Cleared Senior​/Principal R&D Mechanical Engineer - Design Lead, Onsite

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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:

We are seeking highly independent, self-motivated R&D Mechanical Engineers to join Sandia National Laboratories in pivotal design leadership roles supporting the newly authorized Hardened Deeply Buried Targets (HDBT) Program of Record. These positions offer the opportunity to shape the future of a new, quick-moving, and highly visible program.

On any given day you may be called on to:

Lead the mechanical design and development of mounts and structural components, ensuring alignment with program requirements and technical standards.

Perform detailed Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and other simulations to validate design integrity under operational conditions.

Collaborate with systems engineers, electrical engineers, materials scientists, and manufacturing teams to integrate mechanical designs into larger systems.

Oversee prototype fabrication, testing, and validation activities, analyzing results to drive design improvements.

Prepare technical reports, presentations, and documentation for internal and external stakeholders.

This position will require some travel as needed. Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.

Salary Range:

$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.

Qualifications We Require:

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.

Active DOE Q Clearance or equivalent to start .

Qualifications We Desire:

The ideal R&D Mechanical Engineer candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

Graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).

Experience with mechanical engineering and product realization in the NNSA complex.

Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.

Direct experience working on or with a Weapon Systems team

Also, for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience:

Extensive experience in mechanical design and analysis, particularly with mounts, fixtures, or structural components.

Proficiency with CAD software (e.g. CREO, Solid Works, CATIA, NX) for detailed mechanical design.

Strong background in Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and structural simulation tools.

Experience with materials selection and understanding of mechanical properties relevant to mount design.

Knowledge of manufacturing processes and design for manufacturability (DFM).

Familiarity with vibration, shock, and thermal analysis related to mount and structural design.

Experience with prototype development, testing, and validation of mechanical systems.

Understanding of systems engineering principles and integration of mechanical components into larger systems.

About Our Team:

Our team leads the…