Senior/Principal Nuclear Explosive Safety Engineer - Nuclear Safety Assessment, Amarillo, Onsite

About Sandia:

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation's premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting-edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

• Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide

• Extraordinary co-workers

• Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world

• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities

• Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten-hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)

• Generous vacation, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://www.sandia.gov

*These benefits vary by job classification.

What Your Job Will Be Like:

The Nuclear Safety Assessment (NSA) department provides certified members for the NA121.1 Nuclear Explosive Safety (NES) Study Group (NESSG). Certified members must adhere to the guidelines established in NNSA SD 452.2B, Nuclear Explosive Safety Evaluation Processes. This is a multi-year commitment, candidates must be willing to accept this role for a minimum of five years, up to two years of training (classroom and on the job) and three years as a certified NESSG member.

DOE 452.2 Nuclear Explosive Safety evaluations of NES surety standards can only be done by NESSG certified staff. NES surety standards apply to Nuclear Explosive Operations (NEO) during assembly, disassembly, rebuild, repair, refurbishment, recodes, limited life component exchanges, dismantlement, transport, and staging (DOE O452.1E 1.b.6). For all NEOs, (1) there must be a positive measure that will effectively interrupt each credible scenario that leads to an unintended nuclear explosive detonation or main charge High Explosive Violent Reaction (HEVR) and (2) there must be a second independent positive measure that will effectively interrupt each credible scenario that leads to an unintended nuclear explosive detonation or main charge HEVR given the first measure fails. Nuclear Explosive Safety Study Groups (NESSG) are convened to evaluate NEOs to determine if positive measures are adequate to meet these two standards. Additionally, Deliberate Unauthorized Use (DUU) standards are applicable for NEOs (DOE O452.4) and are evaluated to ensure there are positive measures (1) to prevent unauthorized access, intentional physical damage, misuse, and theft of nuclear explosives and (2) to prevent malevolent acts that could lead to deliberate unauthorized use. Nuclear explosive operations also need to comply with additional NES requirements, as defined in SD 452.2B. As a member of a NESSG, activities include observe and assess all NEOs including the assembly, disassembly, rebuild, repair, refurbishment, recodes, limited life component exchanges, dismantlement, transport, and staging (DOE O452.1E 1.b.6). Evaluations are documented by the NESSG members for submittal to NNSA.

We are seeking an experienced engineer with knowledge of nuclear weapon engineering who can meet NES member certification criteria for education and experience, personal characteristics and technical competencies as established in NNSA SD-452.2. Successful candidates will be required to obtain their NESSG certification through a combination of experience, training and mentoring.

• Expert-Level Knowledge: NES-certified personnel must possess extensive knowledge in areas such as DOE 452.1E, Nuclear Explosive Safety, and Weapons Surety Program, DOE O 452.2E, Nuclear Explosive Safety, and NNSA SD 452.2B, Nuclear Explosive Safety Evaluation Processes.

• Working-Level Knowledge: NES-certified personnel must have sufficient knowledge in twenty-two areas related to nuclear weapons explosive operations, as well as nuclear weapon materials, explosives, designs, one-point safety, electrical hazards, and human reliability.

• Familiarity-Level Knowledge: NES-certified personnel must have adequate knowledge of eleven additional subjects and processes to facilitate effective discussions with experts on the U.S. nuclear stockpile, and DOE, Federal, and nuclear facility safety requirements.

We strongly encourage all potential candidates to apply if they would be interested bringing their skills and diversity to our team of weapon assessment engineers who:

• Demonstrate strong multidisciplinary problem-solving skills

• Have a high degree of proficiency in foundational science and engineering principles

• Have a desire to learn complex systems and component engineering production processes

• Be able to independently review detailed reference documents and identify the salient issues

• Interact with weapon system, component design, assurance, and other surety organizations

• Maintain an awareness of issues relating to product design, development, production, maintenance, and dismantlement of weapon systems

• Develop deep technical domain expertise regarding the Nuclear Deterrent (ND) lifecycle

• Apply engineering principles to evaluate manufacturing and production-related tolerances, defects, and aggregated factors that may affect the performance of components and systems

• Assess the adequacy of tests, materials, and components to meet requirements

• Evaluate the adequacy of procedures, product specifications, and standards

*This position will reside in Amarillo, TX and will require occasional travel to SNL (NM or CA), LANL (NM), and LLNL (CA)).

Salary Range:

$108,600 - $216,600

*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 STEM field plus (10) years related experience; or a Master's degree in a relevant STEM field plus (6) years related experience; or a PhD in a relevant STEM field plus (3) years of related experience; or equivalent experience and/or achievements that demonstrate the knowledge, skills and ability to perform the duties of the job

• The ability to acquire and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, as well as higher clearances, which includes participation, as requested, in polygraph testing.

Qualifications We Desire:

• An advanced degree (PhD or MS) in engineering, explosives, and/or physics.

• Experience in nuclear weapon systems and associated processes and tools Design and/or manufacturing engineering experience

• Experience in high consequence event analysis and/or Explosive Ordinance Disposal

• Knowledge and experience in hazards/safety/failure analysis (e.g., fault tree analysis, failure modes and effects analysis)

• Familiarity with system engineering as applied to nuclear weapon system design, analysis, and testing, with emphasis on nuclear safety

• Familiarity with principles of nuclear safety or working knowledge of DOE 452 series order

• A high degree of proficiency in foundational science and/or engineering principles

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to lead difficult conversations

• A dedication to supporting the unique nuclear deterrent mission

• Broad technical knowledge and resourcefulness when solving deeply sophisticated technical problems

• A proven track record to work within a multi-disciplinary teaming environment

• A desire to continuously learn and improve

About Our Team:

The Nuclear Safety Assessment Department is responsible for providing independent assessments for nuclear weapon safety activities at the Laboratories. This includes the assessment of current and future safety components, subsystems, systems, ancillary equipment, testers, training, and operations in terms of modern requirements and safety standards. Also included is the training and managing of the Sandia members of the NNSA Nuclear Explosive Safety Study team and the Sandia technical experts on the DoD Nuclear Weapon Safety Study Group. This department is the liaison to NNSA for existing nuclear explosive safety orders, standards, and implementation plans. The Department also provides nuclear safety experts to the Accident Response Group.

Posting Duration:

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) calendar days, including the 'posting date'. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

Security Clearance:

Sandia 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.

EEO:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.

NNSA Requirements for MedPEDs:

If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.

If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.

Job ID: 695087

Job Family: RD

Regular/Temporary Position: R

Full/Part-Time Status: F