What Your Job Will Be LikeWe are seeking a versatile R&D Systems Engineer with experience in the nuclear weapon reliability assessment, statistical data analysis, and design assurance to join the California Reliability Department. This position offers an excellent opportunity for a highly motivated individual with a scientific or engineering background to make a significant impact on the nuclear deterrence (ND) program.
On any given day, you might be called upon to:
- Conduct reliability analyses using technical engineering approaches
- Participate in multidisciplinary investigations to identify root causes of failures
- Collaborate broadly with systems, components, and other internal partners
- Communicate results and risks to internal and external stakeholders
- Develop and employ methodologies for quantifying reliability uncertainty
- Integrate new reliability methods into organizational processes and toolsets
- Improve design reliability via test planning and knowledge of failure mechanisms
Due to the nature of the work, the successful candidate must be able to work onsite. Travel requirements are minimal to moderate depending on assignment.
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 Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, plus 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-level security clearance or an equivalent DOD Top Secret level clearance
Qualifications We DesireThe ideal R&D Systems Engineering candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will also 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 (LANL), 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 particularly interested in individuals with experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Electrical engineering experience in circuit analysis, simulation, and failure mechanisms
- Five years experience of technical work with nuclear weapon systems or components
- Engineering statistics, including probability, margins, and sampling-plan development
- Application of reliability test methods and analyses across a product's lifecycle
- Problem definition, data analysis, and technical report development
- Failure analysis techniques, such as fault tree analysis and root cause analysis
- Critical thinking and sound engineering judgment in ambiguous or complex situations
About Our TeamThe primary mission of the CA System and Component Reliability Department is to provide reliability analysis services on behalf of the NNSA to the nuclear deterrence program. The department provides independent reliability estimates and assessments of nuclear weapon systems, subsystems, and components throughout the design-to-retirement life cycle. Assessments performed by this department apply probabilistic reliability models and reliability engineering practices to provide quantitative and qualitative measures that contribute to understanding the impact of design and technology changes. The department supports both development programs for modernization as well as continuing stockpile systems and strives to provide technically comprehensive, accurate, useful, and timely estimates and assessments. The department provides reliability engineering support for modernization programs to establish sound technical bases to support reliability assertions.
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.
Security ClearancePosition 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.
