Early-Career Computer Science - Advanced RF Applications, 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.

The Advanced RF Applications department (5376) is seeking a highly motivated early career Software Engineer to join the Advanced RF Applications department and contribute to research, development, troubleshooting, field testing, production, and delivery of advanced RF/microwave systems.

You will be joining a multi-discipline, high performing team. Our sponsors consist of intelligence community (IC), special operations forces (SOF), and Department of War (DOW) organizations, who count on us to deliver high-impact solutions to their evolving and most pressing national security challenges. Projects range from quick-reaction efforts in response to time-sensitive, real-world driven needs to longer term (1-3 year) projects. Occasional travel is required.

The primary focus of this position is the development of software for specialized RF communications systems. Responsibilities include software architecture and development, requirements definition, design documentation, qualification and acceptance testing, deployment support, and long-term system sustainment.

This role also supports signal processing engineers by developing visualization and data-processing tools and transitioning MATLAB-based algorithms to efficient C++ (or equivalent) implementations optimized for runtime performance.

On any given day, you may:

• Develop software systems independently or as part of a collaborative engineering team.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and prototype, architect, design, and implement software solutions that balance mission needs, technical constraints, and program objectives.
• Improve the reliability, performance, maintainability, and usability of existing software systems.
• Troubleshoot, enhance, and maintain deployed software solutions.
• Collaborate with engineers, researchers, designers, product managers, and stakeholders to communicate progress, share technical results, and support project execution.
• Develop test plans, execute test activities, and analyze field-test data.
• Support the implementation and optimization of signal processing algorithms and related software tools.
• Contribute to impactful national security missions while working across a diverse set of computer science, software engineering, and RF communications disciplines.

*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 acquire and maintain a DOE Q clearance and SCI clearance, which may require a polygraph.

The ideal R&D Computer Science candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

• Graduate degree in Computer Science or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Demonstrated software development skills and familiarity with modern software development practices and tools (e.g., Agile).
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams, and a passion to improve and expand technical skills.

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

• Demonstrated software development experience using one or more of the following: C, C++, Python, Git, and CMake.
• Experience with the full software development lifecycle, including requirements definition, design, implementation, verification and validation, deployment, and delivery.
• Experience designing and developing reliable software in C and/or C++.
• Experience translating MATLAB (or equivalent) algorithms into C or C++ implementations.
• Experience developing software in Linux environments.
• Familiarity with containerization technologies.
• Experience with software deployment processes.
• Experience with software testing, debugging, and troubleshooting.
• Coursework or practical experience in computer networking.
• Experience or interest in radio frequency (RF) and wireless systems.
• Experience with digital signal processing (DSP) or a demonstrated interest in learning DSP.
• Strong critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills, with the ability to work effectively in ambiguous, fast-paced, customer-focused environments; demonstrated initiative and ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly present technical ideas, analyses, and results to diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams, build partnerships across organizations, and work across a diverse range of technologies and technical disciplines.
• Proven experience working with internal and external customers, stakeholders, and partners.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize, manage, and execute multiple projects while meeting scope, budget, and schedule objectives.
  Demonstrated experience leading projects and small technical teams.
• Commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
• Ability and willingness to travel occasionally (approximately 3-4 trips per year).
• Experience or familiarity with Intelligence Community and Department of War organizations and mission spaces.
• Active DOE Q security clearance or equivalent and the ability to acquire and maintain an SCI clearance.

The Advanced RF Applications department (5376) is at the forefront of innovation, dedicated to researching, developing, evaluating, and deploying specialized RF systems for a wide range of national security applications. Our work encompasses space-based, airborne, and terrestrial RF communications, command and control (C2), remote sensing, nontraditional electronic countermeasures/electronic warfare (ECM/EW), and specialized tagging, tracking, and locating (TTL) systems.

Our team is composed of diverse skills, including RF/microwave circuit and system design, antenna design, digital signal processing, embedded system hardware and software, digital system design, operational field-testing development and support, and program/project management. We tackle important design challenges such as creating highly miniaturized electronic systems, developing advanced communication system architectures, and engineering ultra-low size, weight, and power (SWaP) hardware. Additionally, we focus on ultra-low-noise receivers and innovative signal extraction and classification techniques in low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) environments.

Our sponsors consist of intelligence community (IC), special operations forces (SOF), and Department of War (DOW) organizations, who count on us to deliver high-impact solutions to their evolving and most pressing national security challenges. We partner closely with other departments within the Strategic RF and Electronic Systems group (5370), the RF & Systems Electronics Center (5300), across Sandia, and with external entities.

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 and SCI access, both of which require US citizenship. SCI access may also require a polygraph examination. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain these levels of access 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 the 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.