Senior​/Principal, Chief Systems Engineer Hypersonic Programs - 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.

• 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 vacation, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

* These benefits vary by job classification.

Do you want to have significant impact on delivering Sandia‑designed hypersonic systems to the Nation? Few at Sandia Labs can influence all stages of system delivery from design to production and beyond.

We are looking for an experienced R&D S&E Systems Engineer to serve as the Chief Engineer for the 5428 Product Transition Department. You will be overseeing technical work for the team executing Sandia’s technology transfer mission for Integrated Military System Development, specifically focused on supporting Hypersonic programs.

This position requires a strong foundation in avionics/missile systems with deep understanding of both mechanical and electrical designs. Experience should emphasize design comprehension, system analysis, and testing at both the component and system levels. You will play a crucial role in leading design reviews and ensuring smooth technology transfer from Sandia designers to industry partner production teams. You will also help review the work of, and provide mentoring to Mechanical, Electrical, and Systems Engineers on the team.

• Oversee the work of and provide recommendations to other engineers as the senior engineer on the team
• Lead and Design for Excellence and Design for Manufacturability efforts, including influencing design engineers in the Center to include these considerations in their design work
• Work with project and program management teams to ensure plans include considerations for Design for Excellence and Parts, Materials, and Process requirements from the start of design efforts
• Work with project management teams to ensure design definition packages include all necessary information, including testing requirements and pass/fail criteria, applicable assembly procedures, and other information prescribed by program sponsors
• Review and approve proposed design changes, including consideration of system requirements and system architecture
• Ensure the team’s work is informed by and in compliance with system requirements
• Assist production agents (industry partners) by troubleshooting issues, conducting root‑cause analyses as needed, and identifying solutions to resolve production challenges
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to facilitate the transition of design packages from design to production
• Work effectively on both small and large development teams to achieve project goals

Due to the nature of the work, this candidate must be able to work onsite in Albuquerque, NM. Periodic travel to remote test sites or production facilities for integration, system test, and/or flight‑test support will be required, potentially as often as once every 1‑2 months.

$117,500 - $235,700

* 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.

• 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…