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

Sandia provides systems, science, and technology solutions to meet national security objectives in areas including cybersecurity, science and technology products, and integrated military systems. We seek leaders in their respective fields, equipping them with outstanding research tools and facilities, and provide opportunities to collaborate with technical experts from many different scientific disciplines.

We are currently seeking multiple highly motivated Research and Development (R&D) Fellows to advance the frontiers of science. These individuals will hold a pre-eminence in peer communities external to Sandia, enhancing Sandia's visibility and prestige in the external science, engineering, and/or mission communities. In this role, you will have the unique opportunity to help shape future directions of internal research, programmatic, and/or customer funded activities. The areas of expertise that we are currently looking to recruit for this year are within the fields of Nuclear Deterrence & Technology Integration, Electrical Subsystems & Directed Energy, Quantum, and Artificial Intelligence.

In the field of Nuclear Deterrence and Technology Integration, the ideal candidate(s) will focus on advancing strategies and technologies that underpin national security through effective nuclear deterrence. This multidisciplinary area includes principles of high consequence system design, systems engineering, safety, security, reliability, use control, and the integration of emerging technologies into new and existing systems. Adjacent areas of focus include analysis of national security policy and strategic stability with an emphasis in nuclear deterrence. Fellows in this field will collaborate across the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) and the Department of War (DoW) to inform future system development and architectures, advance research in key technologies, develop innovative approaches to deterrence, and guide the implementation of advanced capabilities. Fellows play a critical role in shaping the direction of future system capabilities, aligning technological advancements with strategic objectives, and ultimately ensuring a safe, secure, reliable and effective nuclear deterrent. By mentoring nuclear deterrence program engineers, junior researchers and actively participating in academic publications, they also assure the next generation of leadership in nuclear deterrence.

In the field of Electrical Subsystems and Directed Energy, the ideal candidate(s) will engage in pioneering research and development focused on the design, integration, and optimization of electrical subsystems and survivability against directed energy technologies. They will collaborate with diverse teams across Sandia National Laboratories and external partners to advance innovative solutions that leverage electronic warfare strategies and address directed energy capabilities. Additionally, they will work with potential sponsors to grow programs that sustain and enhance the impact of higher TRL developments. By contributing to the development of next-generation systems and technologies, the candidate(s) will play a vital role in shaping the future of national defense. Furthermore, through mentoring junior researchers and actively participating in academic publications, the ideal candidate(s) will help cultivate the next generation of leaders in electrical engineering and directed energy, ensuring a sustained commitment to excellence and innovation in this critical field.

In the area of Quantum, the ideal candidate(s) will advance our quantum computing technology stack, focusing on both research and product development, and collaborate with a team of deep quantum experts to shape the long-term R&D strategy aligned with national-security missions. Ideal candidates will be integrative and creative, applying new methodologies in quantum information R&D, software, algorithms, specialty sensors, and quantum systems engineering. Key responsibilities include leading research on quantum error mitigation, designing theoretical frameworks for major experiments, performing advanced numerical simulations and noise modeling, and collaborating with experimental teams to translate theoretical insights into practical hardware. You will also define product goals and establish a long-term vision for quantum hardware products, leveraging your experience to anticipate future research and demonstration needs in this rapidly evolving field.

In the field of Artificial Intelligence, the ideal candidate(s) will lead cutting-edge research and enhance our external partnering and focus. The AI Fellow will push the boundaries in AI understanding and security, collaborating closely with private sector partners and interdisciplinary research teams with a particular emphasis on the NNSA mission and the DOE Genesis efforts. Sandia is the premier engineering laboratory within NNSA, a key aspect of this role will be to advance and integrate AI into the engineering practices of the laboratory across all missions. By advancing novel algorithms, system architectures, and security frameworks, both personally and through leading/teaming with others, the Fellow will drive AI technologies that underpin Sandia's mission and bolster our leadership in the global AI community.

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

• Provide technical or mission vision to advance the state of the art
• Anticipate and address issues that significantly impact Sandia and the nation
• Lead critical Sandia and/or government agency initiatives
• Provide leadership for technical societies, national-level boards or studies, and forward-looking customer committees
• Proactively mentor staff and management
• Engage with lab leadership teams in guiding Sandia strategies, optimizing the work environment for the future, identifying new key areas, and molding effective programmatic engagement
• Serve as a lab resource to influence significant impact on national policy and major shifts in strategic direction

Candidates applying to this opportunity may be interviewed by multiple organizations, with final placement decided after interviews.

Candidates may also be asked for additional information such as letters of reference and other documentation providing evidence of how they meet the Sandia Fellow qualifications throughout the hiring process.

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

Qualifications We Require

• PhD in a relevant STEM field plus 11 years' experience; or a Master's degree in a relevant STEM field plus 15 years' experience; or a Bachelor's degree in a relevant STEM field plus 19 years' experience; or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience
• Leadership experience directly relevant to your area of subject matter expertise
• Extraordinary technical or discipline-specific impact/output with appropriate high impact dissemination
• Experience designing, planning, and implementing projects
• Experience implementing policies affecting enterprise level projects, strategies, or initiatives
• Excellent communication skills as evidenced by a history of publications and/or presentations
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance

Qualifications We Desire

• Recognition by relevant peer communities external to Sandia
• Extensive networks, both internally and externally
• Strong interpersonal skills
• History of work and accomplishments in a field or technical area relevant to the DOE complex and/or nation
• Demonstrated ability to team across subject areas and engage with the highest levels of an organization
• Proven track record in providing mentorship
• Ability to interact effectively with all levels of internal and external customers, including the ability to build and manage effective working relationships
• Integrative problem-solving skills and a proven track record tackling challenging, multi-faceted problems with due consideration for business and strategic consequences
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks and changing priorities, mediate conflict, and apply leadership concepts and techniques
• Engages in an active leadership role in modeling and growing values in diversity, equality, and inclusion
• Ability to obtain SCI clearance, which may require a polygraph

Posting Duration

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) 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.