Cleared_Distinguished R&D Mechanical Engineer, W93 Systems Design, 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. 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 vacation, 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://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..gov

* These benefits vary by job classification.

What Your Job Will Be Like:

Join our mission-driven team as an R&D Mechanical Engineer leading the mechanical design of the W93-0/Mk7 weapon system. In this critical and highly visible role, you will apply your technical expertise and strategic leadership to shape advanced weapon system architectures, drive cross-team collaboration, and serve as a trusted advisor to executive management. You will balance hands-on mechanical design with decision-making authority over cost, schedule, and performance, ensuring alignment with program goals and national security objectives.

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

+  Lead the mechanical design efforts for the W93 system, including developing mechanical layouts that define the position, size, and location of major components and subassemblies within the reentry body.

+  Collaborate closely with external partners such as Lockheed Martin and Los Alamos National Laboratory to negotiate requirements, define interfaces, and ensure manufacturability and interface compliance.

+  Coordinate with internal teams and specialized subgroups responsible for ancillary parts (e.g., brackets, pads), working alongside electrical engineering leads to ensure seamless physical integration.

+  Use tools like Creo and Solid Works to model concepts and communicate design intent effectively, supporting configuration management workflows with PDMLink to maintain design integrity.

+  Manage system-level risk assessment and lead cross-team coordination to drive initiatives and meet program objectives.

+  Present designs and participate in design reviews with both internal teams and external partners, advocating for sound engineering decisions and system-level thinking.

+  Serve as a recognized technical resource and consultant to executive management, providing expert guidance on mechanical design strategies and system integration approaches that impact long-term program success and national security objectives.  

+  Exercise decision-making authority within organizational parameters related to cost, schedule, and performance for mechanical design activities, ensuring alignment with program goals and resource constraints.  

+  Provide strategic recommendations to executive leadership on long-term issues affecting the W93 program and broader Sandia initiatives, including risk mitigation, technology development, and cross-organizational collaboration.  

This role requires strong leadership skills to drive initiatives, manage cross-team coordination, and balance hands-on mechanical design with strategic systems engineering. Due to the sensitive nature of the work, the selected candidate must be able to work onsite.

Salary Range:

$163,700 - $278,000

* 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:

+  A bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, plus twelve (12) years of directly relevant experience, or an equivalent…