Early Career R&D Mechanical Engineer - Weapon Compatibility, Hybrid

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.

Are you passionate about mechanical engineering and eager to contribute to critical weapon compatibility efforts within a dynamic and collaborative environment? Join our mechanical engineering team composed of highly experienced subject matter experts who are dedicated to innovation and excellence.

This role offers a unique opportunity to advance your career by gaining hands-on experience in state-of-the-art laboratory settings while expanding your technical expertise in weapon system compatibility. As a key member of the team, you will work closely with senior staff, taking ownership of important technical tasks such as test plan development, lab testing and analytical tool code development, making meaningful contributions to the teams success.

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

• Define and Document Technical Strategies - Develop and document comprehensive technical strategies to ensure weapon system compatibility with delivery platforms. This includes applying Test, Demonstration, Inspection, and Analysis methodologies, with a focus on data acquisition, aeroscience, and thermal analysis techniques.
• Collaborate Across Organizations -Work closely with multiple weapon systems organizations to maintain traceability to overarching systems engineering efforts, such as weapon qualification and certification.
• Lead Hands-On Tests - Design, execute, and close local mechanical test campaigns in the laboratory environment, including vibration and thermal testing.
• Expand the Knowledge Base - Contribute to Sandia's Compatibility Engineering knowledge base by developing and maintaining formal training materials, coordinating lab tours and workshops for partners across the NSE, and staying current with novel tools and engineering practices to enhance test and analysis methods.

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

$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.

• A 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.

The ideal R&D Mechanical Compatibility Engineer candidate 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:

• Proven experience working as part of a Weapon System Team.
• Experience working directly with the Department of Defense.
• Demonstrated knowledge of systems engineering tools, techniques, and managementincluding familiarity with configuration management concepts and systems (e.g., PDMLink, PRIME).
• Experience with Project Management.
• Hands-on experience designing and conducting local mechanical or thermal tests.
• Hands-on experience with data acquisition hardware/software, aero-science analyses (e.g., aerodynamic load assessment, CFD), and thermal analysis methods (steady-state, transient, coupled fluid-structure).
• Collaborative problem-solving mindset with the ability to influence and work through others in a team setting.

The Aircraft Compatibility organization's role is critical to maintaining the viability, technical confidence, and operational readiness of the US nuclear weapons stockpile. The Aircraft Compatibility team establishes and maintains compatibility of nuclear weapons with their delivery platforms, enabling weapon reliability calculations. This team works with military engineering and operational organizations, aircraft contractors, and Sandia's weapon systems departments in the design and certification of the aircraft/weapon interface.

We oversee the laboratory and flight testing of their assigned weapon systems, including evaluating data, investigating anomalies, and reporting results. Personnel use a variety of engineering tools that represent electrical and functional characteristics of a war reserve weapon. The project is a continuing process of certification and recertification of aircraft nuclear weapon system compatibility.

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.

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.

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.

If offered the position, you may be required to demonstrate your fitness to perform certain physical aspects of the position, including lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling.