Sandia National Laboratories

Early-Career, Embedded Software Engineer - Advanced RF Systems, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories$102K — $199K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Ability to acquire and maintain a DOE Q clearance and SCI clearance, may require polygraph.
  • Graduate degree in Computer Science or related field preferred.
  • Four or more years of systems level programming experience using C/C++.
  • Strong organizational skills with agile methodologies experience.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and contribute to software code bases using industry-standard methodologies.
  • Innovate to enhance processes and products.
  • Improve development techniques and processes.
  • Assist project leads with scheduling estimates.
  • Maintain a comprehensive awareness to guide technical direction.
  • Document design definition and develop test/acceptance procedures.

Benefits

  • Relocation assistance for qualifying candidates.
  • Occasional travel required for onsite work.
Full Job Description
What Your Job Will Be Like

Our team is seeking a highly motivated Computer Science/Software Engineer. Your primary focus will be to implement the software processing in specialized RF communications systems for National Security applications. Projects range from very urgent, quick reaction requests in response to real-world driven needs to longer term, life-critical efforts with rigorous development requirements. You will become a member of a multi-discipline, success oriented high-performance team.

Our special communication systems include highly optimized, ultra-low DC power, size-embedded RF receiver/transmitter tag designs, as well as groundbreaking signal processing RF interrogators. These systems are deployed as battery-powered field sensors, small satellite payloads, as well as manned and unmanned aircraft (UAV/UAS) applications. Projects range from fast-paced, quick-reaction requests in response to real-world needs to longer-term, life-critical efforts with rigorous development and quality requirements. You will be part of a multi-disciplinary, success-oriented high-performance team, with occasional travel required.

On any given day, you may be called upon to:
  • Develop new and contribute to existing software code bases using standard methodologies.
  • Find innovative ways to enhance our processes and products.
  • Contribute to improvement of development processes and techniques.
  • Assist project leads with schedule estimates based on current backlog of tasks.
  • Gain and maintain a big picture awareness to help guide technical direction.
  • Develop test/acceptance procedures and document design definition.

*Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite. Relocation will be provided for those that qualify. Applicants on this requisition may be interviewed by multiple organizations at Sandia National Laboratories.

Salary Range

$102,400 - $199,700

*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 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.
  • Ability to acquire and maintain a DOE Q clearance and SCI clearance, which may require a polygraph.


Qualifications We Desire

The ideal R&D Computer Science candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:
  • Graduate degree in Computer Science or a highly related field with extensive programming experience.
  • Demonstrated software development skills and familiarity with modern software development practices and tools (e.g., Agile).
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams, and a passion to improve and expand technical skills.
  • Active DOE Q or DOD TS security clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain an SCI.

Also, for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience:
  • Four (4) or more years' experience with systems level programming using C/C++
  • Strong organizational skills and experience with agile methodologies like Scrum or Kanban
  • Excellent working knowledge of git and related branching models
  • Extensive experience with Realtime Operating Systems (ROTS) and bare metal programming
  • Track record of continuous improvement and strong leadership skills to see it implemented
  • Interest in other languages like Rust and Go
  • Experience using GPUs to implement DSP algorithms
  • Experience working with embedded systems
  • Experience with automation and CI/CD, particularly Ansible and Gitlab CI
  • Experience writing unit tests that integrate into the CI pipeline
  • Knowledge of general test and measurement equipment (oscilloscopes, DVM, logic analyzers) and RF test equipment (network analyzer, spectrum analyzer)
  • Knowledge of RF, Digital Communications, radar, and/or EW systems and principles
  • Ability to work effectively on both small and large development teams (two-to-eight members)
  • Motivated by working with a highly successful, dynamic project team delivering systems that impact our National Security.


About Our Team

The RF & Systems Electronics Center (Center 5300) provides key electronics systems work to a wide variety of nuclear weapons, space, intelligence and military programs across Sandia and the Nation. The Strategic RF and Electronic Systems group (5370) supports the Nation's technology superiority strategies by delivering capabilities for RF & spectral dominance, global highly-reliable communications, and novel advancements for future strength. We are a highly dynamic set of departments that cross-team to provide integrated engineering systems solutions ranging from core research through prototype development and high-end, fielded products.

Our team strives to Develop terrestrial, airborne, and space based special communications systems for use in surveillance and reconnaissance, Tagging Tracking and Locating (TTL), and the relay/detection/characterization of RF signals in challenging environments. Our customers include a variety of government organizations including the Intelligence Community and those conducting special operations missions. Our staff members have a diverse skills base including microwave circuit design, antenna design, signal analysis, digital signal processing, embedded software, space systems, and digital FPGA designs. Applications include long and short-range communications and transponder systems, typically utilizing ultra-low power signaling techniques. Our design challenges include highly miniaturized electronics, low-power transceivers, signal extraction in very low signal-to-noise environments, and signal analysis of RF and communication systems.

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.

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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