Senior​/Principal Electromechanical Technologist - Atmospheric Sciences, Onsite

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.

Are you motivated by hands‑on technical work that directly supports national security and atmospheric science? Do you value teamwork, adaptability, and seeing complex systems operate in real‑world environments? We are seeking an Electromechanical Technologist to support atmospheric science field experiments using large, tethered aerostat systems.

This position supports a mission‑critical, multidisciplinary research program conducting field‑based experiments for science and national security related applications. The selected candidate will work closely with scientists, engineers, and technologists to design, integrate, test, deploy, and operate scientific instrumentation and tethered balloon flight systems in both laboratory and field environments. The work is hands‑on, often time‑sensitive, and conducted in environments that demand strong attention to safety, procedures, and teamwork.

Field Deployments and Travel Requirements:
This position requires regular and extended travel—up to 16 weeks per year—to support atmospheric field campaigns at varied locations. Deployments involve extended workdays for 14+ day long periods, physically demanding outdoor activities, and operations in challenging environmental conditions, including extreme heat or cold. Candidates must be willing and able to participate fully in all phases of field deployment, including preparation, execution, and demobilization.

Field operations may involve non‑standard work hours and sustained effort during deployment periods.

This role supports the full lifecycle of field experiments. The selected candidate will be expected to contribute across multiple technical domains and adapt to evolving mission needs.

• Develop and integrate electrical systems for airborne miniaturized scientific instrumentation, including pumps, heaters, and microcontroller‑based systems
• Support the operation of tethered balloon systems and associated instrumentation during field deployments
• Design, test, and troubleshoot winch system components, including motor controllers, electronic brakes, and DC motors
• Size, specify, and maintain lithium battery systems for airborne and ground‑based equipment
• Fabricate and assemble cabling for AC and DC power systems; solder electronic components
• Evaluate performance of airborne lighting, communications, and scientific payloads
• Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot optical, RF, and electrical systems in laboratory and field environments
• Rapidly prototype and implement solutions to operational and integration challenges
• Fabricate instruments, tools, and systems for use in field operations with the balloon system
• Participate in mission planning, logistics coordination, and field site preparation
• Adapt to changing priorities while maintaining a safety‑focused, solution‑oriented approach
• Follow stringent Environmental, Safety and Health protocols, including aviation safety per FAA requirements

Due to the nature of the work, the selected candidate must be able to work onsite.

$74,700 - $144,400 (estimated; 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 Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, or another relevant technical field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience with MATLAB, LabVIEW, Python, Solid Works, ANSYS, or similar engineering software
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 16 weeks per year for field deployments, including driving with trailers to transport mission‑critical equipment
• Willingness and ability to work in extreme outdoor conditions for field deployments
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q‑level security clearance

• Strong understanding of mechanical drawings and/or…