What Your Job Will Be Like

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced individual to serve as the technical lead for the Nuclear WeaponsLegacy Hardware Laboratory, within Org. 2231, the Accident Response Group and Legacy Hardware Lab.

In this role, you will lead technical execution and mission development for the Legacy Hardware Lab in support of the NNSA Weapons Dismantlement, Disposition, and Recovery program office. The Legacy Hardware Lab supports disposition activities for legacy weapon systems, components, hazardous items, classified hardware, and other unique materials while also providing technical support to modernization and enduring stockpile missions. In addition the LHL provides direct support to the NW training and Education Program (WIP).

The selected candidate will serve as the primary technical lead for the Legacy Hardware Lab, helping to ensure safe, secure, compliant, and reliable execution of the WDDR mission. You will work closely with NNSA federal partners, Sandia organizations, and Nuclear Security Enterprise partners, including production plants and national laboratories. You will also help advance the strategic growth of the LHL by identifying, developing, and executing additional mission opportunities best aligned our unique skills and abilities.

You will help lead a small, multidisciplinary team while partnering closely with management, ES&H professionals, security, classification, facilities, program leadership, and external stakeholders.

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

• Serve as the technical lead for Legacy Hardware Lab operations, mission execution, and strategic development.
• Lead and coordinate WDDR disposition activities involving legacy weapon systems, components, hazardous materials, classified hardware, and other unique materials.
• Provide technical leadership for safe and secure operations involving energetic materials, radiological materials, RCRA-regulated materials, classified matter, and other hazardous or controlled items.
• Develop, maintain, and communicate program plans, technical progress, execution status, risks, and deliverables to NNSA customers and internal stakeholders.
• Prepare and deliver monthly reports and other programmatic communications for NNSA and Sandia stakeholders.
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with NNSA, Pantex, KCNSC, LANL, LLNL, Y-12, and other Nuclear Security Enterprise partners.
• Advocate for the NW Legacy Hardware Lab mission and identify new mission opportunities that align with WDDR, modernization, stockpile support, and accident response objectives.
• Support program funding, execution, and long-term mission sustainment.
• Lead work planning and control activities, hazard analysis, mitigation planning, readiness reviews, and safe execution of complex laboratory and hardware operations.
• Demonstrate and reinforce strong conduct of operations, disciplined work execution, and compliance with ES&H, security, classification, transportation, and quality requirements.
• Provide technical support to modernization and enduring stockpile programs by leveraging the capabilities, expertise, and infrastructure of the NW Legacy Hardware Lab.
• Serve as or develop into a subject matter expert for legacy weapon systems, associated components, and disposition processes.
• Collaborate with the Weapon Intern Program and other key Sandia programs to support workforce development, education, and knowledge preservation efforts.

Due to the nature of work, successful candidate 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-level security clearance or equivalent with the ability to obtain and maintain Sigma 15, which may require polygraph tests.

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:

• Extensive experience with legacy nuclear weapon systems, components, disposition activities, stockpile support, modernization programs, or related Nuclear Security Enterprise missions.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain program funding, execute deliverables, and identify or develop new mission opportunities aligned with organizational scope.
• Experience serving as a technical lead, project lead, program lead, or subject matter expert for complex, high-consequence technical activities.
• Experience leading technologists, contractors, matrixed staff, or multidisciplinary teams in laboratory, production, field, or operational environments.
• Demonstrated understanding of work planning and control, hazard analysis, mitigation planning, readiness activities, and safe work execution for hazardous or classified operations.
• Experience with energetic materials, radiological materials, hazardous materials, RCRA-regulated materials, classified matter, controlled hardware, or specialized shipping and receiving activities.
• Demonstrated conduct-of-operations experience in a laboratory, production, nuclear security, weapons, hazardous materials, or other high-rigor operational environment.
• Experience preparing technical reports, program status updates, risk assessments, briefings, and formal communications for federal customers or senior leadership.
• Experience as a derivative classifier or ability and willingness to qualify as a derivative classifier for applicable legacy weapon system information.
• Demonstrated ability to develop into or serve as a recognized subject matter expert for legacy weapon systems and associated disposition processes.
• Ability to balance near-term operational execution with long-term strategic mission development.
• Commitment to mentoring staff, supporting workforce development and building sustainable technical capabilities.

About Our Team

Org. 2231 is home to the Accident Response Group and Nuclear Weapons Legacy Hardware Lab, two mission-focused capabilities that support critical national security objectives for Sandia and the Nuclear Security Enterprise.

The NW Legacy Hardware Lab supports the NNSA NA-122.1 Stockpile Services Division and the Weapons Dismantlement, Disposition, and Recovery program office through the safe, secure, and compliant disposition of legacy weapon systems, components, hazardous items, classified hardware, and other unique materials. The lab provides a key recourse to the knowledge preservation and education mission of the NSE.

The Accident Response Group provides specialized technical expertise, readiness, and response capabilities for nuclear weapon accident and incident response. The ARG and LHL missions are closely partnered, with the Legacy Hardware Lab providing unique capabilities, technical expertise, and hardware support that can contribute to the training and readiness of the ARG.

Together, the team works across Sandia, NNSA, national laboratories, production agencies, and other Nuclear Security Enterprise partners to deliver high-consequence work safely, securely, and reliably. We value technical excellence, disciplined operations, collaboration, mission ownership, and the development of the next generation of national security professionals.

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.