Cleared Senior​/Principal PRT Lead - W80-5 Systems Engineering Team, NM​/CA, Onsite

Overview

About Sandia

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation’s premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams focused on cutting-edge work. The organization emphasizes challenging work with impact, excellent facilities, career advancement opportunities, and flexible work arrangements where applicable.

We are seeking a Product Realization Team (PRT) Lead (job title: R&D Systems Engineer) for the W80-5 Enhanced Capability Shipping Configuration (ECSC). In this role, you will lead the realization of components critical to the fielding of the new W80-5 warhead. The ECSC consists of a weapon-agnostic subsystem integrated into the W80-5 shipping configuration to provide over-the-road security. You will partner with engineering and research teams across the Nuclear Security Enterprise to design, produce, test, and integrate these products into the broader W80-5 warhead design.

You will also work with production agencies and vendors, an operations center, multiple interfacing PRTs, the customer (NNSA), and end users (PANTEX and the Navy).

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

• Lead a PRT to field high-integrity products, meeting both technical and programmatic requirements
• Serve as a Subject Matter Expert in areas of design, production, or qualification of components
• Apply analytical thinking to resolve ambiguous, multi-disciplinary problems
• Leverage electrical, mechanical, process, test, and manufacturing engineering skills to identify robust solutions
• Develop innovative design concepts through requirements negotiation, trade studies, and virtual prototyping
• Mature designs to production-ready state through iterative design-build-test cycles with the production agency
• Define test activities that demonstrate robustness in various environments and assembly levels
• Advance new engineering processes to improve development efficiency
• Mentor and train less experienced engineers
• Estimate, negotiate, and manage project budgets and schedules using earned value management
• Present work to peers, customers, and management in formal and informal settings

This position offers substantial opportunities for training, technical mentorship, and cross-site collaboration within the Nuclear Security Enterprise.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite 100% of the time at either the Livermore, CA or Albuquerque, NM facility. The position requires travel up to 15% to support the mission.

$117,500 - $235,700

* Salary range is estimated and actual salary will be determined based on experience, qualifications, and geographic pay differentials.

• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and five (5) years of directly relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates ability to perform independent research and development.
• Active DOE Q-level security clearance or equivalent to start.

The ideal candidate will also possess the following:

• Graduate degree in Engineering or related field with independent research project (thesis/dissertation).
• Experience with Nuclear Security Enterprise laboratories and facilities (e.g., Pantex, KCNSC, LLNL, LANL, KCNSC/NMO).
• Experience in engineering design, qualification, production, or related modeling/simulation projects.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and ability to work in multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience in design, development, qualification, and production of Nuclear Deterrence components.
• Experience leading a multi-disciplinary product team.
• Experience developing or managing project budgets and schedules.
• Familiarity with CAD/Drafting and Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes for machined parts, electronics assemblies, cable assemblies, and robust packaging.
• Familiarity with materials characterization and qualification techniques.
• Excellent communication skills for clear written reports and briefings.
• Ability to collaborate with diverse teams across locations.
• Strong commitment to quality, safety, collaboration, and…