Senior/Principal R&D Mechanical Engineer - Lead Mechanical Testing for Critical Defense Programs, 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.

Are you passionate about engineering and eager to join a dynamic team tackling complex challenges? If so, you could be the highly motivated R&D Mechanical Engineer we are looking for to support the W93/Mk7 program! We are seeking a Mechanical Evaluation and Qualification Test Engineer to lead and execute the mechanical systems testing for both the W93/Mk7 and the UK Replacement Warhead Program.

In this role, you will be involved in all phases of the project lifecycle, from planning and execution to testing, evaluation, and reporting. As a successful candidate, you will become an integral part of our mission-driven team, collaborating closely across the W93 systems team, internal organizations (such as test facilities, experimentalists, analysts, etc.), external design agencies, and various customers and stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Engage technically with partnering design agencies to define program test objectives, utilizing modeling, simulation, and physical testing to ensure these objectives are achieved.
• Collaborate programmatically with customers and stakeholders to manage commitments between agencies regarding evaluation and qualification efforts.
• Coordinate logistics and testing facilities for scheduling, hardware delivery, and on-site operations.

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

• Serve as the primary interface between Sandia, Lockheed Martin Space, and Los Alamos National Laboratory for the planning and executing mechanical environment testing, including both ground and flight configurations.
• Lead the development of mechanical test unit concepts, architectures, and physical layouts, including the definition of test hardware pedigree.
• Support design activities of ground and flight test bodies.
• Design fixtures necessary to configure test units during mechanical testing.
• Conduct trade studies balancing performance, costs, risks, materials, functionalities, and technology maturation.
• Develop specifications and documentation for dynamic testing and modeling strategies, laboratory and field test activities, test and analysis plan preparation, execution, and data analysis.
• Collaborate with experts in structural dynamics, modal analysis and shock and vibration testing within Sandia and partner agencies to support of the mechanical evaluation and qualification program.
• Contribute to the development of the W93 mechanical qualification plan.
• Prepare presentations and supporting documentation for technical reviews.
• Represent the program in regular collaborations with partners at Sandia, Los Alamos National Laboratories, Lockheed Martin Space, Applied Physics Lab, Navy Strategic Programs, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the Atomic Weapons Establishment, and the UK Ministry of Defense.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite. This role will require travel to testing locations, as needed.

$114,000 - $227,500

*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.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance

The ideal R&D 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:

• Active DOE Q Clearance
• Prior experience supporting nuclear deterrent (ND) programs, with a background in the design, development, or production of nuclear weapon (NW) components or systems.
• Proficiency in using accelerometers, strain gauges, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems.
• Knowledge of dynamic effects testing facilities and their associated equipment.
• Experience with shock response spectra, power spectral densities, and signal processing techniques.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, demonstrating initiative and leadership qualities.
• Proven capability to plan and execute technical projects while effectively navigating constraints and trade-offs.
• Ability to manage testing interfaces and negotiate competing requirements to achieve optimal system-level outcomes.
• Strong dedication to operational safety, security, and maintaining high-quality standards.

The W93 System Evaluation and Qualification Department (02396) has the primary responsibility to plan and coordinate evaluation activities for the W93/Mk7 Navy Strategic Reentry System Program. These activities involve modeling, simulation, and physical ground testing, in support of the maturation and ultimate qualification of the W93/Mk7 reentry body system design. We work closely with our partners and program stakeholders, including NNSA Federal Program Managers, the US Navy, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Los Alamos National Lab, the Sandia nuclear weapons component organizations, the Sandia science & technology community, Kansas City Plant National Security Campus (NSC), the UK Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), and many others, to coordinate expertise and foster innovation in efforts to characterize the weapon system. The department sets and executes the strategic plan with our partners to evaluate the reentry system in an effective and efficient manner to achieve the overall program testing objectives.

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.

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 L-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 the 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.