Distinguished Controls Engineer - Hypersonic Flight 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:

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• Generous vacation, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

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*These benefits vary by job classification.

• Interface directly with program sponsors and collaborators to provide hypersonic controls expertise.
• Lead GN&C subsystem design, build, and test to support flight test program.
• Utilize your expertise in control theory and analysis to enhance experimental hypersonic flight systems.
• Design and implement control algorithms ensuring optimal performance and reliability.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure successful integration of GN&C technologies.
• Prepare technical documentation and reports.
• Create compelling proposals for control research initiatives.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to team members, fostering their professional growth and enhancing technical competencies.
• Engage in collaborative research efforts with universities.
• Write publications and present work at conferences and customer meetings, sharing insights and advancement with the broader scientific community.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite in Washington D.C.

$168,400 - $286,000

*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.

• Master's degree in Control Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a related field, plus 10 years of experience.
• Experience with hypersonic flight systems.
• Extensive professional experience with control algorithm and hardware technologies.
• Extensive experience in modeling kinematic and dynamical systems.
• Experience with flight testing.
• Active DOE Q-level (or DOD equivalent) security clearance.

• Ph.D. in Control Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a related field
• Extensive professional experience with MathWorks' MATLAB & Simulink, Python, C/C++, and Julia.
• Experience with AI/ML, optimization, and related techniques to enhance control systems.
• Experience with embedded software development and testing.
• Strong writing and oratory skills.
• Demonstrated experience leading R&D research initiatives.
• Active SCI.

The Navigation Guidance and Control (NGC) II Department 5446 provides technology solutions and support to both Offensive and Defensive Military Systems development projects within the Integrated Military Systems Program at Sandia. Hardware and software technologies are developed, integrated, and tested to provide flight control solutions for missiles and hypersonic reentry platforms. Typically, these systems support the Missile Defense Agency, Army, Navy, and other Department of Defense Agencies. Our programs cover a broad spectrum of applications; from advanced aerodynamically controlled vehicles dropped from aircraft, to maneuvering hypersonic warheads, to ballistic missile systems. All of the activities require the extensive use of real time embedded computers and custom real-time software for the realization of affiliated fully-integrated flight control system solutions. The NGC group is significantly involved in modeling and simulation activities in support of these same application areas. The department strives to provide leadership to the Laboratory and the Nation in the creative development, use, and application of both GN&C and mod/sim technologies. The NGC Department staff pride themselves in team accomplishments, professional development and the mentorship of others.

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.

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