Job Description

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 vacations, 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 W87-1 Systems team is at the forefront of a program to modernize the W87-1, a replacement for the W78 warhead. Plans call for fielding the W87-1 on the new United States Air Force (USAF) Sentinel missile within the Mk21A reentry vehicle (RV), two major USAF acquisition programs in concurrent development with the W87-1 Modernization Program. The program is currently in Phase 6.3, Development Engineering, with a heavy emphasis on product development activities and test activities.

We are seeking a W87-1 Systems Design Lead (Job Title: R&D S&E Systems Engineer) to join our team at either the Sandia National Laboratories California or New Mexico site to lead the systems development lifecycle for the W87-1 Program. The Systems Design Lead is responsible for the technical execution of the W87-1 War Reserve (WR) design and integration with internal and external partners across the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) in all its configurations, ensuring that all products align with the War Reserve design. The Design Lead partners closely with the Program Chief Engineer (PCE). This position is located at either our Livermore, CA or Albuquerque, NM location.

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

• Lead technical meetings with the PCE.
• Represent Sandia in effective partnerships with the Department of Defense (DoD), National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), and other stakeholders to collaboratively negotiate and implement source requirements.
• Partner closely with LLNL and production agencies and manage critical program developments and operate in a dynamic environment.
• Ensure integration and representation of the WR design across all variants and auxiliary interfaces in design, test, qualification, and surveillance.
• Develop effective partnerships within Systems, Component Product Realization Teams (PRTs) and other groups within Sandia to meet key program deliverables and milestones.
• Represent technical authority while collaborating with multi-site team leads to develop balanced technical and programmatic decisions.
• Assure technical rigor of system design and qualification approaches, while balancing technical basis in a resource constrained environment.
• Develop, prioritize, mitigate, and track critical knowledge gaps and associated risks and issues.
• Partner with internal and external technical subject matter experts to conduct peer reviews.
• Partner closely with the W87-1 management team to promote effective communication, balancing of technical and programmatic priorities and decisions.
• Provide staff with mentorship and development opportunities.

You will be responsible for:

• Providing technical leadership for the W87-1 schedule re-baseline.
• Authoring the Preliminary Weapon Development Report.
• Execution of the W87-1 Systems Baseline Design Review.
• Execution of the Preliminary Design Review and Acceptance Group.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant will be required to work onsite in Livermore, CA or Albuquerque, NM. Travel is required for this position up to 25% for those living in Livermore, CA, and up to 50% for those living in Albuquerque, NM.

Salary Range:

$178,300 - $302,900

*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:

• PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related STEM field, plus (4) four years of experience; OR Master’s degree in stated field, plus (8) eight years of experience; OR Bachelor’s degree in stated field, plus (12) twelve years of experience.
• Active DOE Q clearance or equivalent (DoD Top Secret clearance).
• Proven ability to lead large, cross-organization, multidisciplinary teams.
• Academic or job experiences in areas such as: engineering design, qualification, production, or related modeling/simulation projects.

Qualifications We Desire:

• Minimum of 7 years of experience working with a nuclear weapons (NW) Systems Engineering on a life extension program (LEP), modification (MOD), Stockpile System or related NW modernization program.
• Experience with Phase 6.X NSE program execution.
• Experience in Phase 6.3 and 6.4 on an LEP, Mod, or related NW modernization program.
• Experience in product realization within the NSE.
• Experience working with NSE production agencies and external customers, including the DoD.
• Outstanding verbal, written, and organizational skills, including the ability to build and present briefings that are clear and compelling.
• Ability to take initiative and make decisions effectively in an ambiguous environment, develop clear plans and be accountable for the team’s execution.
• Ability to maintain a constructive and agile approach in a dynamic environment.
• Experience operating within the surety disciplines.
• Understanding of requirements and program management tools, including ARM, P6, DOORS, and digital engineering tools.
• Demonstrate commitment to team and in-person engagements.
• Demonstrate commitment to value diversity and inclusion among the workforce.

About Our Team:

The W87-1 Systems team is responsible for designing and qualifying the W87-1 warhead as well as working with the Sentinel Missile System Project Officer to integrate the warhead with the missile. The team comprises advanced-degree technical staff with backgrounds in electrical, mechanical, and systems engineering. Additionally, the team includes core partners in project management, reliability, quality, nuclear safety, surveillance, engineering sciences, and material sciences. The W87-1 Systems team collaborates closely with LLNL as design agencies for the program. The Systems team also participates in multiple subgroups supporting the USAF Project Officers Group.

The W87-1 Systems Engineering departments at SNL/CA and SNL/NM are jointly responsible for the W87-1 Modification Program. These departments are part of the Weapon Systems Engineering Centers, which are responsible for assuring the safety, reliability and security of U.S. nuclear weapons that enable the defense of our nation through nuclear strategic deterrent. The W87-1 program restarted in Q1FY19 in Phase 6.2 after a four-year pause, and Sandia is actively building the team to successfully execute the program.

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:

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.

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: 694514

Job Family: RD

Regular/Temporary Position: R

Full/Part-Time Status: F