R&D S&E Systems Engineer - Physical Security Systems, Onsite

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.

We need your help in exploring and developing innovative concepts and new technologies to meet challenging and diverse national security needs spanning across physical security and asset surety systems, robotics, unmanned aerial systems, and transportation systems.

We are seeking a motivated Research & Development Systems Engineer to join our dynamic team. We currently have several roles available in the department spanning multiple technical areas of expertise listed in the description below.

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

• Build system or sub system test plans that are traced to requirements for system testing.
• Research/develop/analyze/test advanced and innovative sensor technologies, power electronics, embedded systems, and hardware and software for communications.
• Design/test custom electronic circuits and assemblies and/or firmware/software
• Implement the requirements through design definition activities, such as design reports, engineering drawings, and specifications.
• Implement test plans either in laboratory, test field, or implementation site.
• Complete activities related to system level design, engineering, and testing.
• Design, conduct and document tests, experiments, and results to evaluate sensor technologies/system performance.
• Apply systematic scientific methods to evaluate commercial technologies to determine their ability to meet sponsor performance requirements.
• Present at technical design reviews.
• Interact regularly with internal and external partners from a variety of technical and professional areas.
• Represent Sandia on multi-organizational project teams.
• Ability to travel up to 25%.

Due to the nature of work, successful candidate must be able to work onsite.

$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.

• 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 to perform independent research and development.
• Active DOE Q security clearance or equivalent.

The ideal R&D S&E 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 major elements of physical protection system components, policy and/or operations for government agencies.
• Providing successful leadership of completed physical security related or other end-to-end system design and implementation project.
• Experience in conducting, reviewing, and interpreting physical security vulnerability assessments.
• Address changing Program priorities while navigating ambiguous customer direction/requirements.
• Established network with different organizations within the government to allow external partners to demonstrate lab wide capabilities and critical reach back support.
• Interacting with high-level external partners (SES, General Officer, and O-6 level)
• Strategic Partnership Program (SPP) project execution, including project initiation, execution, and closeout.
• Domain expertise in physical security delay design, sensor development/testing, network design, or image design/implementation.
• Developing and maintaining a portfolio of R&D related activities.
• Knowledge of DOE, NNSA (473.1A), and USAF (5210.41M) requirements as applied to physical security design/implementation projects.
• Knowledge and expertise in vulnerability assessments of systems
• Demonstrated interest and success in recruiting, hiring, and developing/mentoring new personnel.

The NWS DoD Program Design and Implementation Department conducts vulnerability & design analysis and executes the security design, engineering, and implementation functions of complex physical security systems (PSS) within DoD and other government agencies. Specific tasks include planning and executing SEAs and other limited scope engineering assessments, development of conceptual and detailed PSS designs, participation in procurement activities, planning and executing pre- and post-installation testing, overseeing sub-contactors supporting installations, and developing post-installation logistics plans. The department provides project management and subject matter experts in the area of analysis, response force planning and employment, detection, assessment, communications, entry control and AC&D. The department has one technical team assigned, The Physical Security Analysis & Response Department. This department is currently working with the US Navy, US Air Force, US Army, and Missile Defense Agency to enhance the effectiveness of critical asset protection at CONUS/OCONUS installations through several multi-million dollar initiatives. Many new projects are expanding beyond the traditional DOE complex or DoD Weapon Storage Area (WSA); these new protected assets include ultra-high security facilities and high demand/low density assets, DoD Force Protection/Anti-Terrorism, and intermediate level (PL2 - PL3) asset protection.

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) 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.