Senior/Principal R&D AI - ND AI Forward Development, Remote

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

We are seeking an R&D S&E, Artificial Intelligence staff member to develop and apply AI workflows for engineering design and advanced manufacturing in the context of Sandia's nuclear deterrence mission. This position focuses on forward deployment of AI to mission problems of interest but inherently involves algorithm and capability development towards those aims.

We are interested in two types of candidates for this position: those with a strong mission application background that have developed complementary expertise in AI, and those from a computational or AI background with strong engagement in deploying those skills to mission problems.

The selected applicant can be a remote worker located in any U.S. State or District of Columbia. Regular or periodic travel to your assigned work location may be required.

Responsibilities

• Participate in strike teams formed around a mission problem, learning about the needs in the problem space and leveraging existing and emerging AI tools to provide solutions
• Build on experience in a mission domain (such as traditional design, development, or testing) to bridge gaps, pioneer new AI approaches, and integrate new technologies in the critical path of the mission objectives
• Rapidly stand up prototype AI workflows and build minimum viable products to serve as a starting point for mission partners to build on or productionize
• Curate a set of core tools that can be rapidly adapted to new opportunities as they emerge
• Partner and engage with the core AI programs at Sandia (ASC, Genesis Mission, Corporate indirect investments, etc.)

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and five (5) 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 clearance

Qualifications

The ideal R&D S&E AI candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will possess the following:

• Graduate degree in a relevant computationally-intensive discipline where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation)
• Experience in developing software and AI systems for enterprise and national security applications
• Demonstrated software development skills and familiarity with modern software development practices
• Proven ability to work and communicate effectively in a collaborative and interdisciplinary team environment
• Five years of experience in an application area that supports the nuclear deterrence mission: mechanical design, product development, systems engineering, digital thread, manufacturing or production, performance prediction and modeling, information retrieval
• Experience developing or deploying AI workflows
• Demonstrated agility and willingness to learn new skills
• Broad knowledge of Sandia's nuclear deterrence mission with an ability to build partnerships throughout
• Knowledge of or experience with the central programs at Sandia developing AI technology
• Experience with enterprise AI tool development
• Awareness of commercial AI tools and what they have to offer

About the team

The ND AI Forward Deployment Team accelerates and amplifies the impact of AI across the nuclear deterrence enterprise by rapidly prototyping, deploying, and scaling solutions that deliver measurable mission impact.

Pay

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

Benefits

• Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
• Extraordinary co-workers
• 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

Benefits vary by job classification.

Security Clearance

Sandia is required by DOE to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants for employment need to be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.