Cleared Senior/Principal R&D Electromechanical Hardware Technologist, 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.

About the role

We are looking for a skilled and motivated Electromechanical Technologist to join our Development Hardware Team (DHT), a dynamic group dedicated to accelerating the delivery of development hardware for cutting-edge weapon modernization programs. These programs operate on aggressive schedules, and the DHT plays a critical role in reducing risks and fast-tracking engineering learning cycles through rapid prototyping and innovative hardware solutions.

As a key member of the DHT, you will:

• Support Product Realization Teams (PRTs) by accelerating hardware availability through hands-on fabrication and procurement assistance, and by leveraging rapid prototyping capabilities.
• Collaborate closely with the Hardware Management, Planning, and Assembly Teams to identify, communicate, and mitigate risks or issues impacting hardware delivery.
• Serve as a vital interface between hardware Assembly Teams and PRTs to determine a path forward for hardware modification needs.
• Work alongside DHT engineers, PRT design teams, Production Planners, Sandia Buyers, external vendors, and internal fabrication facilities to procure and deliver development hardware for component, subassembly, and system-level testing.
• Ensure that cost, schedule, and technical requirements are clearly defined and documented to support successful hardware fabrication.

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

• Partner with DHT leads, engineers, and PRTs to negotiate and define product definition, schedule, quantity, quality and inspection criteria, and security protocols.
• Review product definitions thoroughly before fabrication to ensure completeness and clarity.
• Collaborate with weapon modernization program PRTs and Weapon System Engineers to proactively identify and resolve hardware issues.
• Participate in design trade-offs and acquisition strategies for development hardware.
• Interface with Sandia’s procurement process and work closely with internal and external vendors to keep hardware delivery on schedule and resolve any delays or issues.
• Use Sandia’s configuration management systems, including PDMLink and PRIME, to maintain accurate records and status updates.
• Communicate effectively across teams to report build progress, highlight challenges, and request support as needed.

If you are passionate about hands-on electromechanical development and thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where your contributions directly impact national security modernization efforts, this role offers a unique opportunity to make a difference.

Requirements

• Three (3) or more years of directly related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Active DOE Q clearance or equivalent with the ability to obtain Sigma 15, which may require polygraph testing.

Qualifications

We Desire:

• Solid technical foundation with demonstrated ability to collaborate closely with engineers, program, and line organizations within Sandia’s nuclear weapons community and across the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE).
• Electrical engineering experience including wiring schematics, surface-mount technology (SMT), cables, and connectors.
• Manufacturing engineering experience, such as additive manufacturing, machining, sheet metal fabrication, coatings, heat treatment, assembly/disassembly, or related processes.
• Proficiency in CAD, GD&T, tolerance stack-up analysis, and design for manufacturability.
• Skill in reading technical drawings.
• Knowledge of metallurgy and material properties.
• Experience with nuclear weapon product realization processes.
• Proven ability to prioritize and execute tasks effectively in fast-paced, high-pressure environments.
• Strong customer focus with demonstrated success working with all levels of staff and management at Sandia and customer organizations.
• Experience collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams across multiple locations.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Self-driven, creative problem solver capable of brainstorming and developing design solutions.
• Familiarity with handling classified information, hardware, and accountable or hazardous materials.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, SharePoint, PDMLink, and PRIME software tools.

About Our Team

Department 2331 is a dynamic team which directly supports and executes lab operations for the B61-12, 13, 14/15, W80-4, W87-1 Life Extension Programs (LEP), W80-5, and W93 programs. The mission includes Hardware Management (production planning & hardware operations), assembly/disassembly operations, component fabrication and PRT support, and Quality Assurance activities. We directly support and contribute to the research & development, design & engineering, experiments and qualification testing, design maturation, and production of these weapon systems.

Our team coordinates internally and externally to ensure that parts and components are developed and acquired in a timely fashion to ensure test assemblies and full test units are available to support development and qualifications tests and other experiments. Within the assembly team (2331-1), we assemble, disassemble, test, and maintain test units during environmental, electrical, thermal, and flight qualification tests and other experiments. The hardware team (2331-2) manages hardware and kitting. Across the organization we also plan a variety of work activities, develop and assist design, qualification, & test engineers with assembly/disassembly procedures, and perform the actual hands-on work with hardware at the component and system level.

Most of the work performed within 2331 is activity level work and requires keen attention to detail, high standards of quality, and strict adherence to security & safety requirements.

Pay

Salary range is estimated at $74,700 - $144,400. Actual salary will be determined after consideration of the selected candidate's experience and qualifications, and application of any approved geographic salary differential.

Schedule

• 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).

Benefits

• Generous vacation
• Strong medical and other benefits
• Competitive 401k
• Learning opportunities
• Relocation assistance
• Amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance

These benefits vary by job classification.

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). 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.