What Your Job Will Be LikeWork on flight programs that fly. Join a team that designs, analyzes, and supports real flight vehicles from early trades to hands-on flight test execution and post-flight reconstruction. You'll work in a schedule-driven environment where your aerodynamics, flight mechanics, and simulation work directly shape hardware, mission planning, and data-driven decisions.
We are seeking highly qualified, self-directed, results focused aeronautical and aerospace engineers who have strong interpersonal skills to support lab-wide efforts focusing on the application of aerodynamic and flight mechanics models for design and analysis of hypersonic reentry systems, atmospheric flight vehicles, and rocket systems.
On any given day, you may be called on to:
- Contribute to multidisciplinary teams supporting the design, development, and flight test of hypersonic vehicles, reentry bodies, and rocket systems.
- Develop and validate multi-fidelity aerodynamic and flight performance models using analytic methods, CFD, and wind-tunnel data.
- Analyze vehicle performance, stability, and control and deliver actionable aerodynamic characterizations.
- Build and apply 3DOF/6DOF trajectory simulations and multidisciplinary models for mission verification and conceptual design trade studies.
Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite. Relocation provided for those who qualify.
Salary Range$102,400 - $199,700
*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.
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 DesireThe ideal R&D S&E Aerospace Engineer candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:
- Graduate degree in Aerospace Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
- Experience in applied aerodynamics, flight mechanics, or trajectory simulation with application to the design, modeling, simulation, optimization, and analysis of aerospace flight systems.
- Experience with the capabilities, use, and application of MATLAB®, Simulink®, Python¿, C/C++, or other modern programming languages and repositories in technical analysis/computing and software development.
- Proven ability to work and communicate effectively in a collaborative and interdisciplinary team environment.
- Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced/schedule driven environment.
Also, for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience:
- Experience in the application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD), aerothermal/ablation and material thermal response tools, or closely related tools for the analysis of hypersonics, reentry, or related flight systems.
- Experience in developing and deploying multi-fidelity aerodynamic and flight performance models in multi-disciplinary design, optimization, and 3DOF/6DOF trajectory simulation environments.
About Our TeamThe Applied Aerodynamics Department provides applied aerodynamics and flight dynamics analysis, trajectory simulations, range safety analysis, range operations support, and mechanical design for a wide range of flight systems that fly in the subsonic through hypersonic regimes. The Department also explores advanced concepts for new military and non-military applications of flight systems. Our staff members are integral flight test project team members active in all aspects of vehicle design, mission planning, testing, and post-test analysis. Our primary mission supports U.S. Department of Energy defense programs, and aerospace flight systems projects funded through the U.S. Department of War, DARPA, NASA, and industry.
Posting DurationThis posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of three (3) calendar days, including the 'posting date'. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.
