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

About the role

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 nation’s nuclear weapon stockpile. This unique role offers unparalleled exposure to the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise and the critical technologies that underpin national defense.

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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Requirements

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

Qualifications

We Desire:

• 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.
• 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.

About the team

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.

Pay

Salary Range: $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.

Benefits

• Challenging work with impact contributing to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
• Extraordinary co-workers and some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world
• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities
• Flexible work arrangements for many positions, including 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

These benefits vary by job classification.