What Your Job Will Be LikeWe are seeking a Level 1 Manager to lead a diverse R&D department developing state-of-the-art capabilities in
AI and machine learning, data science, large-scale data analytics, and visualization. This department advances foundational and applied research while delivering impactful solutions for Sandia's national security missions.
Are you passionate about leading high-performing technical teams, shaping strategic research directions, collaborating with authorities across government, industry, and academia, and developing the next generation of experts in AI-enabled data science and analytics? If so, this role offers an opportunity to guide a dynamic team at the intersection of emerging technology, mission impact, and scientific discovery.
On any given day you may be called on to:
- Lead, mentor, and develop a diverse team of researchers, data scientists, software developers, and technical staff working in AI/ML, data science, large-scale analytics, and visualization.
- Partner with staff, peer managers, senior leaders, university collaborators, industry partners, and government sponsors to deliver on current commitments and identify future opportunities.
- Shape the department's technical vision and strategic direction, guiding the development of innovative capabilities that advance both open research and mission-driven applications.
- Collaborate as an integral member of the Center 1400 management team to develop, communicate, and execute organizational strategy.
- Maintain and grow a strong open research foundation while connecting research outcomes to Sandia's mission needs.
- Oversee day-to-day department management activities, including work planning, performance management, resource allocation, hiring, staff development, and operational execution.
- Recruit, hire, mentor, and retain exceptional staff while fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing team environment.
- Build and maintain relationships with sponsors and stakeholders to align department capabilities with current and emerging mission priorities.
- Promote technical excellence, responsible AI practices, innovation, and mission impact across the department's research portfolio.
Salary Range$163,700 - $278,000
*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 and eight (8) 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
- Q security clearance to start and ability to obtain a SCI clearance
Qualifications We DesireThe ideal R&D Manager for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:
- Two or more years of demonstrated leadership experience.
- A graduate degree in science or engineering (MS or Ph.D.).
- Outstanding interpersonal skills in developing trusting relationships with peers, staff, management, customers, and stakeholders.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in the development and delivery of presentations, proposals, reports and documentation
Also, for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience:
- A strong commitment to staff development, mentoring, inclusion, and team health.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams or complex cross-organizational projects.
- Ability to develop and communicate technical strategy.
- Knowledge of machine learning, artificial intelligence, graph and data analytics, statistics, as well as complimentary areas (e.g., high performance computing architectures, neuromorphic computing).
- Ability to build trusted relationships with sponsors, collaborators, and stakeholders.
- Good communication skills as evidenced by a record of publication of results in peer-reviewed journals and external presentations at scientific conferences.
- Expertise, experience and relationships in one or more of the relevant mission domains or customer/stakeholder communities (Nuclear Deterrence, National Security Programs and Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation).
- Experience with recruiting, hiring, and mentoring staff members.
- Experience leading or contributing to complex software projects with dual mission/open use
About Our TeamThe Machine Intelligence Department (1462) conducts fundamental and applied research and development in the areas of machine learning, artificial intelligence, large-scale data analytics and visualization. The department is part of the Enhanced Decision Making group, which seeks to bring together multiple disciplines including AI credibility, scalable AI models and infrastructure, scientific visualization, discrete mathematics, optimization, scalable high performance computing algorithms, and computer science to inform high consequence decision-making.
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.
