What Your Job Will Be LikeWe are seeking a highly motivated Product Engineer to join our Explosive Component Production team within the Explosive Technologies Group at Sandia National Laboratories. This department serves as the Production Agency (PA) responsible for the production of explosive components, including detonators, igniters, actuators, timers, rocket motors, mild detonating fuse, and glass-to-metal headers, in direct support of the Nuclear Deterrence mission.
In this role, depending on assignment, you may support components manufactured internally at Sandia production facilities or hardware built through our external suppliers. Additionally, our department is actively advancing modernization initiatives, creating unique opportunities to innovate how we realize product by identifying and implementing automation, smart manufacturing techniques, and digital quality flows.
On any given day, you may be called on to:
- Manage product definition (graphic drawings and specifications) and Engineering Authorizations (EAs) for explosive components under development or in production
- Collaborate with engineers, technologists, and project management to stand up and qualify new production capabilities for headers
- Work with external suppliers or internal production floors to produce development or Mark Quality product
- Ensure all manufacturing quality evidence is compiled, audited, and verified for each production lot to ensure seamless product acceptance
- Engage in hands-on work in a laboratory or production environment, ensuring strict adherence to safety protocols and operational best practices
- Ensure product quality and design intent through technical oversight, defect investigations, and rigorous root cause analyses
- Champion production modernization initiatives by identifying opportunities to automate manufacturing, assembly, and inspection processes, reduce touch-labor, and deploy digital tools that enhance repeatability and capacity
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance key production metrics, yield, and throughput
- Design and develop processes for product manufacturing, including planning sequences of operations and specifying procedures for material transformation.
- Conduct tests and measurements throughout production stages to maintain tight control over process and product variables
- Utilize systematic problem-solving methods to drive process understanding, anomaly resolution, and capability improvements
Occasional travel may be required, up to 25%.
Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.
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- 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 obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance
Qualifications We DesireThe ideal R&D S&E Mechanical Engineer candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:
- Graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation)
- Experience with mechanical engineering and product realization in the NNSA complex
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams
Also, for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience:
- Experience interfacing with and participating in Product Realization Teams (PRTs).
- Experience working in a high-quality production environment applying rigorous processes and quality standards
- Experience supporting hardware realization either through external suppliers or internal manufacturing operations
- Experience with glass-to-metal sealing (GTMS) operations and associated processes, such as furnace sealing, dilatometry, and plating
- Practical knowledge of manufacturing and inspection methods such as resistance welding, laser welding, leak checking, visual inspection, vacuum systems, and precision metrology
- Proven ability to develop, maintain, and improve manufacturing processes, including developing and qualifying fixtures and tooling
- Experience with installation, qualification, and maintenance of manufacturing process equipment
- Familiarity with engineering drawings, Engineering Authorizations (EAs), and Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)
- Demonstrated ability to conduct structured root cause analysis, analyze technical data, and apply data-driven decision-making to resolve anomalies
- Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles and statistical process control (SPC).
- Experience with hazardous operations and a demonstrated commitment to safety and operational discipline in an explosives or chemical facility
- Ability to work effectively in a flexible team environment, manage multiple tasks and projects, and operate with self-direction to deliver mission results
- Background in, or experience with, explosive technologies and engineering applications is a plus
About Our TeamDepartment 7452, Explosive Component Production, is part of the Explosive Technologies Group (7450) and serves as the Production Agency (PA) for explosive components. Our team is responsible for the production of explosive components that support Life Extension Programs (LEPs), Alterations (ALTs), Legacy systems, and New Systems. We collaborate closely with both external suppliers and internal production floors to ensure the highest quality and efficiency in our operations.
Our team plays a critical role in supporting the Nuclear Deterrence mission by ensuring the safe and efficient production of explosive components. We are dedicated to fostering a culture of safety, collaboration, and innovation, where every team member is valued and empowered to contribute to our mission.
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 ClearanceSandia is required by DOE 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 obtain and 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.
