Early Career R&D S&E, Mechanical Engineer, Onsite

About Sandia

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:

*These benefits vary by job classification.

What Your Job Will Be Like

We are seeking a highly skilled R&D S&E, Mechanical Engineer, to join our team. As a Mechanical Engineer (Leaks) at the Primary Standards Laboratory, you will play a crucial role in supporting Sandia in its global security missions. The PSL is an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory providing metrology support to the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). This individual will be responsible for the calibration and certification of measurement/test equipment for NNSA standards laboratories and Sandia line organizations. This position requires problem solving skills and a high technical capability related to calibration/measurement systems equipment, methods, and procedures. This position also involves generating certificates/reports, developing/maintaining procedures, and working with the project leader to make improvements. The engineers will be responsible for managing their time effectively to provide timely calibration and certification of measuring and test equipment. This position requires problem solving skills and a high technical aptitude related to metrology and calibration spanning a broad range of measurement areas, systems and equipment, methods, and procedures. Additionally, this candidate will be expected to develop and provide recommendations to resolve calibration issues and improve calibration quality and efficiency.

Your responsibilities will include researching and developing advances in measurement methods, measurement uncertainty analyses, calibration methods and state‑of‑the‑art system qualifications in the areas of gas leaks, gas expansion, and ultra‑high vacuum science. The ideal candidate will have knowledge and experience related to these areas and the ability to apply statistical methods to evaluate measurement uncertainty. You will work with your team to develop new and/or improve existing measurement techniques, data analysis techniques, measurement systems and collaborate to support customers across Sandia's broad national security missions.

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

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 to perform independent research and development.
• Ability to acquire and maintain a DOE-Q Clearance.

Qualifications We Desire

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

• Graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Experience with mechanical engineering and product realization in the NNSA complex.
• 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:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills with experience interacting with customers.
• Experience applying engineering and/or statistical concepts to solve functional problems with equipment and/or mathematical models.
• Experience working in a high‑rigor, high‑quality lab environment in accordance with all procedures, policies, and practices.
• Experience with measurement uncertainty, propagation of error, error budgets, and statistical analysis techniques using Microsoft Excel.
• Excellent teaming, interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
• Experience using large, integrated software applications such as Maximo.
• Using statistical methods of analysis and/or performing measurement uncertainty analyses, fluid dynamics, gas analysis and/or mass spectroscopy.
• Lab instrumentation, particularly pressure, vacuum, gas leak/restricted gas flow, gas analysis systems.
• Automation, control and/or analysis software such as Python, LabVIEW, Beckhoff, Visual Basic, MATLAB, COMPASS for Pressure (Fluke), Microsoft Excel and/or Minitab.
• Working in a standards and calibration laboratory and with quality standards such as ISO/IEC 17025, Z540-1, QC-1 or other quality assurance programs.
• Active DOE Q clearance.

About Our Team

Department 2944, Primary Physical Standards, provides calibration support to the Nuclear Security Enterprise, including support for SNL research and production organizations. Department 2944 includes multiple projects and consists of parameters such as pressure, vacuum, leaks, volume, radiation, optics, force, mass and dimensional measurement. Primary Physical Standards, maintains a wide variety of measurement expertise and consults on technical problems, calibrates reference standards, and assists in technical guidance of the DOE/NNSA Nuclear Weapons Complex contractor standards laboratories. The overall calibration program is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 by the NIST National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP).

Posting Duration

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.

Security Clearance

Sandia is required by DOE 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 obtain and 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.

EEO

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.

NNSA Requirements for MedPEDs

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.