Senior/Principal - Hypersonic Systems Mechanical Engineer, Onsite

What Your Job Will Be Like

Do you want to have significant impact on delivering Sandia-designed hypersonic systems to the Nation? Few at Sandia Labs can influence all stages of system delivery from design to production and beyond. We are looking for an R&D S&E Mechanical Engineer to join the 5428 Product Transition Department, focusing on enabling delivery of Hypersonic systems to the Nation. This position requires a strong foundation in mechanical structures, emphasizing understanding designs, system analysis, manufacturing, and testing at both the component and system levels. You will play a crucial role in leading design reviews and ensuring a smooth transition of design packages from the design team to production.

Periodic travel to production facilities for system integration and test collaboration, or to remote test sites flight-test support will be required, potentially as often as once every 1-2 months. Due to the nature of the work, this candidate must be able to work onsite in Albuquerque.

On Any Given Day, You May Be Called Upon To

• Create and refine essential manufacturing and process documentation, including assembly and test procedures.
• Assist production agents by troubleshooting issues and conducting root-cause analyses.
• Update designs as needed to resolve production challenges.
• Plan and execute comprehensive test campaigns at the component, sub-system, and system levels.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to facilitate the transition of design packages from design to production.
• Work effectively on both small and large development teams to achieve project goals.

Qualifications We Require

• 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.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance.

Qualifications We Desire

The ideal R&D Mechanical Engineer candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition 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).
• Experience with mechanical engineering and product realization in the NNSA complex.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
• The ability to rapidly understand mechanical/structural designs and develop creative solutions to solve emerging concerns.
• Understanding Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) in designs and how it affects production.
• Computer Aided Design software familiarity, especially Creo and/or Solidworks.
• Experience with Structural and Thermal analysis to include Finite Element Analysis.
• Clear understanding of both design and manufacturing optimization principles.
• Understanding of Designing for Excellence (DFX) engineering practices and ability to influence design engineers to use DFX principles to optimize for production.
• Experience in manufacturing or production of aerospace or missile systems for government sponsored programs.
• Ability to work effectively on both small and large development teams internal and external to Sandia.
• Experience creating and understanding product documentation and records, design documents, assembly procedures, and Interface Control Documents.
• Experience working in a Design Agent and Production Agent collaborative situation.
• Commitment to developing yourself and your skill set.
• Outgoing personality with excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication, and proven cross-functional teaming skills.

About Our Team

The Product Transition Department 05428 conducts technology transfer activities for the Hypersonic Programs in the Strike Systems Group within the Integrated Military Systems Development Center at Sandia. 5428 coordinates the development of Mechanical, Electrical, and Avionics flight technologies to be assembled, integrated and tested by industry partners to provide flight solutions for hypersonic missile systems and related flight platforms. Typically, these systems support the DOD including Army, Navy, Air Force, and other Agencies.

5400 has successfully developed hypersonic systems for the nation and is extending our role on the national stage for both developmental and fieldable systems. Our programs cover a broad spectrum of applications; from advanced aerodynamically controlled vehicles, to maneuvering hypersonic kill vehicles, to ballistic missile systems. All the activities require the extensive use of commonly developed Sandia avionics as well as prototype next generation technology that has never been flown. Levering existing technologies and maturing the Hypersonics portfolio for national needs is a demanding task and is a key component of Exceptional Service in the National Interest. The department strives to provide leadership to the Laboratory and the Nation in the creative development, use, and application of Hypersonic flight platforms.

Salary Range

$117,500 - $235,700. Salary range is estimated, and actual salary will be determined after consideration of the selected candidate's experience and qualifications, and application of any approved geographic salary differential.