Senior​/Principal Controls Engineer - Hypersonic Flight Systems, Onsite

Senior/Principal Controls Engineer – Hypersonic Flight Systems (Onsite)

Sandia National Laboratories is a leading science and engineering laboratory focusing on national security and advanced technology. The Navigation Guidance and Control (NGC) II Department seeks an experienced Controls Engineer to contribute to hypersonic flight system research and development in Washington, D.C.

• Interface directly with program sponsors and collaborators to provide hypersonic controls expertise.
• Lead GN&C subsystem design, build, and test to support flight test programs.
• Apply control theory and analysis to enhance experimental hypersonic flight systems.
• Design and implement control algorithms ensuring optimal performance and reliability.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to ensure successful integration of GN&C technologies.
• Prepare technical documentation, reports, and compelling proposals for control research initiatives.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to team members, fostering professional growth.
• Engage in collaborative research with universities and publish findings at conferences and customer meetings.

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline and five (5) years of directly relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• Active DOE Q‑level (or a comparable DOD equivalent) security clearance.

• Graduate degree in Engineering or a related field with an independent research project.
• Experience with classical, modern, or robust control.
• Proven project planning, execution, and design experience in R&D.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, and a passion for technical excellence.
• Master’s or Ph.D. in Control Engineering, Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical, or a related field with at least 10 years of experience.
• Experience with hypersonic flight systems, flight testing, and real‑time embedded hardware/software.
• Proficiency with MATLAB & Simulink, Python, C/C++, and Julia.
• Experience with AI/ML, optimization techniques, embedded software development, and testing.
• Strong writing and oratory skills and a record of leading R&D research initiatives.

Requires a DOE Q‑level security clearance to begin work, or an equivalent active security clearance. Retention of clearance is mandatory and may be impacted by dual citizenship.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.