Cleared Senior/Principal Systems Engineer – Environmental Specifications, W93 Pr

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://www.sandia.gov

*These benefits vary by job classification.

Are you ready to make a meaningful impact on a cutting-edge national security program? We are looking for a passionate and driven Systems Engineer to join our Environments Team supporting the W93 Evaluation and Qualification (E&Q) organization. In this essential role, you will help define and shape the operational environments for the W93/Mk7 system, leading the charge in developing and implementing testing strategies that characterize system performance alongside our expert partners.

If you thrive in collaborative, fast-paced environments and bring strong leadership and communication skills, this is your opportunity to contribute to a mission that truly matters.

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

• Collaborate closely with W93 Evaluation and Qualification Leads and S&T Analyst Partners to execute the W93 Environments Maturation Strategy through targeted analysis and testing initiatives.
• Design and streamline efficient processes for creating comprehensive environmental specification specifications that guide system and component development across the W93 program.
• Serve as the go-to expert for systems and component teams, setting clear expectations for how environmental factors are interpreted and integrated into product development and testing. Youll provide critical guidance on feedback, planning deviations, and risk escalation related to the environments strategy.
• Lead coordination efforts to tackle implementation challenges, ensuring the environments strategy evolves effectively with changes to planned activities, while understanding and mitigating broader program impacts.
• Oversee tactical-level timelines and schedules for environment specifications, including managing P6 E&Q inputs and updates to keep the program on track.

This role requires occasional travel to support off-site meetings. Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.

Why Join Us?

This role offers a unique chance to work at the intersection of systems engineering and environmental testing, contributing directly to the success of a high-profile national security program. You will collaborate with diverse teams, influence key program decisions, and grow your expertise in a supportive and innovative environment.

$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.

• 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.

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

• Graduate degree in Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Experience working with Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) laboratories and plants including Pantex, Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC), Lawrence Livermore Laboratory (LLNL) and Kansas City National Security Campus/New Mexico Operations (KCNSC/NMO).
• Experience working on engineering design, qualification, production, or related modeling/simulation projects.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.

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

• Experience in systems engineering with a focus on environmental factors and test strategy development, especially in nuclear weapon systems or similarly complex, safety-critical systems.
• Demonstrated expertise in developing and managing environmental specifications and test plans to characterize system performance.
• Proven ability to lead risk management and change control processes within complex testing environments.
• Familiarity with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools and methodologies to support system development and integration.
• Proficiency with project and schedule management tools (e.g., Primavera P6, MS Project) to oversee tactical timelines and program inputs.
• Ability to provide technical leadership and serve as a subject matter expert on environmental considerations for systems and components.
• Experience coordinating across multiple teams and stakeholders to resolve implementation challenges and mitigate program risks.

The W93 System Evaluation and Qualification Department (02382) has the primary responsibility to plan and coordinate evaluation activities for the W93/Mk7 Navy Strategic Reentry System Program. These activities involve modeling, simulation, and physical ground testing, in support of the maturation and ultimate qualification of the W93/Mk7 reentry body system design.

We work closely with our partners and program stakeholders, including NNSA Federal Program Managers, the US Navy, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Los Alamos National Lab, the Sandia nuclear weapons component organizations, the Sandia science & technology community, Kansas City Plant National Security Campus (NSC), the UK Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), and many others, to coordinate expertise and implement effective approaches to better understand system technical knowledge gaps and validate the system works as intended.

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of three (3) calendar days, including the ‘posting date’. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q security clearance to start, or equivalent active security clearance with another U.S. government agency (e.g., DOD). Sandia is required by DOE directive to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants for employment need to be able to maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Applicants offered employment with Sandia are subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.

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.

If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.

If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.