Early Career R&D Mechanical Engineer Structural Dynamics, Onsite

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.

We are seeking a R&D Mechanical Engineer to join our System-Level Vibration Testing Laboratory team to strengthen our position as a recognized leader in the field of Structural Dynamics and help tackle some of the most complex issues facing our nation's security. Our group has a unique balance of research and programmatic work which will allow opportunities to pursue your relevant interests while making a difference in the world.

In this role you will apply integrated technical judgement to anticipate, innovate, and deliver solutions to Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) missions. On any given day you may be called on to:

• Conceive, plan, and conduct technical work spanning fundamental research, development, and application to support SNL customers and sponsors.
• Use engineering principles to create new understanding and capability in the field of structural dynamics and vibration testing.
• Contribute to the advancement of the field through collaboration and presenting work at technical conferences and peer-reviewed journals.
• Partner with our Program counterparts to fully understand their needs and map them to technical requirements that best serve the mission.
• Plan and execute traditional Single Degree of Freedom and advanced Six Degree of Freedom & Multi-Input/Multi-Output vibration tests on an ever-changing assortment of projects including weapon systems, aerospace structures & payloads, and civil structures.
• Responsible for detailed technical planning of complex test series, including safety and security considerations.
• Develop and implement new solutions and improvements to the group's technical and operational procedures.

Join our team and achieve your goals while making a difference!

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite. Additionally, the applicant must be willing to work on nuclear deterrence systems.

$102,400 - $199,700

*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 Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, 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

The ideal R&D S&E Mechanical Engineer candidate will in addition possess the following:

• Graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Experience with mechanical engineering and product realization in the NNSA complex.
• 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:

• Prior relevant experience in any of the following fields of Structural Dynamics:
  • Shock & Vibration Testing
  • Experimental Modal Analysis
  • Noise Vibration & Harshness (NVH)
• Experience in Python and/or MATLAB
• Experience with dynamic sensors and instrumentation such as accelerometers
• Experience with data acquisition system setup, operation, and maintenance
• Demonstrated skills in digital signal or image processing techniques
• Demonstrated ability to plan and execute large test series in partnership with multiple stakeholders
• Experience with hazardous testing, such as explosives, and associated work planning and control processes

The Structural Dynamics Department (01522) is an integral part of the Engineering Sciences Center at Sandia National Laboratories. Our Center is the steward of engineering mechanics and dynamics for Sandia, and we are dedicated to solving our customer's most pressing and important national security problems. Our department comprises the System-Level Vibration Testing Lab and the Modal Lab. The Vibe Lab specializes in conducting mission-critical mechanical environments tests for qualification and acceptance evidence of full systems. The Modal Lab specializes in experimental diagnostic methods to characterize the inherent dynamic properties of structures and their complex response under operational environments. We also support instrumentation efforts for high-consequence environmental tests and field data collection operations. We collaborate closely with our colleagues in the Analytical Structural Dynamics and Environmental Engineering departments. Our department also maintains a considerable R&D portfolio with focus areas including hybrid system modeling/substructuring, advanced multi-axis ground testing methods, nonlinear dynamics, transfer path analysis, experimental uncertainty quantification, and high-speed non-contact diagnostics. Our mission is to support the qualification of systems critical to our nation's security and to constantly pursue new avenues for excellence through fundamental research and development opportunities.

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.

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.

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.