What Your Job Will Be LikeWe develop next-generation mechanical systems that help advance national security.
We are seeking R&D Mechanical Engineers to join multidisciplinary teams delivering critical national security work in support of nuclear deterrence, advanced systems engineering, mechanical design, product realization, testing, qualification, assessment, and sustainment.
This is mission-connected engineering. In this role, you will have the opportunity to contribute across the full lifecycle of complex mechanical systems and subsystems, from requirements and design maturation to integration, testing, qualification, production realization, fielded-system support, and system-level assessment. Your work may support actively fielded systems, systems in development, flight test vehicles, qualification programs, component and subsystem integration, and lifecycle sustainment activities.
You will work closely with systems engineers, component engineers, production partners, subject matter experts, customers, and external stakeholders across the Nuclear Security Enterprise to solve complex and ambiguous engineering challenges. This position offers opportunities to contribute technically, lead multidisciplinary activities, represent Sandia on internal and external teams, and help deliver mission-critical outcomes.
On any given day, you may be called upon to:
- Develop a detailed understanding of customer, system, subsystem, and component requirements.
- Support maturation, verification, and validation of system and mechanical design requirements.
- Define, design, analyze, review, and mature mechanical systems, subsystems, assemblies, drawings, models, and related design products.
- Provide technical consultation on critical mechanical design elements.
- Collaborate with systems engineers, component engineers, production partners, and Science & Technology experts.
- Plan, execute, and analyze experiments, modeling and simulation activities, and engineering tests.
- Represent mechanical design considerations in design reviews, programmatic meetings, and multi-organizational forums.
- Plan and execute environmental, functional, safety, qualification, development, characterization, flight, laboratory, and component testing.
- Support hardware assembly, subassembly integration, test execution, and anomaly resolution.
- Conduct technical analyses and trade studies using performance, risk, cost, schedule, manufacturability, and mission needs.
- Partner with production agencies and external organizations to support product realization, production documentation, and lifecycle sustainment.
- Maintain technical, design, production, and systems engineering documentation.
- Support stockpile assessment, maintenance, qualification, modernization, and sustainment projects.
- Build effective relationships with Sandia organizations, NNSA, partner design agencies, production agencies, customers, and other stakeholders.
- Apply analytical thinking, sound engineering judgment, and strong communication skills to solve complex problems with multidisciplinary teams.
- Contribute to technical decisions and communicate results to technical and programmatic stakeholders.
Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite 100% of the time.
This position also requires the ability to travel, typically less than 25%, to support the mission.
Applicants on this requisition may be interviewed by multiple organizations at Sandia National Laboratories.
Salary Range$121,900 - $237,800
*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- Bachelors 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 obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance.
Qualifications We DesireThe ideal R&D S&E Mechanical Engineer candidate will also possess:
- Graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement, such as an independent project, thesis, or dissertation.
- Experience with mechanical engineering and product realization in the NNSA complex.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
We are especially interested in candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Developing, maturing, and realizing complex mechanical products, systems, or subsystems.
- Developing, implementing, or applying systems engineering processes.
- Working with nuclear deterrence systems, subsystems, stockpile systems, flight test systems, or related high-consequence engineering applications.
- Requirements development, requirements verification, design maturation, interface compatibility, and system integration.
- Planning, executing, and analyzing environmental, functional, safety, development, characterization, or qualification tests.
- Mechanical design, computer-aided design, structural dynamics, vibration characterization, structural analysis, heat transfer analysis, laboratory measurement techniques, diagnostics, computational modeling and simulation, prototype fabrication, subsystem integration, or qualification testing.
- Flight test vehicle design, hardware assembly, test, production, or integration.
- Conducting trade studies and making risk-informed technical decisions using performance, cost, and schedule data.
- Working successfully with production agencies, design agencies, customers, and other internal or external stakeholders.
- Teaming, leadership, delegation, collaboration, negotiation, and conflict resolution.
- Working effectively in complex, ambiguous technical environments.
- Demonstrating a strong commitment to quality, safety, mission delivery, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
About Our TeamThe 8200 ND Systems Center provides systems engineering, integration, qualification, and product realization expertise for the W80-4 Life Extension Program, the W80-5 Modification Program, and Stockpile sustainment for B83-0/1, W87-0, W80-1 and Mk21 programs. We are also home to Sandia Livermore capabilities for assembly, fabrication, and testing in support of both modernization and stockpile programs.
Center 8200 spans Sandia's Livermore and Albuquerque campuses and is positioned to leverage engineering talent and advanced facilities at both locations in support of Sandia's mission. We maintain strong partnerships with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the Nuclear Security Enterprise, and our Department of War partners.
Across our systems engineering activities, Center 8200 is focused on delivering and maintaining a safe, secure, and reliable stockpile while innovating how we execute our work with greater acceleration and efficiency.
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.
