R&D Manager - Space Control Futures, 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. The lab offers challenging work with impact, extraordinary co-workers, state-of-the-art tools and facilities, and opportunities for career advancement and enrichment.

About the role

Sandia National Laboratories is seeking an enthusiastic and strategic leader to serve as the R&D Manager for the newly envisioned Space Control Futures Department (6376). This role is central to shaping the future of space control at Sandia—strengthening sponsor relationships, identifying new opportunities, and ensuring execution of funded programs. The manager will work in close partnership with the Space Mission Engineering Program Office (SMEPO) to drive both program development and project execution in this rapidly expanding business area.

The ideal candidate combines technical credibility with program development acumen, bringing experience across space control disciplines and the ability to cultivate new partnerships. You will build and lead a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers whose expertise spans physics, systems engineering, electrical and mechanical engineering, RF, cyber, data science, and computer science. Your leadership will ensure technical excellence while positioning SMEPO for sustainable growth and increased mission impact.

Due to the nature of this position, the selected candidate will be required to work onsite at our primary facility in Albuquerque, NM.

Responsibilities

• Set strategic direction by aligning technical capabilities with emerging mission needs and influencing investment priorities.
• Build and sustain sponsor relationships by identifying new opportunities and securing future work for Sandia.
• Collaborate with peer managers and program offices to deliver modeling, simulation, analysis, software, and hardware products to defense and intelligence community sponsors—on schedule and to Sandia’s standards of quality.
• Manage and mentor a team of innovative scientists and engineers, including recruiting, retention, performance management, engagement, career development, and aligning staff skills with project needs.
• Travel for sponsor meetings and offsite engagements (approximately every 4–8 weeks).

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and eight (8) 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.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q and SCI clearance.

Qualifications

• Two or more years of demonstrated leadership experience.
• A graduate degree in science or engineering (M.S. or Ph.D.).
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and the ability to build trusting relationships with peers, staff, management, customers, and stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including developing and delivering presentations, proposals, reports, and technical documentation.
• Experience managing spacecraft and/or ground station research and development programs.
• Working understanding of relevant space control disciplines.
• Familiarity with modeling and simulation environments for mission analysis and astrodynamics (e.g., STK) and wargaming tools (e.g., AFSIM).
• Experience in technical program development, including cultivating sponsor relationships, identifying new opportunities, and securing future work in national security space missions.
• Demonstrated ability to develop innovative, forward-looking approaches that address unmet mission needs and create new opportunities for Sandia.
• Experience leading technical product development teams in the delivery of high-rigor systems meeting sponsor requirements.
• Line management experience, including career guidance, recruiting and hiring, performance management, and staff development.
• Demonstrated ability to initiate and build new teams to address emerging national technology needs.
• Experience in engineering project management, including cost, schedule, and performance oversight—ideally with exposure to DoD acquisition-gate processes and Agile methodologies.

About the team

The Space Control Futures Department (6376) advances Sandia’s space control mission by developing and delivering high-rigor modeling, simulation, analysis, software, and hardware capabilities for defense and intelligence community sponsors. Working in close partnership with the Space Mission Engineering Program Office (SMEPO) and across Center 6300, the department aligns emerging sponsor needs with Sandia’s technical strengths to shape future space control solutions and investments.

Its work spans multiple disciplines—including physics, systems engineering, electrical and mechanical engineering, data science, computer science, cyber, and RF—and emphasizes end-to-end mission impact: from concept development and mission analysis/astrodynamics and wargaming to engineered products and operationally relevant demonstrations. Through strong sponsor engagement, disciplined project execution, and a forward-looking approach to unmet mission needs, the department helps position Sandia for sustained growth and leadership in national security space.

Pay

Salary range is estimated at $163,700 - $278,000. Actual salary will be determined after consideration of the selected candidate's experience and qualifications, and application of any approved geographic salary differential.

Benefits

• 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.

Benefits vary by job classification.