Cleared Senior/Principal R&D Systems Engineer - Nuclear Weapons Expert, Onsite

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.

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced R&D Systems Engineer to join the Sandia National Laboratories Accident Response Group (ARG) as a nuclear weapons expert and technical advisor. As an integral member of the ARG department, you will play a crucial role in training, providing technical expertise, developing equipment and capabilities, and creating challenging technical scenarios to support responders that deploy to US Nuclear Weapons (NW) accidents or incidents. Your expertise and knowledge will contribute to the planning and preparedness for a rapid and effective resolution of nuclear weapons-related emergencies, ensuring the safety and security of our nation.

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

• Serve as a nuclear weapons expert and technical advisor within the Accident Response Group (ARG).
• Conduct research and development activities to enhance response capabilities, identify gaps, and improve equipment for overall mission success.
• Provide technical guidance and support to ensure proper response, assessment, safe handling, and resolution of nuclear weapon-related emergencies.
• Utilize your extensive experience with US Nuclear Weapons, including working with Systems Groups, Product Realization Teams (PRT) for Major Components (MC), and Nuclear Safety or Assessment organizations in the development of training and exercises.
• Demonstrate expertise in abnormal systems response and a deep understanding of the safety architecture of nuclear weapons.
• Actively participate in the technical planning of drills and exercises for the ARG, including the annual interagency Nuclear Weapon Accident Incident Exercise (NUWAIX), to practice a whole-of-government response to nuclear accidents and incidents.
• Collaborate closely with the NNSA Office of Defense Programs (NA10), NNSA Office of Counterterrorism and Counterproliferation (NA80), and NNSA Office of Nuclear Incident Response (NA-84, NNSA Office that oversees the Nuclear Emergency Support Team (NEST))
• Work with the Department of War (DoW) and Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) emergency response partners in the development of training, exercise objectives, and events.
• Lead the technical planning team for the annual multi-agency Nuclear Weapon Accident Incident Exercise (NUWAIX) as the system integration expert for NEST/NA-84 exercise and operations planning.
• Represent Sandia in collaborative discussions with other agencies and laboratories to facilitate clear communication of information.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant will be required to work onsite in Albuquerque, NM. Some travel is required for this position (up to 25%).

$117,500 - $235,700

*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.

• 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.
• Active DOE Q clearance required to start with the ability to obtain and maintain an SCI.
• Selected applicant must be able to obtain and maintain Sigma 15 access as well as any other applicable program read-ins.

The ideal R&D Systems Engineer candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

• Graduate degree in Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Experience working with Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) laboratories and plants including Pantex, Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC), Lawrence Livermore Laboratory (LLNL) and Kansas City National Security Campus/New Mexico Operations (KCNSC/NMO).
• Experience working on engineering design, qualification, production, or related modeling/simulation projects.
• 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:

• Direct working experience and expertise in US nuclear weapons, including history with Systems Groups, membership in Product Realization Teams for Major Components, and involvement with Nuclear Safety or Assessment organizations.
• Experience in systems engineering of complex systems, with multidisciplinary expertise across design, testing, and analysis.
• Proven ability to respond to and resolve nuclear weapons requests for information, unsatisfactory reports, and/or SFN/SFIs.
• Demonstrated experience in requirements tracing, flow downs, and negotiations to ensure project alignment and success.
• Experience supporting Nuclear Emergency Support Team (NEST) assets is highly desired.
• Commitment to working in a mission-centered, operations-focused program.
• Familiarity with the NNSA Office of Defense Programs, NNSA Office of Counterterrorism and Counterproliferation, or DoD/EOD operations.

Strong knowledge of abnormal systems response, safety, and use control architecture of nuclear weapons.

The SNL Accident Response Group (ARG) and Legacy Hardware Laboratory (LHL) department provides alignment between the current enduring stockpile and the legacy stockpile of the past. We spearhead work authorized by the Office of Nuclear Incident Response (NA-84).

Our mission is to provide world-wide technical support to the DoD in resolving incidents and accidents involving U.S. nuclear weapon components in DoD custody at the time of the event. Additionally, the ARG provides technical management for the resolution of incidents and accidents involving U.S. nuclear weapons or associated components in DOE custody at the time of the event.

The Legacy Hardware Laboratory's (LHL's) mission is to provide a venue for conducting NW education and training. This is done in conjunction with Weapon Dismantlement and Disposition (WDD) operations. Acquiring, displaying, and managing key technologies is an important part of providing a quality experience for LHL visitors.

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.

Position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q security clearance to start, or equivalent active security clearance with another U.S. government agency (e.g., DOD). Sandia is required by DOE directive 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 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.

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.

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.