Senior/Principal Computational Thermal/AeroThermal Analyst, Onsite

About Sandia Sandia National Laboratories is the nation’s premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation. What Your Job Will Be Like We are seeking a technical staff member (R&D S&E Mechanical Engineer) to join a collaborative team that uses state‑of‑the‑art analytical and computational simulation techniques to perform first‑of‑a‑kind engineering system analysis and thermal science research with a direct impact on national security. Candidates should have a background in thermal fluid science (e.g., heat transfer, fluid dynamics) and experience with computational simulation applications or development. Responsibilities Perform thermal, fluid dynamics, and/or reacting material research, development, modeling, and simulation to support a variety of projects for internal and external customers. Use engineering analysis principles and computational methods to support the design, qualification, and fielding of high‑consequence engineered systems for national security missions. Use and/or develop state‑of‑the‑art tools and models to conduct computational simulations (fluid dynamics, turbulent flow, multiphase flow, conductive/convective/radiative transport, thermal‑mechanical, reacting flow, porous media flow, heat transfer, thermal decomposition). Apply and develop uncertainty quantification techniques and assess model credibility through verification & validation principles. Identify opportunities to modularize, automate, and streamline analysis workflows to reduce repetitive tasks and improve efficiency. Engage with code and model development teams to develop and implement novel models and capabilities for high‑performance computing algorithms and environments. Collaborate on digital thread initiatives by developing credible, reliable, and well‑documented analysis code utilizing modern software best practices. Work closely with teams of code/model developers, analysts, and experimentalists to deliver validated simulation results for complex R&D problems. Serve as a technical bridge and systems‑minded connector between physics analysis teams, software development groups, and experimentalists. Collaborate and interact closely with a geographically‑dispersed team across both California and New Mexico sites. Preferred Work Location Livermore, CA. Albuquerque, NM may be considered with regular travel to California. Salary Range $139,900 - $280,600 Qualifications We Require Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline and five (5) years of directly relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and engineering or scientific experience. Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q‑level security clearance. Qualifications We Desire Graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering or a highly related field with an independent research project. Experience with mechanical engineering and product realization in the NNSA complex. Strong verbal and written communication skills; ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams. Strong educational background or professional experience in heat transfer, fluid dynamics, aerothermal ablation/reentry, reacting materials/chemistry/combustion. Proficiency with modeling and simulation tools, mesh generation, and Linux/HPC environments. Ph.D. in mechanical, chemical, aerospace engineering or closely related field, or equivalent experience. Demonstrated ability to learn and apply new technical areas. Experience with high‑performance computing environments and analysis or code development for engineering sciences applications. Advanced proficiency in Python development and modern software engineering best practices. Experience with Verification & Validation (V&V), Uncertainty Quantification (UQ), and establishing model credibility. Ability to present and/or publish analysis results and research findings. Familiarity with AI/ML concepts and interest in integrating these tools into engineering workflows. Ability to build strong networks and forge technical connections across multidisciplinary engineering departments. Strong preference for candidate to be based out of Livermore, CA site. About Our Team The Thermal/Fluid Science and Engineering Department is a multidisciplinary community of engineers and researchers who specialize in fluid mechanics and heat and mass transfer. The group focuses on developing new computational methods, conducting high‑performance computing, and performing computational analysis to predict design performance of engineered systems in defense, energy, and industry applications. Security Clearance Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q‑level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education