Early Career R&D Mechanical Engineer - Measurement & Test, 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

You could be the motivated measurement and test engineer we are seeking to join our dynamic team of experimentalists at the Nation's most capable and exciting experimental complex! As a member of the Integrated Flight Environments department in the Validation and Qualification Sciences Group, you will join a multi-disciplinary team of engineers, designers, test operation teams, business partners, and technicians to develop, plan, design, analyze, schedule, implement, and execute critical large-scale tests and measurements toward assuring the reliability and safety of the Nation's nuclear deterrent systems.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate within a team to ensure customer objectives are achieved safely, punctually, and within budget, while adhering to all corporate and Group Work Planning and Controls requirements.
• Perform daily operations of mass properties measurement systems. Utilize engineering principles, methodologies, and tools for the design and analysis of precision measurement hardware, data acquisition, evaluation, and preparation of comprehensive mass properties reports.
• Engage in hands-on rigging and hoisting activities, hardware assembly and disassembly, and operate high-precision mass properties equipment. Ensure that all equipment is properly calibrated and operational.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of innovative techniques and systems to further Sandia's approach to mass properties measurements and integrated flight environment tests.
• Travel may be required, but is expected to be less than 30%.

Onsite work will be required for the selected candidate.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, 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.
• 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). U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• 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).
• Three years of post-bachelor's professional experience outside of academia.
• Design, manufacturing, analysis, and hands-on assembly of test hardware and systems.
• Rigging and hoisting system design and hands-on crane experience.
• Interpretation, analysis, and reporting of measured data.
• Conducting large-scale field experiments or operating large test systems.
• Applying technical knowledge and innovative thinking to address engineering challenges.
• Program management, including scheduling and coordination of multiple projects and team members.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience with mechanical engineering and product realization in the NNSA complex.

Benefits

• Challenging work with impact that contributes 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 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).
• 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.

Pay

Salary range is estimated at $102,400 - $199,700. Actual salary will be determined after consideration of the selected candidate's experience and qualifications, and application of any approved geographic salary differential.

About Our Team

The Validation and Qualification Sciences Group is responsible for large-scale experimental activities located in TAIII on Kirtland Air Force Base. The Integrated Flight Environments department is one of six departments within the group, responsible for developing and delivering experiments to provide information on the performance, safety, and reliability of nuclear weapons and other systems, and to acquire data to validate computational simulations of these events. The department owns and operates two major environmental testing facilities/capabilities: Mass Properties Measurements and the Centrifuge/Superfuge Complex. Group 1530 is a significant contributor to Sandia's Nuclear Weapons Stewardship Mission and serves the greater Sandia community and external partners per federal policies.