Cleared_R&D Manager - Systems Assurance and Quality Integration_Onsite
Sandia National Laboratories
Albuquerque, USA
Job posting number: #7308306 (Ref:Sa695364)
Posted: May 15, 2025
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 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.
What Your Job Will Be Like:
We are seeking a manager to lead our Systems Assurance Department (6763). The Center¿s projects and programs primarily encompass the U.S. Nuclear Detonation Detection System¿s Global Burst Detector (GBD) space payload and the Office of Secure Transportation-sponsored Mobile Guardian Transporter (MGT) project.
In this role, you will provide critical systems engineering support to develop and implement innovative strategies that guide teams through the entire product lifecycle, from Research and Design to Development, Testing, and Qualification. Additionally, you will oversee the definition, implementation, and maintenance of Quality Management Systems (QMSs) to ensure our engineering processes meet the highest standards.
On any given day, you may be called upon to:
- Lead and manage team members, including hiring, professional development, and performance management to foster a culture of innovation and excellence.
- Engage in technical discussions to define design contributions necessary for successful product development, including requirements engineering, verification and validation (V&V), risk analysis, and technical documentation.
- Lead the development and design of test plans, equipment, and laboratories to support multi-mission programs within the center.
- Analyze technical design elements of major R&D programs, applying critical thinking to assess and mitigate risks, ensuring the development of safe, reliable, and robust products.
- Drive innovative research initiatives that explore and integrate new technologies and methodologies, while leading continuous improvement efforts to ensure alignment with project goals and compliance with quality standards.
- Partner with cross functional R&D teams to drive innovative product development, ensuring that quality assurance practices are integrated from the early stages, while also serving as quality¿s management representative to meet customer cost, schedule, performance, and quality requirements.
- Ensure the center achieves and maintains external quality certifications, such as AS9100 and ISO9001.
- Lead Lean Six Sigma practices for laboratory spaces utilized across the center to enhance quality management system (QMS) activities.
- Conduct cost/benefit analyses for standardizing Quality practices, processes, and tools, across center programs.
- Recruit additional personnel as needed or coordinate with current staff to address the evolving quality and R&D capability needs of the center.
- Collaborate with the center management team on operational activities, including strategic planning initiatives.
Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite. Some teleworking options are available based on business needs. Occasional travel will also be required.
Salary Range:
$157,100 - $267,000
*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:
- A bachelor¿s degree in a relevant discipline and eight (8) 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 or DOD TS security clearance, with the ability to obtain and maintain an SCI clearance.
Qualifications We Desire:
The ideal R&D Manager candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:
- Two or more years of demonstrated leadership experience.
- A graduate degree in science or engineering (MS or Ph.D.).
- Outstanding interpersonal skills in developing trusting relationships with peers, staff, management, customers, and stakeholders.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in the development and delivery of presentations, proposals, reports and documentation.
Also, for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience:
- Demonstrated expertise in navigating complex systems engineering challenges and effectively leading teams to successful resolutions.
- Experience in complex aerospace design and production processes.
- In-depth knowledge of Nuclear Deterrence design and production processes.
- Demonstrated success in managing large multi-organizational projects.
- Strong understanding of project and configuration management processes and methodologies.
- Proven ability to mentor team members and develop team members, guiding them in project tasks while aligning with the center's overall goals and objectives.
- Experience managing high-rigor Quality programs that enhance and support research and development work within the development.
- Experience meeting ISO 9001, DOE O 414, or AS9100D Quality requirements.
About Our Team:
The Monitoring Systems & Technology (MST) Systems Assurance Department leads innovation and R&D for Center 6700, specializing in definition, implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of technical systems and processes. Our focus is on product development for initiatives like the Global Burst Detector (GBD) and Mobile Guardian Transporter (MGT).
We work closely with technical project teams, partners, and stakeholders to meet customer requirements for cost, schedule, performance, and quality. Committed to fostering innovation, we conduct evaluations that prioritize innovative approaches, integrate technical solutions into ongoing projects, and participate in risk and root cause analyses to drive improvements.
Quality management is an essential component to our work. We ensure compliance with program procedures and quality standards, document lessons learned, and implement best practices for future activities. Additionally, we apply Lean Six Sigma principles to optimize laboratory spaces across the Center, enhancing operational efficiency.
By focusing on technical excellence and R&D, the MST Systems Assurance Department is vital to advancing the Center's mission and delivering successful project and program outcomes.
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:
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.
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: 695364
Job Family: RD
Regular/Temporary Position: R
Full/Part-Time Status: F
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.