What Your Job Will Be Like

We are seeking an experienced R&D Mechanical Engineer to lead the overarching development of manufacturing processes at Sandia's Explosives Manufacturing Science and Technology facility (EMSAT). Your primary role will consist of providing lead engineering expertise in the startup and development of multiple flexible product lines to demonstrate manufacturing capability across several components. This includes overseeing the qualification of all equipment, ensuring the timely completion of manufacturing operations throughout proof-of-concept builds, ensuring execution of appropriate supporting engineering documentation, and providing technical training and mentorship. You will be working in a flexible team environment with other personnel to apply engineering concepts and best practices to the design, development, analysis, and testing of processes and equipment that meet design requirements on schedule and budget in support of key deliverables. Processes within our manufacturing area include, but are not limited to cleaning, laser welding, resistance welding, leak testing, powder pressing, encapsulation, soldering, glass-to-metal sealing, thin film deposition, mechanical/electrical measurements, and visual inspections.

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

• Plan, conceive, conduct, and manage process development for energetic components in a manufacturing environment
• Direct systematic studies to characterize processes with the intent of determining the ideal process equipment, tools, and parameters that will meet design requirements with high yield and high quality
• Manage and maintain manufacturing equipment and operational technology ensuring continuous, predictable operation
• Analyze the performance of manufacturing processes using key performance indicators such as yield, variance, and tact time
• Use manufacturing process results and data to provide objective Design for Manufacturability advice to engineers from both the Design and Production Agencies.
• Create new understanding and capabilities by using the scientific method: hypothesis, test, and evaluation techniques; critical review; or similar engineering research and development methods
• Use engineering principles to research, design, or develop tooling, instruments, machines, experiments, processes, systems, theories, and technologies
• Lead and support formal problem-solving efforts as needed to address manufacturing anomalies and to maintain high-rigor, high-quality processes
• Lead the development of work instructions and operating procedures to support the product lines under your purview
• Lead or participate in new process and equipment development and qualification
• Assist with the operational startup of a new facility
• Utilize effective teaming skills
• Partner across organizational boundaries
• Demonstrate critical thinking skills and challenge the status quo to facilitate the resolution of complex problems
• Make decisions regarding product quality
• Mentor and train engineers on equipment qualification, process development, and the product realization lifecycle

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
• An active DOE Q clearance, or equivalent is required to start

Qualifications We Desire

The ideal R&D S&E 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:

• Previous product/process engineering experience
• Experience in gathering, analysis, and presentation of technical data for problem solving and decision making
• Basic knowledge and/or exposure to Lean/Six Sigma and continuous improvement concepts and methodologies
• Experience in the use of Oracle, Prime, ARAS and EIMS tools deployed at Sandia Labs
• Excellent project planning and execution capabilities
• Passion for mentoring others to promote development
• Interest in leveraging engineering expertise in a manufacturing environment

About Our Team

The Explosive Component Operations Science and Technology department (7457) produces energetic components that support deliverables for Sandia's nuclear deterrence mission. We also provide mission-enabling support to all of 7450, while innovating energetic component processes and production capabilities for the organization. We are responsible for production planning, product pre-acceptance, and component manufacturing. We oversee the construction and operations of the Energetics Manufacturing Science and Technology (EMSAT) facility.

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.