What Your Job Will Be Like

We are seeking a R&D S&E, Mechanical Engineer to join our collaborative team environment. As an analyst on our team, you will perform solid mechanics (SM) and/or structural-dynamics (SD) research, development, modeling, and simulation to support a variety of projects (e.g. nuclear safety, design, and qualification, failure, shock and vibration, and/or thermal- mechanical response), and customers (e.g., the Departments of Defense and National Nuclear Security Administration, university collaborations, etc.). Appropriate uncertainty quantification will be used with finite element analysis and other analysis methods to predict component or system behavior under specific operating conditions. Verification and validation of modeling techniques will be used to build model credibility. A SM role will involve detailed predictions of material behavior and failure under a variety of normal and abnormal environments. A SD role requires complex simulations of structural responses to dynamic and shock environments. The analysts in our department work closely with experimental mechanics, code development, and material science organizations to provide validated results of extremely complex and challenging problems that support the design, qualification, and fielding of high consequence engineered systems for national security missions.

On any given day, you may be called on to:

• Build finite element models of components, sub-assemblies, or full systems and use these models to perform non-linear static or dynamic analyses to assess design margins, failure response, design trade studies, fatigue life, system and sub-assembly environments, or provide input to large scale testing for a variety of projects for internal (Sandia) and external customers
• Perform research, development, and simulations and share results through internal reports, journal publications, conferences, and internal design, testing, and qualification reviews
• Use engineering analysis principles and computational methods to support the design, qualification, and fielding of high consequence engineered systems for normal and abnormal environments and combinations of environments (random vibration, shock, blast, impact, crash and burn)
• Apply and develop uncertainty quantification techniques and assess model credibility through the application of verification & validation principles
• Engage with code and model development teams to develop and implement novel models and capabilities for high performance computing algorithms and environments
• Work closely with teams of code/model developers, analysts, and experimentalists to develop and implement novel models and capabilities for high performance computing algorithms and provide validated simulation results for complex and challenging R&D problems
• Collaborate and interact closely with a multi-disciplinary, geographically dispersed team, including engineers and other researchers and analysts across the laboratory at both the California and New Mexico sites

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

Applicants on this requisition may be interviewed by multiple organizations at Sandia National Laboratories.

Salary Range

$139,900 - $280,600

*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 five (5) 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
• Ability to obtain and maintain DOE Q-level security clearance

Qualifications We Desire

The 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:

• PhD in mechanical, civil, applied engineering, or other applicable engineering field
• Demonstrated experience in computational mechanics or code development for engineering sciences applications
• Proficiency with code development in a modern programming language such as C++ or Python Experience with finite-element methods, continuum and noncontinuum mechanics
• Understanding of structural dynamics and modal analysis theory, including relevant coursework in structural dynamics, mechanics, FEA, and materials engineering
• Demonstrated ability to present and publish research findings
• Experience with:
  • plasticity and material-failure modeling
  • meshing and model development tools
  • finite element analysis (FEA) software
  • working with experimental data and understanding typical structural dynamics testing approaches
  • calibrating models to experimental data and debugging model issues
  • CAD experience
  • running simulations on high-performance computing (HPC) systems
  • integrating AI tools into engineering workflows
• Project leadership experience and the ability to translate customer needs into executable analysis tasks
• Ability to work independently and collaborate well in a multidisciplinary team of designers and test engineers
• Active DOE Q-level or DoW TS security clearance

About Our Team

The Modeling and Simulation (modsim) of Engineering Applications Department at Sandia National Laboratories, California, conducts a wide range of computational simulations, including linear-elastic static; large-deformation, nonlinear structural dynamics; hydrodynamics; solid mechanics; Thermal Fluids; Heat Transfer; and Radiation Transport. To complete these simulations, the department uses and develops a variety of state-of-the-art analytical tools. We partner with Sandia product designers to predict and define environments for the entire design life-cycle. We assist product engineers in optimizing their designs early in a development program and to fully explore the product's performance space during final design qualification. We work closely with experimental experts at Sandia to develop validated models and optimal testing protocols. The department leads and performs modsim and analysis, across these technical disciplines, to directly support nuclear deterrence and other national security engineering applications.

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.