Cleared Distinguished/Senior Scientist, R&D Systems Engineer - W87-1 Program Chief Engineer, Onsite

About the role

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. The ND Weapon System Modernization Center performs systems engineering and leadership for the modernization of multiple nuclear weapon systems. Focus of the center is on product realization beginning in Phase 2/6.2, through full scale engineering, pre-production, and transition into full scale production (Phase 6/6.6). In all phases, assuring the safety, security, and reliability of weapons throughout their anticipated life cycle and the development of the supporting technical basis are an essential part of Center activities. In partnership with Centers 8200 and 2200, the center leads the Laboratories efforts to develop integrated engineering solutions to maintain weapon system required military effectiveness and reliability while seeking improvements in safety and security where possible within programmatic constraints. The current focus of this organization is to deliver on time and within budget the W87-1 and W93.

Responsibilities

We are seeking a Program Chief Engineer (PCE) for the W87-1 to serve as the senior technical leader for a highly visible, mission-critical modernization program. In this role, you will report to the Center 2300 Director and partner with senior managers, managers, and staff as the Sandia technical lead integrating all aspects of the program, providing enterprise-level technical leadership and authoritative guidance across multiple disciplines and organizations. As the W87-1 PCE, you will shape technical direction for the program by leading system integration, design optimization, qualification strategy, anomaly resolution, and complex technical trades across the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE). Supported by a strong team of discipline-specific technical leaders, you will apply broad engineering judgment to resolve ambiguous, high-consequence issues, drive technically sound and risk-informed decisions, and ensure the program maintains a robust, defensible design and qualification basis. On any given day, you may be called on to:

• Partner with other PCEs and Domain Chief Engineers (DCEs) to ensure consistency and excellence in technical deliverables, maintain timely and responsive technical decisions, and influence technical direction across Sandia and the NSE.
• Provide authoritative technical leadership for the W87-1 system, supported by the W87-1 Core Team, by defining and evaluating technical approaches that guide system decisions within program constraints.
• Evaluate and disposition technical change requests using sound engineering judgment and consideration of technical risk, cost, schedule, and mission impact.
• Lead system integration, design optimization, and development of design themes, with emphasis on innovative approaches that improve technical performance and long-term mission capability. Systems integration will include engaging production agencies to create product realization solutions that maintain design intent and are supported by solid technical basis.
• Establish and maintain a defensible qualification basis by integrating modeling, simulation, testing, and other technical evidence to resolve complex multidisciplinary questions.
• Communicate key technical concerns, risks, and alternative technical paths to Sandia executive leadership to support enterprise-level decision-making, ensuring that critical issues such as inadequate technical definition, unclear or TBD requirements, and single-point technical failures are fully understood.
• Assure technical rigor and documentation quality for system-level product realization documents, including signature approval on key system-level paperwork such as CD, ME, BB, PQ, RQs, and NS, while contributing to technical standards, practices, and lessons learned that benefit future efforts.
• Act as SNL lead for technical integration and optimization with LLNL, including advisement and technical authority for system interface documentation such as IDs and external ICDs, ensuring consistency across technical domains and partner organizations.
• Represent Sandia technical equities within the POG and provide technical briefings as needed to do so.
• Provide technical coordination and engagement with POG, POG subteams, and the NNSA Project Team in coordination with program senior managers, while contributing to cross-program technical alignment.
• Serve as the lead interface for major peer and technical reviews across the program, partnering with DCEs to identify appropriate review areas, execute and document the program's peer review plan, and use outcomes to advance technical understanding and inform future strategy.
• Identify and mentor next-generation technical leaders in system integration to strengthen institutional capability.
• Engage in the review and support of other ND system integration activities, as needed, in coordination with the 2300 Director and Chief Engineer Network.
• Champion digital engineering, model-based systems engineering, and advanced manufacturing initiatives, including development and insertion of innovative methods that improve technical decision-making and future program execution within program constraints.
• Lead cybersecurity implementation and assurance, including rigor in technical data packages with DoD, aligned with DoD