What Your Job Will Be LikeWe are seeking an R&D Mechanical Engineer to join the W93/Mk7 program as a Mechanical Evaluation and Qualification Test Engineer. In this role, you will lead mechanical systems testing for both the W93/Mk7 and the UK Replacement Warhead programs. You will become an integral part of our mission-driven team, collaborating closely with the W93 systems team, internal organizations (such as test facilities, experimentalists, and analysts), external design agencies, and key customers and stakeholders.
The successful candidate will effectively bridge technical and programmatic domains by building strong partnerships across multidisciplinary teams and external collaborators. Responsibilities include leading technical discussions with partnering design agencies (Sandia, Los Alamos, and Lockheed Martin) to clearly define program test objectives and integrate modeling, simulation, and physical testing approaches to achieve those goals.
- Serve as the primary interface between Sandia, Lockheed Martin, and Los Alamos National Laboratory for planning and executing mechanical environments testing, including ground and flight configurations.
- Coordinate proactively with customers and stakeholders to align expectations, track progress, and resolve issues related to evaluation and qualification efforts.
- Manage complex logistics with testing facilities, ensuring smooth scheduling, timely hardware delivery, and on-site support for successful test execution.
- Lead the development of mechanical test unit concepts, architectures, and physical layouts, including defining test hardware pedigree.
- Collaborate on the design of ground and flight test bodies and design fixtures necessary to configure test units during mechanical testing.
- Perform trade studies balancing performance, cost, risk, materials, functionality, and technology maturation.
- Develop specifications and documentation for dynamic test and modeling strategies, laboratory and field test activities, test and analysis plans, test execution, and data analysis.
- Engage with experts in structural dynamics, modal analysis, shock, and vibration testing within Sandia and partner agencies to support the mechanical evaluation and qualification program.
- Inform the development of the W93 mechanical qualification plan.
- Prepare presentations and support documentation for technical reviews.
- Assist with Cost Account Management and Earned Value Management.
- Represent the program while collaborating regularly with partners at Sandia, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lockheed Martin Space, Applied Physics Lab, Navy Strategic Programs, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the Atomic Weapons Establishment, and the UK Ministry of Defense.
Travel to testing locations m. 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 required to start.
Qualifications We DesireThe 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: - Experience with accelerometers, strain gauges, instrumentation, and data acquisition.
- Familiarity with dynamic effects testing facilities and their equipment.
- Experience with shock response spectra, power spectral densities, and signal processing
- Experience in system engineering of complex systems.
- Experience with nuclear weapon (NW) component or system design, development, or production.
- Demonstrated ability to plan and execute technical work while navigating constraints and trade-offs.
- Ability to manage testing interfaces and negotiate competing requirements to achieve optimal system-level outcomes.
- Strong organizational and leadership skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks effectively.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment, showing initiative and leadership.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, capable of working with a diverse team ranging from skilled laborers to PhD engineers and scientists.
- Commitment to operational safety, security, and quality.
About Our TeamThe 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 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.
