What Your Job Will Be Like

We are seeking a dynamic R&D Systems Engineer with experience in the design of nuclear weapon systems or components and/or statistical data analysis to join the New Mexico Reliability Department. This position offers an excellent opportunity for a highly motivated individual with a scientific or engineering background to make a significant impact on Sandia and the Nuclear Deterrence (ND) Program,

Key responsibilities for this position will include providing reliability analysis and support for cables, connectors and other electronic components as well as communicating findings through reports and presentations to various levels of engineering authority, from staff to executive management. This role plays a vital part in informing ND Stockpile and Modernization efforts by providing critical risk information to support informed decision-making

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

• Conduct reliability analyses using technical engineering approaches and report results or communicate risks to various stakeholders and leadership, including Independent Technical Assessment, ND system or component organizations, and non-ND customers.
• Collaborate with cross-functional organizations and initiatives to perform reliability analyses that contribute to ND stockpile sustainment and development.
• Participate in investigations to identify root causes of anomalies and evaluate reliability impacts.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with customers, including component and weapon systems organizations.
• Apply knowledge of reliability failure mechanisms, development test planning, and surveillance plans to inform Product Realization Teams and improve design reliability.
• Develop and contribute to calculations and methodologies for quantifying reliability uncertainty.
• Integrate new reliability methods into organization processes and existing or development toolsets.

Due to the nature of the work, the successful candidate must be able to work onsite. Travel requirements are minimal.

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.

Qualifications We Require

• 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 clearance or equivalent with other US government agency (e.g. DOD).

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:

• Five years of experience in the design or assessment of nuclear weapon systems and/or components.
• Experience with engineering-level statistical analysis, including probabilistic modeling, margin analyses, and Monte Carlo methods.
• Experience in applying reliability theory and a variety of reliability test methods and analyses across a product's lifecycle.
• The ability to define problems, gather data from multiple sources, collaborate closely with statisticians and mathematicians, and integrate data and analyses into a technical report.
• Knowledge and experience in hazards, safety, and failure analysis techniques, such as fault tree analysis, failure modes, and root cause analyses.
• Ability to think critically, skeptically, and drive the "so what" and "what if" discussions and analysis.

About Our Team

System and Component Reliability Mission: our primary mission is to provide reliability analyses on behalf of the NNSA to the Nuclear Weapons Program. We provide independent reliability predictions and assessments on nuclear weapon components, subsystems, and systems throughout the conceptual design-to-retirement life cycle. Our reliability engineering and assessment capabilities support other programs and products both internal and external to Sandia. We create and adapt a suite of probabilistic reliability models to keep abreast of design and technology changes. We consult with design and surveillance teams on the reliability and related statistical issues associated with design, test, and operational decisions.

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.