R&D Military Liaison Field Engineer

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 Military Liaison (ML) team is seeking an R&D Systems Engineer (Field Engineer). The ML team was established in 1947 by LANL's Z Division to promote communication and understanding between the Lab and military services who had operational responsibility for nuclear weapons. When SNL was formed in 1949, ML became an SNL function.

The Field Engineer serves as the operational interface between the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), NNSA laboratories, NNSA production agencies and the Department of Defense (DoD) for resolution of nuclear weapon technical issues encountered in the field.

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

• Research, plan, develop and execute activities associated with implementing new nuclear weapon related field equipment and operations.

• Elicit information from personnel with very different perspectives (weapon system project leads, NNSA program leads, DoD logistics leads, DoD and contractor personnel performing hands on nuclear weapons work) to develop solutions that can be successfully implemented in the field.

• Work closely with the Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) systems organizations, NNSA, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and the Air Force and Navy to coordinate resolution of Unsatisfactory Reports, enable stockpile and test and handling equipment improvements, and manage nuclear weapon material spares.

• Develop and execute nuclear weapons training for diverse audiences within the NNSA complex and the DoD.

• Develop and publish joint Department of Energy (DOE)/DoD procedures for maintaining nuclear weapons and associated hardware.

• Evaluate and coordinate appropriate disposition of non-conforming nuclear weapons parts.

• Collaborate with Accident Response Group (ARG) to develop technical basis for national level exercises and technical training activities.

• Travel is required to support both engineering and training activities.

• Sigma 15 access is also required and therefore, the field engineer may be subject to possible random polygraphs.

• A 10-15-minute technical presentation may be required during the interview process.

  Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant will be required to work onsite in Albuquerque, NM. Some travel is required for this position (up to 25%).

Qualifications We Require:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant STEM field, plus five (5) years of experience; OR equivalent experience within a Nuclear Weapons (NW) or Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) context that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform independent research and development (in lieu of degree).

• Knowledge of nuclear weapon design and production.

• Knowledge and experience in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) work.

• Current and active DOE Q-level security clearance or DoD Top Secret clearance, with the ability to obtain and maintain additional clearances (which may require a polygraph test).

Qualifications We Desire:

• Knowledge of and experience with NNSA and SNL Realization policies and procedures.

• Experience with DoD nuclear weapon maintenance operations and delivery platforms.

• Knowledge of and experience with the development, qualification, and/or use of nuclear weapons test and handling equipment.

• Knowledge of and experience with the Joint Nuclear Weapons Publication System (JNWPS).

• Experience in providing nuclear weapons technical briefings to a broad set of audiences.

• Experience with DoD nuclear weapon maintenance and logistics operations.

• Experience as a technical team and/or project leader.

• Knowledge of and experience with Spares management tools, procedures and activities.

• Technical knowledge of the enduring stockpile.

• Basic Nuclear Physics background and/or knowledge sufficient to instruct on the topic.

• Knowledge of and experience with the development, qualification and use of nuclear weapons Use Control and permissive action link equipment.

• Demonstrated teaming skills and the ability to work well with diverse individuals and teams.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

About Our Team:

The Military Liaison (ML) function was established in 1947 by LANL's Z Division to promote communication and understanding between the Lab and military services who had operational responsibility for nuclear weapons. When SNL was formed in 1949, ML became an SNL function. Today, ML serves as the operational interface between the NNSA Weapon Complex and the military services for stockpiled nuclear weapons. ML supports the military services as well as other government agencies, such as the DTRA and carries out several tasks under the authority of DOE:

• Field engineering includes anomaly resolution, field retrofit and repair, product realization team involvement, spares analysis and Joint Nuclear Weapons Publication System (JNWPS) development for war reserve weapons, TYPE trainers, and ancillary gear.

• ML provides a variety of nuclear weapon training activities tailored to diverse organizations across the Nuclear Security Enterprise and DoD installations.

• ML JNWPS team maintains over 140 JNWPS publications used by operational and maintenance personnel throughout the complex to support the nuclear weapons stockpile and acts as the single point of distribution for DoD weapon platform technical orders.

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.

Position Information:

This Limited Term Employee (LTE) position is a temporary position for one year term, which may be renewed at Sandia's discretion up to a maximum of seven years.

Individuals in LTE positions may bid on regular Sandia positions as internal candidates, and in some cases may be converted to regular career positions during their term if warranted by ongoing operational needs, continuing availability of funds, and satisfactory job performance.

Job ID: 691875