Senior/Principal R&D Mechanical Engineer - Electronic Systems, Onsite

About Sandia

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.

Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

• 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 10 hours per day for four 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.

What Your Job Will Be Like

The Electronics Systems Department, 5374, is seeking a motivated R&D S&E Mechanical Engineer to join our team! You will focus on design, development, integration, and qualification of electronic components for a wide variety of national security missions including Nuclear Deterrence (ND). A strong candidate will have experience in component or system mechanical design, testing, and performance analysis for design and qualification.

On any given day, you may be called on to:

• Develop mechanical product definition to include mechanical envelopes (ME)
• Review and negotiate interface requirements for both upper and lower assemblies
• Determine test needs, develop test plans, and analyze performance data
• Assist in developing the technical basis and qualification strategy for product realization
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and systems organizations
• Support programmatic efforts for product realization
• Prepare content and brief updates to management and government sponsors

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant will be required to work onsite.

Salary

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

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
• Active DOE Q security clearance required or equivalent (e.g., DOD Top Secret)

Desired Qualifications

• 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
• Significant experience determining mechanical test requirements at the component and system levels and understanding how test results indicate compliance with system level requirements
• Knowledge and practice of formal nuclear weapons product realization processes and procedures
• Experience delivering high rigor systems, product development, qualification, and testing and evaluation
• Previous working relationships with two or more of the external or internal partners listed here: Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC), SNL 2000, SNL 5000, SNL 8000, and the NNSA (NA-12)
• Clear understanding of Design for Manufacturing and Design for Testability concepts
• Desire to innovate
• Commitment to professional development

About Our Team

The RF & Electronics Systems Center (Center 5300) tackles the hardest RF and electronics problems through partnerships with government, industry and academia to advance nuclear deterrence and warfighter dominance. The Strategic RF and Electronic Systems group (Group 5370) supports the Nation’s technology superiority strategies by delivering capabilities for global highly-reliable communications and novel advancements for future electronics. We are a highly dynamic set of departments that cross-team to provide integrated engineering systems solutions ranging from core research through prototype development and high-end, fielded products.

The Electronic Systems Department (Department 5374) designs and develops electronic products for a variety of stakeholders to meet National Security, Global Security, and Nuclear Deterrence missions by:

• Providing advanced hardware designs
• Developing talented staff and partnerships to advance national capabilities
• Engaging with partners to integrate expertise for electronic components