Access Existing Account/Create New Account

Senior/Principal JTA Product Realization Team (PRT) Lead - Weapon System Engineer, Onsite

Albuquerque, NM

Job ID: 694173

Apply Now

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:

We are seeking a highly motivated Systems Engineer to lead the W76-1/W76-2 Joint Test Assembly (JTA) Weapon System Team. Our team executes design, development, and qualification of the new instrumented JTA flight test body for the W76-1/W76-2 weapon systems. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to participate in a range of engineering projects including designing systems and components, designing test configurations, test planning and coordination, system integration, production planning and support, modeling and simulation, large-scale system tests, and providing occasional support to stockpile activities. This position requires close coordination with the internal Sandia teams supporting the JTA development and test activities, as well as strong interfacing with our external partners at Los Alamos National Labs, KCNSC, Pantex, NNSA, and the Navy.

The successful candidate will become intimately familiar with the detailed function of W76-1/-2 nuclear weapon components, subsystems, and systems, and gain a breadth of knowledge across all phases of the product realization lifecycle from concept exploration, design, development, qualification, production, sustainment, to retirement. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to exercise investigative freedom in engaging the broad Nuclear Weapons community.

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

  • Serve as the SNL system integrator to negotiate and communicate information between SNL and external partners.

  • Partner together with the JTA3 Technical Integration Lead to define and execute the project.

  • Present technical and programmatic updates to SNL leadership and external partners.

  • Provide leadership to help resolve technical trades and to ensure continual progress of the project.

  • Coordinate with project management personnel to develop schedules, budgets, and project plans.

  • Partner with peer stakeholder leaders to negotiate requirements, deliverables, and risks.

  • Help manage the roles, responsibilities, and deliverables of the technical team.

  • Coordinate with team members to define, plan, and execute test activities.

  • Develop and maintain appropriate top-level documentation for the project and support document definition and release.

  • Communicate status, issues, and concerns to various levels of management.

  • Lead research and development conceptual system trade studies.

  • Use systems engineering principles to research, design, and develop experiments, processes, and technologies.

  • Lead anomaly resolution teams through root cause analysis and trade space options to champion a path forward.

  • Provide data analysis and reports with the objective of tracing to requirements.

    Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite in Albuquerque, New Mexico and travel occasionally (up to 25% of the time).

Salary Range:

$109,300 - $217,400

*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:

  • Master’s degree in Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or a relevant STEM field, plus one (1) year of experience; OR Bachelor’s degree in stated field, plus five (5) years of experience.

  • Active DOE Q clearance (or DOD Top Secret clearance), with ability to participate, as requested, in random polygraph testing.

Qualifications We Desire:

  • Self-motivated, positive individual comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.

  • Ability to integrate into and work effectively across multiple technical teams and with management.

  • Experience using engineering principles to conduct trade studies to identify system solutions.

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare and deliver presentations to customers and various levels of management.

  • Experience with test instrumentation, test plans, defining test objectives and methods.

  • Experience building test bodies and/or familiarity with creating procedures for building test artifacts.

  • Familiarity with test facilities around SNL (i.e., Shock/Vibe Lab, etc.) and experience coordinating with them.

  • Previous experience working on a JTA development program.

  • Knowledge and understanding of Nuclear Weapon Systems.

  • Familiarity with SNL drawing and authorization system, product development and qualification, testing and evaluation, modeling, and simulation.

  • Experience working with the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), DOD customers, DOD contractors, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC), and Pantex.

About Our Team:

Department 2222 has responsibility for the W76-1/2 nuclear weapon stockpile and suite of activities. In addition to established stockpile work there are a multitude of development and qualification projects pertaining to the W76-1, including the JTA3, Mk4B, ALT939 ISA program, and D5LE2 compatibility program. Production activities in several areas continue at KCNSC and require frequent communication. Additionally, 2222 leads the development of testers and partners with the operational activities for hardware management and engineering leadership for all W76-1/2 test body assembly and disassembly activities. Our department is also the interface with test and computational simulation organizations to manage schedule and budget associated with qualification.

Our team is committed to nurturing a culture compatible with a broad group of people and perspectives in accordance with the changing makeup of the workforce. In support of this vision, our center actively recruits applicants from diverse groups of backgrounds and fosters an inclusive community.

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: 694173

Job Family: RD

Regular/Temporary Position: R

Full/Part-Time Status: F

Apply Now

Benefits

  • Worklife Balance
  • Flexible Work Schedules
  • Generous Paid Time Off
  • Exceptional 401K Savings Plan
  • Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
  • Wellness Programs
  • On-site Amenities
  • Vacation Buy Plan
  • Telecommuting Arrangements*

*with management approval

Life in New Mexico

  • Affordable housing, reasonable cost of living
  • Minimal traffic congestion compared to larger cities
  • Outdoor recreation - Ski, snowboard, hike, etc.
  • Experience rich culture and history
  • International Balloon Fiesta
  • Green chile – NM Cuisine
  • Museums, Parks, Sports

Learn more about Life in Albuquerque, New Mexico

RESUME / APPLICATION BEST PRACTICES

  • At Sandia, recruiters manually review resumes on each job posting instead of using a resume screening software program
  • Review the Sandia Resume Writing Best Practices Sheet before beginning your application
  • By following the best practices outlined, this ensures that recruiters can accurately determine your qualifications for the position