Senior/Principal E&O Systems Engineer, 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

As the E&O Systems Engineer in the Vulnerability Capability Unit (VCU), you will apply your expertise to execute multiple complex projects coordinating with principal investigators, subject matter experts, project teams, and sponsors to define requirements, scope, and deliverables. Your leadership will drive cross-team collaboration, resource optimization, and successful project execution.

• Collaborate with clients, negotiate project scopes, timelines, and deliverables, and work closely with experts from various technical fields.
• Proactively address challenges, developing solutions that meet the demanding requirements of both customers and internal stakeholders.
• Maintain open communication with a broad range of customers, discussing project status, risks, issues, and other important matters.
• Contribute to and foster a strong sense of community within the organization.
• Engage with highly technical staff from varied professional backgrounds, participating in all project stages from planning and resource allocation to the final delivery of results, whether in written reports or large-scale experiments.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously, balancing competing priorities within the same timeframe.
• Lead discussions with management to coordinate effective planning, workload distribution, funding, and staffing strategies.
• Organize and oversee technical projects with principal investigators, ensuring all stakeholders, both internal and external, are aligned for successful outcomes.
• Implement and sustain configuration management practices to optimize operational effectiveness and consistency.
• Provide tactical planning and direction for multidisciplinary teams to accomplish project objectives.
• Assist customers with hardware resource management as needed.
• Organize program reviews and deliver clear project updates, risk assessments, and outcomes through presentations, reports, and briefings.
• Collaborate with customers and those responsible for system development, testing, and implementation to ensure requirements and expectations are fully met.
• Develop customized project plans and coordinate resources to meet targets; work with business teams and principal investigators to track progress, manage scope changes, and enact contingency plans within budget and schedule limits.
• Offer systems engineering leadership to ensure efficient attainment of project goals and deliverables, including the creation of innovative workflows and reporting tools that enhance status updates and communication with senior management and sponsors.
• Occasional travel will be required. Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in Business, Communication, Systems Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline, plus five or more years of pertinent experience aiding in the success of technical teams (or an equivalent combination of directly relevant education and experience).
• Experience in implementing systems engineering and project management methodologies for technical assignments.
• Background in managing technical security projects, particularly those focused on identifying and addressing vulnerabilities.
• Active DOE Q and SCI clearance are required to start, which may include a polygraph examination (or equivalent such as Active DOD Top Secret/SCI).

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Business, Communication, Systems Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Strong verbal and written communication abilities, along with effective presentation skills suitable for audiences at all organizational levels.
• Hands-on experience in developing and nurturing relationships with clients and stakeholders.
• Knowledge and experience working with projects involving classified information.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to establish and sustain productive working relationships.
• Experience in environments focused on testing or delivering products.
• Solid understanding of vulnerability assessment methods and their practical application.
• Skilled in negotiation and issue resolution.
• Ability to recognize and implement strategies that enhance the quality of team output.
• Demonstrated skill in prioritizing work assignments and adapting to fluctuating activity levels as needed.
• Proven ability to optimize the use of SNL resources to drive technical team success, including:
  • Effective engagement with Mission Services Center resources (such as Business Partners, Business Development) to accomplish organizational goals.
  • Experience in building connections with key strategic collaborators (e.g., USAF, DARPA, IARPA, internal technical groups like UCEC, NEA, or similar partners).
  • Proficiency in leveraging data and databases to identify and take advantage of trends, offering insights and guidance for technical and programmatic decisions.
  • Demonstrated flexibility in working with a variety of client types and successfully integrating their expectations into team deliverables, including both internal and external stakeholders.
• Preferred qualifications include certifications such as INCOSE, PMP, or other relevant credentials.

Benefits

• Challenging work with impact that contributes to national 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, including:
  • 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off).
  • 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.