Cleared Senior/Principal Systems Engineer - Stockpile Surveillance Assessment, Onsite

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We are seeking a dedicated R&D Systems Engineer with nuclear weapons experience to play a crucial role in assessing both planned and realized test programs as they pertain to the evaluation of the US nuclear deterrent. In this position, you will analyze the surveillance activities and data used to inform on the safety, security and reliability of our stockpile systems, and collaborate across multiple engineering domains.

You will partner with Assessment Teams, Stockpile Finding Investigation committees, Weapon System and Component teams, and Red Teams, to perform comprehensive analyses that support stockpile sustainment and development activities, such as the State of the Stockpile and Annual Assessments. Your ability to communicate assessment findings effectively will be vital, as you will prepare technical reports and presentations for a diverse audience, ranging from staff engineers to executive leadership. Your contributions will directly inform risk-informed decision-making processes that impact the future of the nuclear deterrence.

On any given day you may be called on to:

• Independently review detailed technical documents to identify key issues.
• Collaborate with weapon system, component design, surveillance, and other surety organizations.
• Stay informed about issues related to the design, development, production, maintenance, and dismantlement issues related to weapon systems.
• Assess tests, materials, and components for compliance with requirements.
• Evaluate procedures, product specifications, and standards for adherence to compliance.
• Support Stockpile Finding Investigation (SFI) teams in understanding root causes and analyzing the implications of potential defects.
• Lead independent assessments of testing and surveillance of nuclear weapon systems and components.
• Define problem scope and requirements, develop technical approaches, and apply quantitative and qualitative methods (e.g., fault-tree analysis, FMEA, margin quantification).
• Collaborate with system and test engineers to verify compliance with requirements.
• Develop analytical frameworks and digital models to facilitate risk-informed decision-making.
• Enhance surveillance assessment program guidance, processes, metrics, and information management tools.
• Mentor junior engineers in surveillance techniques and review their deliverables for technical accuracy.
• Communicate findings through technical reports and executive-level briefs that inform leadership decisions and stockpile assessment reviews.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite. Occasional travel will be required to locations such as Amarillo TX, Livermore CA, and Kansas City MO.

$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.

• 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.
• Active DOE Q-level security clearance required to start.

The ideal Systems Engineer candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

• Graduate degree in Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Experience working with Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) laboratories and plants including Pantex, Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC), Lawrence Livermore Laboratory (LLNL) and Kansas City National Security Campus/New Mexico Operations (KCNSC/NMO).
• Experience working on engineering design, qualification, production, or related modeling/simulation projects.
• 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:

• Demonstrated experience in engineering design, qualification, production, and testing, particularly in nuclear or high-consequence weapons systems.
• Proficiency in root cause analysis methods, including fault-tree analysis, failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA), and margin quantification.
• Experience applying system-of-systems thinking to ensure integration and end-to-end functionality of complex systems.
• Proven ability to lead complex technical projects on schedule, mentor team members, and deliver high-quality products in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Strong understanding of nuclear surety, reliability requirements, safety standards, and related DOE orders for complex systems.
• Familiarity with the Sandia National Labs (SNL) nuclear weapon product realization process, including developing and executing testing and evaluation of performance requirements or materials.
• Background in reliability engineering and advanced margin-quantification frameworks.
• Leadership experience as a project manager, technical lead, principal investigator, or similar role, with excellent technical writing and executive presentation skills.
• Demonstrated strong multidisciplinary problem-solving skills.
• Critical thinker with the ability to navigate complex relationships and communicate technical information effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.

The Surveillance Assessment department is dedicated to ensuring the integrity of data collected for evaluating the health of the nuclear weapons stockpile. Our mission includes providing independent assessments of the effectiveness of the weapons test program throughout its life cycle and ensuring that accurate information is available for stockpile surety assessments, both now and in the future. This information is critical for informing the decisions of the Sandia nuclear deterrence community and management, including annual direct reporting to the Lab Director.

We collaborate with design, surveillance, and assessment organizations to plan and implement surveillance testing and data analysis, as well as to evaluate and resolve stockpile anomalies. Our team conducts analyses and special studies that address assessment requirements and evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the surveillance program across the entire design-to-retirement life cycle of a weapon.

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.

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.

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.