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 Navigation Guidance and Control (NGC) II Department is seeking an experienced Science and Engineering Controls Engineer to support work on-site in Washington D.C.

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

• Interface directly with program sponsors and collaborators to provide hypersonic controls expertise.
• Lead GN&C subsystem design, build, and test to support flight test program.
• Utilize your expertise in control theory and analysis to enhance experimental hypersonic flight systems.
• Design and implement control algorithms ensuring optimal performance and reliability.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure successful integration of GN&C technologies.
• Prepare technical documentation and reports.
• Create compelling proposals for control research initiatives.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to team members, fostering their professional growth and enhancing technical competencies.
• Engage in collaborative research efforts with universities.
• Write publications and present work at conferences and customer meetings, sharing insights and advancement with the broader scientific community.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite in Washington D.C.

Salary Range

$120,900 - $242,500

*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

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and five (5) years of directly relevant experience, 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.
• Active DOE Q-level (or DOD equivalent) security clearance.

Qualifications We Desire

The ideal R&D Controls Engineer candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

• Graduate degree in Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Experience with classical control, modern control, or robust control.
• Thorough knowledge of and applied experience with designing, planning, and executing research, design, and development projects.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams, and a passion to improve and expand technical skills.

Also, for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience:

• Master's degree in Control Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a related field, plus 10 years of experience.
• Ph.D. in Control Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a related field
• Experience with hypersonic flight systems.
• Extensive professional experience with control algorithm and hardware technologies.
• Extensive experience in modeling kinematic and dynamical systems.
• Experience with flight testing.
• Extensive professional experience with MathWorks' MATLAB & Simulink, Python, C/C++, and Julia.
• Experience with AI/ML, optimization, and related techniques to enhance control systems.
• Experience with embedded software development and testing.
• Strong writing and oratory skills.
• Demonstrated experience leading R&D research initiatives.
• Active SCI.

About Our Team

The Navigation Guidance and Control (NGC) II Department 5446 provides technology solutions and support to both Offensive and Defensive Military Systems development projects within the Integrated Military Systems Program at Sandia. Hardware and software technologies are developed, integrated, and tested to provide flight control solutions for missiles and hypersonic reentry platforms. Typically, these systems support the Missile Defense Agency, Army, Navy, and other Department of Defense Agencies. Our programs cover a broad spectrum of applications; from advanced aerodynamically controlled vehicles dropped from aircraft, to maneuvering hypersonic warheads, to ballistic missile systems. All of the activities require the extensive use of real time embedded computers and custom real-time software for the realization of affiliated fully-integrated flight control system solutions. The NGC group is significantly involved in modeling and simulation activities in support of these same application areas. The department strives to provide leadership to the Laboratory and the Nation in the creative development, use, and application of both GN&C and mod/sim technologies. The NGC Department staff pride themselves in team accomplishments, professional development and the mentorship of others.

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

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.