What Your Job Will Be LikeThe W80-5 System Qualification team has an immediate opening for a Flight Test Task Team (FT3) Engineer (R&D S&E Systems Engineer). As part of this high performing team, you will be responsible for supporting ground and flight tests for the W80-5 program. The successful candidate will work closely with the FT3 leadership, the Flight Test Lead, and the broader W80-5 program teams at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), to execute joint tests with key external partners. Your work will be critical in establishing flight test surveillance programs, verifying requirements, and applying test results to overall system qualification. This position offers significant career growth opportunities and involves high-level coordination across the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE), including Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories (LLNL), Pantex, and NNSA. As an FT3 engineer, you will partner closely with the qualification engineering team in the execution of system-level testing and troubleshooting to resolve issues that arise during the development and integration phases. Critical thinking skills are required to identify and resolve complex issues during integration testing.
On any given day, you may be called upon to:
- Plan & Coordinate: Conduct programmatic and technical planning for system integration tests (functional electrical, mechanical, thermal, ground, and flight tests). This includes requirement interpretation, clarification, and the authoring of test procedures and administrative documentation.
- Execute & Troubleshoot: Partner internally and externally to execute system-level testing in both lab and field settings. You will identify test-related issues as they arise, troubleshoot underlying causes, and provide technical solutions to keep testing on schedule.
- Analyze & Report: Assist in the analysis and interpretation of complex test data, authoring technical reports and documenting lessons learned to inform future efforts.
- Collaborate: Work across multiple agencies and organizations to define requirements, manage mutual responsibilities, and resolve technical trade-offs for optimal system-level outcomes.
- Ensure Safety: Establish and maintain rigorous safety and security requirements for activity-level work in various test environments.
Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite 100% of the time.
The position requires an ability to travel up to 25% to support the mission.
Applicants on this requisition may be interviewed by multiple organizations at Sandia National Laboratories.
Salary Range$139,900 - $280,600
*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 bachelors 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 DOD Top Secret level security clearance.
Qualifications We DesireThe ideal R&D S&E 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 National Laboratory (LLNL), Los Alamos National Laboratory, 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:
- Master's degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or a related discipline plus 10 years of relevant experience; or Bachelor's in a STEM discipline plus 14 years of relevant experience.
- Experience in management and execution of complex projects.
- Demonstrated experience in developing positive relationships with other Sandia organizations, external partners, customers, and stakeholders.
- Ability to set direction, resolve ambiguity, and respond flexibly in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
- Knowledge of nuclear weapon product realization process, policies, design, qualification, and production.
- Experience working on a system or component qualification team.
- Outstanding interpersonal skills, including ability to present to diverse audiences.
- Ability to work well in a cross-functional team environment.
- Experience with fabrication of prototypes.
- Experience with electrical, mechanical and environmental tests.
- Experience with requirements development for components and/or systems.
- Experience in working with DoW personnel supporting joint DOE/DoW testing.
About Our TeamThe W80-5 Systems Engineering departments are responsible for the systems engineering and integration of the warhead associated with the SLCM-N program. In close collaboration with NNSA NA-125, Navy, and NSE partners, the team works to design, integrate and deliver assets to strengthen our Nuclear Deterrence Mission.
The team is comprised of a group of dedicated and motivated engineers, primarily in Mechanical, Electrical, and Systems Engineering. The W80-5 program is focused on rapid execution and moved from warhead selection to Conceptual Design Review in just one year. The team is looking for new members with an eye for streamlining processes and efficient execution.
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.
