Sandia National Laboratories

Cleared Senior/Principal Systems Hardware Operations Technologist, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories$74K — $144K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Associate's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Computer/IT, or Electromechanical Technology, or equivalent 4 years' experience
  • Active DOE Q clearance or equivalent with potential for random polygraphs

Responsibilities

  • Lead hardware inventories and component transfers to ensure accountability
  • Utilize a custom hardware asset management database for lifecycle tracking
  • Maintain and improve hardware operation work instructions
  • Inspect and account for hardware used in assembly and test operations
  • Research and implement innovative inventory management solutions
  • Mentor junior technologists and provide technical guidance
  • Collaborate with engineers to manage hardware for weapon systems tests
  • Conduct quality control inspections and document findings
  • Assist in packaging and shipping critical hardware and test units
  • Safely handle hazardous materials, adhering to safety protocols

Benefits

  • Work in a high-impact facility with cutting-edge technologies
  • Unique opportunity to influence mission-critical programs
  • Collaborative team environment focused on hardware lifecycle management
  • Guidance and mentoring roles available for experienced technologists
  • Involvement with national strategic weapon system modernization projects
Full Job Description
What Your Job Will Be Like

We are seeking an experienced General Technologist to join our dynamic Systems Hardware Management team. If you are passionate about your work and aspire to lead hardware operations for the development and qualification of the Nation's most modern strategic weapon systems, this role is for you.

You will work in a best-in-class facility, in high-impact projects using cutting-edge tools and technologies. As a key contributor and leader on a collaborative team, you will play a vital role in modernizing our Nation's most critical weapon systems, ensuring strategic deterrence for America.

This position offers a unique opportunity to influence mission-critical programs and drive continuous improvement in hardware lifecycle management.

On any given day, you may be called on to:
  • Lead inventories and component transfers to verify and maintain hardware accountability, ensuring compliance with stringent lifecycle tracking requirements.
  • Utilize a custom hardware asset management database to support the lifecycle accountability and tracking of critical hardware supporting nuclear weapon modernization programs.
  • Review, own, and maintain hardware operation work instructions, driving process improvements and ensuring operational excellence.
  • Apply meticulous attention to detail when inspecting, accounting for, and kitting hardware used in assembly and test operations.
  • Research, develop, and implement innovative solutions to enhance inventory operations and hardware management processes.
  • Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior technologists and team members.
  • Collaborate closely with test, qualification, component, and systems engineers to ensure hardware pedigrees are properly planned, received, kitted, and assembled into complex weapon systems to support critical test objectives.
  • Conduct pre- and post-assembly quality control inspections of parts and hardware, perform detailed analysis to identify non-conforming parts, and document and report findings to support corrective actions.
  • Assist in packaging critical system hardware or completed test units for shipping and initiate shipping documents for on/off-site movement of hardware.
  • Safely handle hazardous parts and materials, including explosive and radiological components, adhering to all safety protocols.
  • Develop and maintain strong partnerships with staff within Sandia, Los Alamos, PANTEX, Lawrence Livermore, and partner Laboratories & Production Agencies to directly support all Weapon Modernization programs.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.

Salary Range

$74,700 - $144,400

*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

  • Associate's degree in a relevant field, such as Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Computer/IT, or Electromechanical Technology or equivalent (4 years' relevant experience)
  • Active DOE Q clearance or equivalent with the ability to obtain and maintain a SIGMA15 which may require random polygraphs.


Qualifications We Desire

  • Bachelor's degree in a relevant STEM discipline (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math).
  • Prior experience in nuclear weapons or satellite hardware assembly, testing, or related roles.
  • Demonstrated experience planning activity-level work and knowledge of Sandia's Work Planning & Control (WP&C) processes and engineered safety principles.
  • Knowledge and experience in the safe handling, inspection, storage, and assembly of explosive, radiological, and other hazardous components, including management of Sandia's Explosive Inventory System (EIS).
  • Experience handling ESD-sensitive electronic components and familiarity with ESD controls and mitigation techniques.
  • Experience working with databases or inventory control systems to input data, conduct analysis, and generate reports for managing critical components and hardware.
  • Proficiency operating overhead cranes, man-lifts, forklifts, hand and power tools, laser engraving systems, fluke meters, and other measurement instruments (electrical, pressure, force).
  • Experience working with classified information, accountable materials, and hardware requiring strict security controls.
  • Strong desire for process improvement and implementing advanced solutions and technologies.
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, and to collaborate successfully with technologists, engineers, and scientists.
  • Proven success in roles requiring high concentration, meticulous attention to detail, and adherence to safety protocols.
  • Experience using MS Office Suite, SharePoint, PDMLink, and PRIME.
  • Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification or higher.
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a supportive team environment.


About Our Team

We are a dynamic team that directly supports and executes R&D lab activities for the B61-12, B61-13, W80-4, W87-1 Life Extension Programs (LEP) and the W80-5 and W93 programs. Our mission encompasses Hardware Management (production planning & hardware operations), assembly/disassembly operations, component fabrication and PRT support and Quality Assurance activities.

The Systems Hardware Management Department is dedicated to utilizing a custom database system designed to enhance lifecycle accountability and tracking of critical hardware essential to nuclear weapon modernization programs. Our comprehensive approach encompasses all phases of hardware management, including receiving, inspection, accountability, storage, kitting, shipping, recovery, and final disposition.

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.

Security Clearance

Position 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.

About Sandia National Laboratories

The Sandia National Laboratories is one of three National Nuclear Security Administration research and development laboratories in the United States, managed and operated privately by the National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia. Their primary mission is to develop, engineer, and test the non-nuclear components of nuclear weapons and high technology. Headquartered on Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, it also has a campus in Livermore, California, next to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and a test facility in Waimea, Kauai, Hawaii. It is Sandia's mission to maintain the reliability and surety of nuclear weapon systems, conduct research and development in arms control and nonproliferation technologies, and investigate methods for the disposal of the United States' nuclear weapons program's hazardous waste. Other missions include research and development in energy and environmental programs, as well as the surety of critical national infrastructures. In addition, Sandia is home to a wide variety of research including computational biology, mathematics, materials science, alternative energy, psychology, MEMS, and cognitive science initiatives. Sandia formerly hosted ASCI Red, one of the world's fastest supercomputers until its decommission in 2006, and now hosts ASCI Red Storm, originally known as Thor's Hammer. Sandia is also home to the Z Machine. The Z Machine is the largest X-ray generator in the world and is designed to test materials in conditions of extreme temperature and pressure. It is operated by Sandia National Laboratories to gather data to aid in computer modeling of nuclear weapons. In December 2016, it was announced that National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, under the direction of Honeywell International, would take over the management of Sandia National Laboratories starting on May 1, 2017. Educational opportunities are conducted in collaboration with university students through several programs, including the Securing Top Academic Research & Talent at Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program and the Sandia University Partnerships Network.
Learn more about Sandia National Laboratories
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Founded
1948

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