Cleared Senior/Principal R&D S&E, Systems Engineer - Stockpile Systems, 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

Join us at Sandia National Labs, where your contributions will advance your career and help shape the future of technology! We are seeking an R&D Systems Engineer to support the Nuclear Deterrence Program Management Office. On any given day, you may be called on to:

• Report: Coordinate periodic reporting from stockpile programs to support internal and NNSA management processes. Work closely with program staff to aggregate reports and filter them for relevance. Identify common themes in accomplishments, risks, and issues to generate clear, concise summary reporting for the stockpile portfolio. Leverage existing information to meet multiple reporting requirements efficiently and collaborate with NNSA and line organizations to optimize reporting processes.
• Communicate: Maintain a network of contacts across all stockpile programs to facilitate information flow. Disseminate news and strategic direction, helping line organizations articulate their status and needs. Serve as a key point of contact for NNSA customers and other NNSA sites, ensuring accurate and prompt responses to requests while fostering effective collaboration.
• Integrate: Partner with line organizations to validate and improve risk and issue assessments, identifying opportunities for efficiency and quality through collaboration. Build customer trust by helping organizations meet commitments and communicate transparently about plans, needs, and status. Challenge programs on project management accuracy and propose solutions to enhance efficacy. Identify options to resolve issues and assist in securing necessary resources. Support the ND program in establishing strategic priorities and managing execution, translating technical requirements into clear justifications for program cost and schedule.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant will be required to work onsite.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and five (5) years of directly relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and engineering or scientific experience demonstrating the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform independent research and development.
• U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance required to start.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will also possess the following:

• Graduate degree in Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., thesis or dissertation).
• Experience working with Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) laboratories and plants, including Pantex, Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC), Lawrence Livermore Laboratory (LLNL), and Kansas City National Security Campus/New Mexico Operations (KCNSC/NMO).
• Experience in engineering design, qualification, production, or related modeling/simulation projects.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
• High political acumen and experience collaborating across the lab.
• Experience establishing partnerships with internal and external customers.
• Experience collaborating with extended teams to accomplish high-level objectives.
• Responsiveness to customer requests.
• Nuclear weapons (NW) system or component development and sustainment experience.
• Experience with NW development and qualification processes.
• Ability to work in a dynamic, sometimes ambiguous environment.

About the team

The Stockpile Systems and Production Program Office is accountable for the programmatic management of SNL's Stockpile Operations work and mission elements. It serves as the programmatic agent representative to NNSA for mission elements including Stockpile Systems and Operations, Weapons Dismantlement & Disposition (WDD), Stockpile Services, and Multi-Weapons Systems (MWS). The office reports to the Director for Nuclear Deterrence Program Management and the Chief Engineer for Nuclear Weapons (CENW).

Stockpile operations include surveillance, aircraft compatibility, Tonopah Test Range (TTR), NW training, Gas Transfer Systems (GTS), weapon response, PRIDE, military liaison, H-gear, use control, legacy component engineering, and materials science. The portfolio’s strategic direction involves managing these elements in a balanced way, addressing risks in the current stockpile while preparing for modernization programs within budget constraints.

Pay

Salary range: $117,500 - $235,700. Actual salary will be determined based on the selected candidate's experience, qualifications, and any approved geographic salary differential.

Benefits

• 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, and a competitive 401k.
• Learning opportunities, relocation assistance, and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance.
• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities.

Benefits vary by job classification.

Position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q security clearance to start, or an equivalent active security clearance with another U.S. government agency (e.g., DOD). Sandia conducts a pre-employment drug test and background review, including checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants must be able to maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. Dual citizenship may impact eligibility.