Senior​/Principal R&D Systems Engineer - Component and Material Evaluation, Onsite

Senior/Principal R&D Systems Engineer – Component and Material Evaluation, Onsite

We are seeking an R&D Systems Engineer for the Component and Material Evaluation (CME) team. In this role, you will join a dynamic team dedicated to addressing complex multidisciplinary issues that have a direct impact on national security. As an R&D Systems Engineer, you will have the unique opportunity to influence the future of our Nuclear Deterrence (ND) mission by supporting both stockpile weapons programs and weapon modernization initiatives.

• Plan and manage the execution of engineering programs for Sandia's customers and sponsors.
• Serve as the primary representative to customers and partners for ND modernization programs, negotiating, managing, and delivering all component evaluation scope for several technology families.
• Establish strong relationships with key influencers and collaborate with cross‑functional teams, including systems and component engineering teams, our Science and Technology (S&T) community, independent technical assessment partners, and production agencies.
• Identify defects and aging trends, understand performance margins, and make predictive assessments of weapon components and their materials through comprehensive component evaluation activities.
• Chair Stockpile Finding Investigations (SFIs) as a System Evaluation Engineer (SEE) to determine the root cause of anomalies discovered during component evaluations, assess their impact on the safety, security, and reliability of the stockpile, and guide discussions to ensure thorough understanding and resolution of issues.
• Engage in lifecycle management of evaluated components, focusing on key phases such as design, testing, and production.
• Identify and manage risks associated with component evaluations, employing strategies for risk assessment and mitigation.
• Document findings and recommendations, preparing reports that communicate complex technical information clearly and effectively to stakeholders.

Due to the nature of the work, the applicant must be able to work full‑time onsite in Albuquerque, NM, and be willing to travel up to 15% to various NNSA sites.

$117,500 – $235,700 (actual salary will be determined after consideration of the selected candidate's experience and qualifications and applicable geographic adjustments)

• A 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.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q Clearance and Sigma 15 access, which will require random polygraphs.

• Graduate degree in Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., 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 KCNSC/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.
• A degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field with a strong understanding of electrical design principles.
• Proven experience in systems engineering with a focus on component evaluation, including familiarity with circuit‑level design and component testing methodologies.
• Experience in managing engineering programs, including planning, execution, and documentation of findings and recommendations.
• Experience identifying, preventing, and mitigating technical product defects and risks.
• Strong analytical skills with experience in statistical analysis tools and methodologies for assessing component performance and reliability.
• Familiarity with conducting SFIs or similar investigations to determine root causes of anomalies and assess their impact on safety,…