Early Career AI Engineer - Embedded & FPGA Systems, 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 a motivated AI engineer to join Department 5328, Smart Electronics Software, in advancing the way high-TRL software is developed and deployed on mission-relevant electronics platforms. In this role, you will help pioneer the use of agentic coding workflows to accelerate the implementation, verification, and sustainment of robust software for embedded processors, real-time systems, and FPGA-based architectures.

You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team focused on bringing artificial intelligence and autonomy closer to the edge. This includes deploying AI algorithms onto constrained electronics platforms to enable real‑time autonomy, decision support, signal processing, and intelligent control in operational environments. The work will span concept development, rapid prototyping, hardware/software integration, testing, and transition to high-reliability applications.

This position is ideal if you enjoy working at the intersection of modern software engineering, embedded systems, FPGA development, artificial intelligence, and national security applications. You will have the opportunity to shape how next‑generation intelligent systems are developed and deployed on advanced electronics platforms.

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

Develop, test, and integrate high-TRL software for embedded, electronics, and FPGA platforms.

Apply agentic coding tools and AI‑assisted development methods to improve software productivity, quality, and maintainability.

Implement AI, machine learning, and autonomy algorithms for real‑time execution on resource‑constrained hardware.

Collaborate with electronics, firmware, software, systems, and mission‑domain experts to develop integrated solutions.

Optimize algorithms and software for performance, latency, power, memory, and reliability constraints.

Support hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing, embedded platform bring‑up, verification, validation, and fieldable prototype demonstrations.

Contribute to software architectures, development workflows, and best practices for trusted AI‑enabled embedded systems.

Explore emerging tools and methodologies for applying generative AI and autonomous coding agents to mission software development.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant will be required to work onsite. Relocation provided for those who qualify.

Applicants on this requisition may be interviewed by multiple organizations at Sandia National Laboratories.

Salary Range:

$102,400 - $199,700

* 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 or an equivalent combination of directly relevant education and engineering or scientific experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and ability…