Cleared Senior/Principal Mechanical Engineer - Ballistic Missile Tester Development, 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.

Join a cutting-edge team at the forefront of national security innovation as an R&D Mechanical Engineer, where your expertise will directly contribute to the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear deterrent. As part of the Ballistic Missile and Air Delivered Tester Development teams, you will play a critical role in the Stockpile Surveillance Program, ensuring the effectiveness of the nations nuclear weapon stockpile. This unique role offers unparalleled exposure to the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise and the critical technologies that underpin national defense.

On any given day, you will:

• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to distill customer requirements into functional designs, ensuring that all aspects of the product realization process are addressed.
• Design and implement test bed assemblies that will experience various mechanical environments, including centrifuge and shaker table test environments, as well as explosive containment assemblies (boom boxes).
• Engage in solid modeling using Creo to create conceptual designs that meet rigorous testing standards, including vacuum testing and assessments under extreme thermal conditions.
• Conduct first-cut analyses to evaluate material strength, derive explosive constituents into TNT equivalents, and assess expected blast pressures to ensure design viability.
• Develop and implement innovative solutions to solve technically complex challenges, while partnering to clarify and refine system and subsystem-level requirements for testers.
• Create detailed drawings and documentation, utilizing Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) and generating build-to-print design definition drawings to facilitate the manufacturing process.
• Oversee the inspection and testing of hardware, ensuring that all documentation is accurate and complete prior to qualification, confirming that designs can perform their intended functions.
• Troubleshoot test equipment that may be based on legacy or the latest pioneering technologies and participate in peer reviews of design efforts and concepts within the Labs.
• Adapt to various projects at different stages of development to support the dynamic needs of the organization.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant will be required to work onsite in Albuquerque, NM. Some travel is required for this position.

If you are passionate about engineering innovation and national security, we invite you to join our team and make a lasting impact.

$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 bachelors 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 with the ability to obtain and maintain Sigma 15 access, which may require a polygraph.

The ideal R&D 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:

• Proven experience in the design, development, and qualification of mechanical systems, components, and complex test beds.
• Skilled in requirements analysis, qualification plan development, and supporting large-scale testing of complex systems.
• Proficient in solid modeling, preferably with Creo.
• Strong knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
• Experience generating build-to-print design definition drawings.
• Competent in conducting finite element analyses, including structural, thermal, and modal evaluations.
• Familiarity with component failure analysis methodologies, such as FMEA and Fishbone diagrams.
• Exceptional attention to detail combined with creative problem-solving abilities in complex design and testing environments.
• Proven track record of leading or contributing effectively to high-performance teams.

The Integrated Stockpile Evaluation (ISE, Group 2250) mission is to provide trusted leadership for Sandia and NNSA in the planning, development, execution, analysis, and sustainment of the stockpile evaluation program.

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.

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.