDraw, Cameo, Genesys, etc.)
• Design, development, and troubleshooting of electro-mechanical systems.
• Hands-on testing and debugging complex systems.
  
  

About Our Team

Our team is developing transformational, threat-informed solutions that enable the Nuclear Security Enterprise to meet emerging national security needs with a responsive nuclear deterrent. Our Center develops safe, secure, trusted, and mission-capable weapon designs and architectures of the future. We partner internally and integrate across the Nuclear Security Enterprise and the Department of Defense to provide thorough, objective information to our Nation's nuclear weapon decision makers. We do this through preparing for new Programs of Record and Urgent Operational Needs, maintaining a systems and digital engineering capability, and cultivating national and international relationships. We combine new technologies and novel approaches to rapidly influence our nation's strategic nuclear deterrence posture.

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

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.

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.

Job ID: 697368

Job Family: RD

Regular/Temporary Position: R

Full/Part-Time Status: F