Early Career R&D Mechanical Engineer - CAMINO Operations, 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 motivated and self-starting early career R&D Mechanical Engineer to work in the dynamic CAMINO Operations team (org. 7524). CAMINO is Sandia's new Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation, which aims to develop and utilize advanced manufacturing technologies to enable Sandia to realize products faster and in new ways. Many of these technologies currently exist at Sandia, but CAMINO is tasked with centralizing access to these capabilities and subject matter experts across the lab. The cross-functional team is currently establishing an offsite location, outside the base in Research Park, that houses a variety of advanced manufacturing technologies. The CAMINO Operations team will partner with various teams across Sandia and the broader NSE to develop solutions for mission teams to deliver critical products for National Security. Given the high pace of the project and its visibility, the team is seeking an individual who is passionate about our mission and committed to working in a strong team environment.

The goal of CAMINO is to build trust in new advanced manufacturing technologies, so your technical expertise and ability to communicate with customers will be central to the success of that goal. A strong understanding of Metal AM technology and design for additive manufacturing is highly desired for this position.

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

• Work collaboratively with PRTs and customers across the lab to provide advanced manufacturing expertise to those teams
• Select and procure equipment to meet the future demands of these customers
• Grow skills to become the subject matter expert in advanced manufacturing equipment (Laser Powder Bed Fusion, Directed Energy Deposition, Fused Filament Fabrication, CNC equipment, etc.) to produce one-off R&D components in a prototype environment.
• Design complex parts for customers and prepare them for manufacturing using Creo, SolidWorks, slicing software, and computer-aided manufacturing.
• Work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment by utilizing strong communication and teaming skills to ensure that deliverables are prioritized and executed correctly
• Perform analysis on parts and raw materials to ensure that processes are well understood and quality processes are maintained
• Analyze customer requirements and designs for manufacturability and provide feedback to PRTs to help them realize novel methods for fabrication
• Serve as a resource to team members to assess and improve design for manufacturability, manufacturing knowledge (use of software and hardware), and safe use of the equipment
• Enhance efficiency and improve operational excellence by participating in 5S (Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain) Lean Six Sigma activities
• Develop security plans, pressure safety data packages, and other documentation for equipment used for classified and unclassified work
• Stay current with cutting-edge manufacturing technologies to inform the CAMINO roadmap for future funding and procurement decisions

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 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 experience:

• Expertise with additive/subtractive manufacturing strategies and equipment
• Knowledge of inspection techniques and a deep understanding of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) to support quality assurance of advanced manufacturing operations
• Experience establishing new equipment and facility modifications to enable tool installations
• An embedded safety mindset applied every day to laboratory practices to execute work in a fast-paced environment
• Experience keeping detailed logbooks, documenting work and procedures
• Demonstrated organizational skills, including the ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment
• Familiarity with Sandias safety and security culture and with writing safety/security plans.
• Interest and willingness to collaborate with other members of the organization to gain new skills and teach acquired skills
• Ability to communicate complex technical topics to a variety of audiences with the stated goal of broadening access to advanced manufacturing at Sandia
• Capability to maintain a clean and well-organized workspace
• Able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-Level security clearance

Advanced Manufacturing (7520) will integrate, adapt, and grow Sandia National Laboratories (SNLs) new product realization capabilities to meet the evolving needs of SNL and the greater Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE). Department 7524 is the CAMINO operations team that performs R&D advanced manufacturing activities to support mission teams in the development of rapid products and new capabilities. We are a small team that partners with subject matter experts across the lab to provide customers with access to resources and equipment to realize new methods to deliver products for the NSE.

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 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.