Cleared Senior/Principal R&D Mechanical Engineer - Process Owner, Onsite

About the role

We are seeking an experienced R&D Mechanical Engineer to lead and own manufacturing processes at Sandia's explosive components facilities. Your primary role will consist of working in a flexible team environment to develop, improve, and monitor equipment and methods used for the manufacturing of explosive components with an initial emphasis on assembly operations.

Responsibilities

• Plan, conceive, conduct, and manage process development for energetic components in a manufacturing environment
• Direct systematic studies to characterize processes with the intent of determining the ideal process equipment, tools, and parameters that will meet design requirements with high yield and high quality
• Manage and maintain manufacturing equipment and operational technology ensuring continuous, predictable operation
• Analyze the performance of manufacturing processes using key performance indicators such as yield, variance, and tact time
• Use manufacturing process results and data to provide objective Design for Manufacturability advice to engineers from both the Design and Production Agencies
• Use engineering principles to research, design, or develop tooling, instruments, machines, experiments, processes, systems, theories, and technologies
• Lead and support formal problem-solving efforts as needed to address manufacturing anomalies and to maintain high-rigor, high-quality processes
• Create new understanding and capabilities by using the scientific method: hypothesis, test, and evaluation techniques; critical review; or similar engineering research and development methods
• Develop and maintain work instructions and operating procedures
• Lead or participate in new process and equipment development and qualification
• Aid with the operational startup of a new facility

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
• An active DOE Q Clearance, or equivalent is required to start

Qualifications We Desire

• The ideal R&D S&E Process Engineer candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:
• A 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

Qualifications We Require

• 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 in a high-quality manufacturing environment applying rigorous processes
• Experience in interfacing with and participating in Product Realization Team
• Installation, qualification, and maintenance of manufacturing process equipment experience
• Familiarity with manufacturing methods such as resistance welding, laser welding, leak checking, soldering, visual inspection, powder pressing, vacuum systems, and metrology
• Familiarity with machining metals, glass, and ceramics
• Metallographic sample preparation processes such as mounting, sectioning, grinding, and polishing
• Developing, maintaining, and improving manufacturing processes including developing fixtures and tooling with lean manufacturing principals and statistical process control
• Experience with hazardous operations
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data and apply the analysis to decision making
• Familiarity with engineering drawings, including Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)
• Background in, or experience with, explosive technologies and engineering applications
• Demonstrated ability to successfully manage multiple tasks and projects