What Your Job Will Be Like

We are seeking an Evaluation and Qualification Test Systems Engineer to join our dynamic team on the W93/Mk7 program, where you will tackle complex challenges. In this role, you will be responsible for conducting materials and thermal testing for the W93/Mk7 Systems Program, becoming an integral part of our mission-driven team.

The successful candidate will need to be comfortable operating in both technical and programmatic domains while collaborating closely with the W93 systems team, internal organizations (such as test facilities, experimentalists, analysts, etc.), external design agencies, and customers/stakeholders. You will engage in defining program test objectives, developing test unit concepts, and ensuring that evaluation and qualification efforts meet the commitments between agencies.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite. Occasional travel to testing locations may also be required.

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

• Collaborate technically and programmatically with partnering design agencies (Sandia, Los Alamos, and Lockheed Martin) and customers/stakeholders to help define program test objectives and support efforts to meet evaluation and qualification commitments.
• Assist in coordinating logistics with testing facilities for scheduling, hardware delivery, and on-site coordination.
• Support communication and coordination between Sandia, Lockheed Martin, and Los Alamos National Laboratory for planning and executing materials and thermal environments testing across various system configurations.
• Contribute to the development of test unit concepts, architectures, and physical layouts, including gathering information on test hardware pedigree, and assist in design activities for test units and fixtures needed for environmental testing.
• Participate in trade studies considering performance, costs, risks, materials, functionalities, and technology maturation.
• Help develop specifications and documentation for dynamic test and modeling strategies, laboratory and field test activities, test and analysis plan preparation, test execution, and data analysis.
• Work alongside experts in materials and thermal dynamics within Sandia and partner agencies to support the evaluation and qualification program.
• Contribute to the development of the W93 materials and thermal qualification plans.
• Prepare presentations and supporting documentation for technical reviews.
• Assist with Cost Account Management/Earned Value Management activities.

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

• A 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.
• Active DOE Q clearance or equivalent to start.

Qualifications We Desire

The ideal R&D Systems Engineer candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

• Graduate degree in Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Experience working with Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) laboratories and plants including Pantex, Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC), Lawrence Livermore Laboratory (LLNL) and Kansas City National Security Campus/New Mexico Operations (KCNSC/NMO).
• Experience working on engineering design, qualification, production, or related modeling/simulation projects.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.

Also, for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience:

• Degree in mechanical engineering, materials engineering/materials science, or chemical engineering preferred.
• Experience executing normal and/or abnormal environments thermal or mechanical tests (system, subsystem, component).
• Experience with instrumentation and data acquisition.
• Familiarity with thermal modeling and simulation and/or experience interfacing with ModSIM teams.
• Experience with Cost Account Management/Earned Value Management.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for effective stakeholder engagement.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment, showing initiative and leadership.
• Demonstrated adaptability and resilience in a fast-paced work environment.

About Our Team

The W93 System Evaluation and Qualification Department (02382) has the primary responsibility to plan and coordinate evaluation activities for the W93/Mk7 Navy Strategic Reentry System Program. These activities involve modeling, simulation, and physical ground testing, in support of the maturation and ultimate qualification of the W93/Mk7 reentry body system design.

We work closely with our partners and program stakeholders, including NNSA Federal Program Managers, the US Navy, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Los Alamos National Lab, the Sandia nuclear weapons component organizations, the Sandia science & technology community, Kansas City Plant National Security Campus (NSC), the UK Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), and many others, to coordinate expertise and implement effective approaches to better understand system technical knowledge gaps and validate the system works as intended.

Posting Duration

This 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.

Security Clearance

Position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q security clearance to start, or equivalent active security clearance with another U.S. government agency (e.g., DOD). Sandia is required by DOE directive 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 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.

Applicants offered employment with Sandia are subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.