What Your Job Will Be Like

We are seeking a Mechanical Engineer to join the Weapons Modernization Hardware Assembly and Laboratory Operations Development Hardware Team (DHT). The Development Hardware Team (DHT) is a team that focuses on reducing risks by delivering development hardware across the weapon modernization programs. Modernization programs are on a very aggressive schedule, and the DHT seeks innovative opportunities to reduce schedule risk and fast-track engineering learning cycles by reducing development build time.

The DHT assists Product Realization Teams (PRTs) to accelerate hardware availability through hardware fabrication and procurement support as well as through interfacing with Rapid Prototyping capabilities.

You will collaborate closely with various Systems teams, PRTs, the Hardware Mgmt. Team, Hardware Planning Team, and Hardware Assembly Team to understand risks and be the interface between these teams for development hardware deliveries. You will also collaborate closely with procurement specialists, vendors, and internal fabrication facilities to procure and deliver development hardware for use in component level, subassembly level and system level testing.

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

• Serve as the primary interface between the DHT and PRTs to negotiate and define product definition, schedule, quantity, quality, inspection, and security.
• Review product definitions for completeness and clarity prior to fabrication or procurement.
• Collaborate with weapon modernization PRTs and Weapon System Engineers to identify and resolve hardware development issues
• Support rapid acquisition and delivery of hardware, including machined parts, additive manufactured parts, cables, connectors, coatings or other treatment processes.
• Interface with Sandia's procurement process.
• Collaborate with internal and external vendors to monitor progress, resolve schedule delays, and address concerns.
• Utilize Sandia's configuration management systems (e.g., PDMLink, PRIME).
• Communicate design and build status, risks, and issues.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able 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 DOE Q clearance or equivalent to start .

Qualifications We Desire

The ideal R&D Mechanical Engineer 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:

• Possess a solid technical foundation and demonstrated ability to collaborate closely with program and line organizations within Sandia, NNSA, DoD, and across the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE).
• Additional education and/or training in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering
• Proficiency in CAD, GD&T, tolerance stack-up analysis, design for manufacturability
• Some electrical engineering experience, including CAD, wiring schematics, surface-mount technology (SMT), cables, and connectors.
• Manufacturing engineering expertise in additive manufacturing, machining, sheet metal fabrication, and assembly processes relevant to development hardware.
• Knowledge of metallurgy and material properties critical to hardware fabrication and performance.
• Knowledge of nuclear weapon product realization.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a fast-paced high-pressure environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills with a track record of creatively resolving hardware development and delivery challenges under aggressive schedules.
• Experience managing hardware acquisition schedules, mitigating risks, and working with vendors and internal fabrication facilities to ensure timely delivery.
• Proficiency with configuration management systems such as PDMLink, PRIME, or equivalent PDM tools.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary, geographically dispersed teams.
• Experience handling classified information and accountable or hazardous materials in a secure environment.

About Our Team

Department 2331 is a dynamic team which directly supports and executes lab operations for the B61-12, 13, 14/15, W80-4, W87-1 Life Extension Programs (LEP), W80-5, and W93 programs. The mission includes Hardware Management (production planning & hardware operations), assembly/disassembly operations, component fabrication and PRT support, and Quality Assurance activities. We directly support and contribute to the research & development, design & engineering, experiments and qualification testing, design maturation, and production of these weapon systems.

Our team coordinates internally and externally to ensure that parts and components are developed and acquired in a timely fashion to ensure test assemblies and full test units are available to support development and qualifications tests and other experiments. Within the assembly team (2331-1), we assemble, disassemble, test, and maintain test units during environmental, electrical, thermal, and flight qualification tests and other experiments.

The hardware team (2331-2) manages hardware and kitting. Across the organization we also plan a variety of work activities, develop and assist design, qualification, & test engineers with assembly/disassembly procedures, and perform the actual hands-on work with hardware at the component and system level. Most of the work performed within 2331 is activity level work and requires keen attention to detail, high standards of quality, and strict adherence to security & safety requirements.

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.