Early Career R&D Systems Electrical Engineer

About Sandia

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation’s premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation.

About the Role

We develop next-generation electrical systems that help advance national security. We are seeking early career R&D Electrical Engineers to join multidisciplinary teams delivering critical national security work in support of nuclear deterrence, advanced systems engineering, electrical design, product realization, testing, qualification, assessment, and sustainment. This is mission-connected engineering. In this role, you will contribute across the full lifecycle of complex electrical systems and subsystems, from requirements and design maturation to integration, testing, qualification, production realization, fielded-system support, and system-level assessment. Your work may support actively fielded systems, systems in development, flight test vehicles, qualification programs, component and subsystem integration, and lifecycle sustainment activities. You will work closely with systems engineers, component engineers, production partners, subject matter experts, customers, and external stakeholders across the Nuclear Security Enterprise to solve complex and ambiguous engineering challenges. This position offers opportunities to contribute technically, represent Sandia on internal and external teams, and help deliver mission-critical outcomes. This position requires the ability to travel, typically less than 25%, to support the mission. Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite 100% of the time.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop a detailed understanding of customer, system, subsystem, and component requirements.
• Define, capture, and mature electrical and system requirements in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Perform analysis and supporting testing efforts in support of requirements verification.
• Develop system-level architecture and perform trade studies to integrate electrical components and subsystems for strategic deterrent applications.
• Plan, execute, and analyze ground and flight test activities to verify and qualify hardware and software.
• Collaborate with systems engineers, component engineers, production partners, and Science & Technology experts.
• Plan, execute, and analyze experiments, modeling and simulation activities, and engineering tests.
• Represent electrical design considerations in design reviews, programmatic meetings, and multi-organizational forums.
• Plan and execute environmental, functional, safety, qualification, development, characterization, flight, laboratory, and component testing.
• Support hardware assembly, subassembly integration, test execution, and anomaly resolution.
• Conduct technical analyses and trade studies using performance, risk, cost, schedule, manufacturability, and mission needs.
• Partner with production agencies and external organizations to support product realization, production documentation, and lifecycle sustainment.
• Maintain technical, design, production, and systems engineering documentation.
• Support stockpile assessment, maintenance, qualification, modernization, and sustainment projects.
• Build effective relationships with Sandia organizations, NNSA, partner design agencies, production agencies, customers, and other stakeholders.
• Apply analytical thinking, sound engineering judgment, and strong communication skills to solve complex problems with multidisciplinary teams.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance.
• Hands-on experience with modeling, simulation, qualification, or production of electrical systems and components.
• Familiarity with tools and languages such as C/C++, Python, PSpice/LTSpice, Cadence/OrCAD, MATLAB/Simulink, LabVIEW, HDL, ModelSim, oscilloscopes, and spectrum analyzers.
• Experience defining specifications for components and systems, and evaluating electrical interfaces and requirements documentation.
• Fundamental knowledge of systems engineering concepts and principles.
• Demonstrated teamwork skills and the ability to collaborate across internal organizations and external partners.

Qualifications

• 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.
• Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Ability to work independently and collaborate well in a multidisciplinary team of designers and test engineers.
• Outstanding verbal and written skills, including the ability to develop and present briefings that are clear and compelling.
• Leadership or mentoring experience in an academic, internship, or professional setting.

About Our Team

The 8200 ND Systems Center provides systems engineering, integration, qualification, and product realization expertise for the W80-4 Life Extension Program, the W80-5 Modification Program, and Stockpile sustainment for B83-0/1, W87-0, W80-1 and Mk21 programs. We maintain strong partnerships with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the Nuclear Security Enterprise, and our Department of War partners.

Salary Range: $121,900 - $237,800