Cleared Senior/Principal Evaluation and Qualification Test Systems Engineer - W93/Mk7 Program, 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 an Evaluation and Qualification Test Systems Engineer to join our dynamic team on the W93/Mk7 program, where you will tackle complex challenges. In this role, you will be responsible for conducting testing for the W93/Mk7 Systems Program, becoming an integral part of our mission-driven team.

The successful candidate will need to be comfortable operating in both technical and programmatic domains while collaborating closely with the W93 systems team, internal organizations (such as test facilities, experimentalists, analysts, etc.), external design agencies, and customers/stakeholders. You will engage in defining program test objectives, developing test unit concepts, and ensuring that evaluation and qualification efforts meet the commitments between agencies.

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

• Engage technically and programmatically with partnering design agencies (Sandia, Los Alamos, and Lockheed Martin) and customers/stakeholders to define program test objectives and ensure commitments regarding evaluation and qualification efforts are met.
• Coordinate logistics with testing facilities for scheduling, hardware delivery, and on-site coordination.
• Serve as the primary interface between Sandia, Lockheed Martin, and Los Alamos National Laboratory for the planning and execution of materials and thermal environments testing for varying system configurations.
• Lead the development of test unit concepts, architectures, and physical layouts, including defining test hardware pedigree, and support design activities for test units and fixtures necessary for environmental testing.
• Perform trade studies balancing performance, costs, risks, materials, functionalities, and technology maturation.
• Develop specifications and documentation for dynamic test and modeling strategies, laboratory and field test activities, test and analysis plan preparation, test execution, and data analysis.
• Engage with experts in materials and thermal dynamics within Sandia and partner agencies to support the evaluation and qualification program.
• Contribute to the development of the W93 materials and thermal qualification plans.
• Prepare presentations and other supporting documentation needed for technical reviews.
• Assist with Cost Account Management/Earned Value Management.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite. Occasional travel to testing locations may also be required.

$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 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.
• Active DOE Q clearance or equivalent to start.

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), 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:

• Degree in mechanical engineering, materials engineering/materials science, or chemical engineering preferred.
• Experience executing normal and/or abnormal environments thermal or mechanical tests (system, subsystem, component).
• Experience with instrumentation and data acquisition.
• Familiarity with thermal modeling and simulation and/or experience interfacing with ModSIM teams.
• Experience with Cost Account Management/Earned Value Management.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for effective stakeholder engagement.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment, showing initiative and leadership.
• Demonstrated adaptability and resilience n a fast-paced work environment.

The W93 System Evaluation and Qualification Department (02396) has the primary responsibility to plan and coordinate evaluation activities for the W93/Mk7 Navy Strategic Reentry System Program. These activities involve modeling, simulation, and physical ground testing, in support of the maturation and ultimate qualification of the W93/Mk7 reentry body system design.

We work closely with our partners and program stakeholders, including NNSA Federal Program Managers, the US Navy, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Los Alamos National Lab, the Sandia nuclear weapons component organizations, the Sandia science & technology community, Kansas City Plant National Security Campus (NSC), the UK Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), and many others, to coordinate expertise and implement effective approaches to better understand system technical knowledge gaps and validate the system works as intended.

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.