Cleared R&D Mechanical Engineer - W80-1 Systems Engineering Team, NM/CA, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories

Livermore, USA

Job posting number: #7367595 (Ref:Sa698548)

Posted: July 24, 2026

Job Description

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: http://www.sandia.gov

*These benefits vary by job classification.

What Your Job Will Be Like:

The W80-1 Stockpile Systems Engineering team is seeking an R&D Mechanical Engineer to join our multidisciplinary team. The ideal candidate will contribute to new projects and ongoing operations across a portfolio of work critical to maintain a safe and reliable deterrent for our nation. The W80-1 Systems Engineering team supports day-to-day operations; performs test activities demonstrating compatibility with system interfaces; manages development and production of hardware and components and engages in critical thinking and problem-solving with internal and external stakeholders across the Nuclear Security Enterprise.

Stockpile Systems Engineering includes frequent collaboration with external partners, including staff and leadership from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the Department of War, and various NNSA production agencies.

A successful candidate will have experience that enables them to quickly develop a fundamental understanding of an actively fielded system and leverage that expertise to lead multidisciplinary teams to plan and execute qualification, maintenance, assessment, and sustainment projects that provide high value to the mission. This role offers opportunities to demonstrate leadership that can support ongoing career development and personal advancement at Sandia.

On any given day, you may be called upon to:

  • Lead activities that support Stockpile Assessment of the system, including flight, lab, and component testing
  • Collaborate with Science & Technology experts to plan, execute, and analyze data from advanced experiments and modeling and simulation
  • Team with our Production Agency partners to support on-going production and develop and maintain documentation
  • Provide technical consultation on critical design elements
  • Plan and execute testing for environmental, functional, and safety evaluation
  • Present at technical design reviews and other forums
  • Represent Sandia on internal and external multi-organizational project teams
  • Employ analytical thinking to work through ambiguous problems with a multidisciplinary team
  • Conduct trade studies and own key decisions based upon performance data, cost, and schedule constraints

This position requires the ability to travel occasionally to support the mission (3-5 trips a year).

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite 100% of the time.

Applicants on this requisition may be interviewed by multiple organizations at Sandia National Laboratories.

Salary Range:

$121,900 - $237,800

*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.
  • This position requires an active U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance, or an equivalent clearance, at the time of application.

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:

  • Demonstrated team experience: effective leadership, delegation, teamwork, negotiation, conflict resolution.
  • Demonstrated experience developing and implementing system engineering processes.
  • Knowledge and experience with ND systems and subsystems.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop products within the Nuclear Weapon Realize Product Subsystem.
  • Demonstrated experience in developing positive relationships with other Sandia organizations, external partners, customers, and stakeholders.
  • Excellent communication skills including the ability to prepare clearly written reports and deliver well-articulated briefings.
  • Strong commitment to quality, safety, collaboration, and teamwork.

About Our Team:

The W80-1 Systems Engineering department is responsible for Stockpile Stewardship (sustainment, maintenance and logistics, and general management) for the W80-1 Nuclear Warhead. In close collaboration with NNSA (NA-122) and US Air Force, and the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE), the Weapon System group extends the critical leg of the US Nuclear Deterrence through their life and eventual transitions with the Life Extension Program(s).

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:

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.

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.

Job ID: 698548

Job Family: RD

Regular/Temporary Position: R

Full/Part-Time Status: F



All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.


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Job posting number:#7367595 (Ref:Sa698548)
Application Deadline:Open Until Filled
Employer Location:Sandia National Laboratories
Albuquerque,New Mexico
United States
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