R&D Mechanical Engineer - Geothermal Research, 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 dedicated and hardworking R&D Mechanical Engineer (job title: R&D S&E, Mechanical Engineering) in the Geothermal Research Department You will work with a dynamic team to do innovative and creative work using state-of-the-art facilities and equipment.

Are you ready for a challenge and willing to do creative research? Join this team of high performing individuals and achieve success while making a difference.

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

• Work with group members on various experimental design (mechanical, electrical and controls).
• Perform experimental execution and data analysis.
• Search, collect, organize, and analyze large datasets.
• Work within and lead multi-disciplinary teams.
• Effectively communicate technical principles.
• Define customer needs, organize the work of the group, and deliver on commitments.
• Develop effective solutions to complex technical problems.
• Conduct and complete technical work independently.

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

$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-level security clearance.

The ideal R&D S&E, Mechanical Engineering candidate for Sandia National Laboratories 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:

• Experience conducting laboratory and/or field scale testing.
• Ability to work independently with minimal direction in a team environment.
• Experience with Solidworks or other CAD software.
• Instrumentation system development and testing.
• Familiarity with test and measurement equipment, especially National Instruments/LabView.
• Field test experience.
• Experience in fabrication, testing, and troubleshooting of electronic and/or electromechanical systems.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to learn new skills as projects require.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and teaming skills with the ability to work in an ever-changing and dynamic environment.
• Proven ability to develop creative solutions to a wide range of problems.

The Geothermal Research Department is an organization that delivers unique solutions for customers who require components and systems capable of operating in harsh and often high-temperature environments. The historical mission of the department was to address technology needs related to the development of geothermal energy (a baseload renewable energy resource); in particular accessing, monitoring and engineering of geothermal resources in subsurface geologic environments. This mission continues, but the capabilities of the organization have also been leveraged to address other issues of national importance. Current activities are broad in scope and require the efforts of multidisciplinary technical teams with expertise in mechanical engineering, drilling technologies, electronics, geosciences, materials, sensors, and explosives/propellants. Examples of areas being addressed by the department include: improving the performance of drilling technologies in hard-rock environments; development of high-temperature electronic and electromechanical systems for drilling, logging and monitoring; and environmentally friendly reservoir simulation technology development. Our customer base spans a wide variety of governmental and private sponsors, and we work closely with the geothermal power industry, oil & gas developers, service companies, other national laboratories and academia. In addition, the department maintains and continually updates a wide variety of unique testing capabilities for evaluation of technologies in simulated downhole environments.

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.

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.