Mid Career Systems Engineer

About the Role

Sandia National Laboratories is seeking an early to mid-career, hardworking, and dedicated Engineering and Operations Systems Engineer. This role involves engineering systems development activities for future Sandia programs and work for customers. The successful candidate will join a highly integrated, highly motivated, cross-functional team contributing to the system design of new and conceptual nuclear weapon systems. Programs managed range from technology demonstrators to system prototypes preparing for adoption into the early phases of the realization process.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant will be required to work onsite.

Salary Range: $87,400 - $168,800

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deploy strategies, tools, and processes for effective onboarding and offboarding.
• Work with Information Management and Configuration Management professionals to develop an enduring and extensible strategy for the weapon system.
• Partner with Program Management to articulate risks and interfaces with stakeholders and provide risk mitigation strategies.
• Help manage the acquisition, planning, and execution of tests and test materials.
• Help the team establish an effective security posture across multiple classification boundaries.
• Collaborate with information, configuration management, and high-security professionals to develop effective strategies and processes that operate across multiple classification boundaries and program-appropriate limits.
• Partner with internal teams (Systems, Product Realization, Mission Realization) and external stakeholders to define program goals, acquire and maintain materials, and develop logistics, deployment, and training plans supporting test, qualification, assembly, and system implementation.
• Plan, direct, and coordinate projects for internal and external customers by defining system/subsystem requirements, project scope, schedules, cost estimates, and deliverables; develop comprehensive project plans using advanced management techniques.
• Manage project resources and teams to ensure timely delivery, applying earned value management and other performance metrics to monitor progress, analyze variances, and support decision-making.
• Provide technical leadership and tactical planning throughout project execution, including evaluating system functionality, recommending integrated solutions, overseeing change management, identifying risks, and developing mitigation and contingency plans.
• Coordinate negotiations with customers and partners to establish deliverables, stakeholder requirements, and project constraints.
• Conduct technical and program reviews to communicate status on cost, schedule, and performance to management and customers.
• Analyze data and deliver work products that inform future technology development needs for Sandia.
• Recommend project initiation, expansion, or discontinuation based on performance and strategic alignment.
• Prepare and deliver progress reports, proposals, requirements documentation, and presentations.
• Develop logistics, deployment plans, and training resources to support system implementation.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• Equivalent experience in lieu of a degree must be directly related experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of the job.
• Active DOE Q-level security clearance and ability to obtain and maintain Sigma 14/15.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience to partner with customers/stakeholders and direct the efforts of a cross-disciplinary team.
• Demonstrated ability to review and understand end-to-end work processes.
• Demonstrated ability to work closely with customers and suppliers to define expectations and mutual responsibilities.
• Demonstrated experience in developing strong/trusting relationships with internal and external stakeholders, customers, and partners.
• Evidence of successfully negotiating requirements.
• Evidence of successfully operating in an ambiguous space.
• Demonstrated experience with the technology maturation process and maturing technologies.
• Demonstrated experience with coordination and reporting through the Program Management Office (PMO).