What Your Job Will Be LikeOrganization 8452, one of three departments dedicated to realizing Use Control and other high assurance, NSA certified systems for a variety of DOE and DoD customers, is seeking a driven and results-oriented R&D Hardware Lead (R&D S&E Mechanical Engineer) to join their dynamic and tightly integrated team. In this role, the selected applicant will be leading the hardware team responsible for delivering multiple high consequence cryptographic systems as part of a critical capability to the warfighter. This position is an opportunity to have immediate and critical impact on our Nations security and deterrence mission in collaboration with the US Air Force, NSA, KCNSC, and other stakeholders.
On any given day, one may be called upon to:
- Work closely with the PRT Lead and Software Lead to realize multiple hardware products and ground stations
- Lead a team of electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, and technologists to meet challenging programmatic and schedule requirements
- Work with NSA to demonstrate compliance with a wide variety of security-related requirements
- Lead hardware characterization, test, and witness testing both for qualification and for NSA certification, including environmental testing, security verification testing, and TEMPEST testing
- Lead interactions with KCNSC Global Security to realize qualification builds and qualification of the manufacturing line
- Partner with Surety Engineering to gather and analyze evidence for qualification
- Own and delegate both project and NSA documentation
In addition to the position described, this role provides opportunities to get involved with next-generation R&D work with the Surety Technologies portfolio and involvement in other areas of Use Control, including Coded Switches and Code Management Systems.
The position requires the ability to travel up to 25% to support the mission.
Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant will be required to work onsite.
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 US DOE-Q or DoD TS security clearance, with the ability to obtain and maintain an SCI clearance.
- The ability to obtain and maintain Sigma 15 access.
Qualifications We DesireThe ideal R&D Hardware Lead candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:
- 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.
Also, for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience:
- Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams to realize high-consequence products.
- Experience guiding junior staff, influencing senior staff, and engaging with PRT leadership and management.
- Experience in managing technical risk and leading through ambiguity, including guiding multiple stakeholders with sometimes conflicting priorities to a realizable solution.
- Experience coordinating hardware realization activities including design, test, integration, verification, qualification, and production.
- Knowledge and experience in testing microelectronics and electronic systems in terrestrial and strategic radiation environments.
- Knowledge of EMI/EMC/TEMPEST design and mitigation, along with experience testing realized product for conformance.
- Understanding of the qualification process including environmental testing.
- Active SCI clearance.
About Our TeamThe High Assurance Product Realization group develops embedded and ground support equipment in support of National Security missions. We are a leader for high-assurance National Security hardware, utilizing current and advanced electronic hardware approaches, tools, and techniques in developing information assurance subsystems. These responsibilities span research, design, development, production liaison, and existing product evaluation for Use Control applications. Our staff develop custom electronic technologies in support of the DOE/DoD Use Control community and specialize in real-time embedded electronic design solutions with emphasis on security and reliability. The team also has a key role in the development, maturation, and deployment of advanced technologies for next-generation weapon systems and information assurance products.
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.
Security ClearancePosition 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.
