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.

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Any concerns about the ability to meet this requirement should be directed to HR Solutions at (505) 284-4700.

Organization 05417, Lethality & Threat, is currently seeking an experienced R&D Lethality and Threat professional at the Distinguished Level.

The selected candidate will provide technical program management, domain expertise, and programmatic vision and development for programs across a range of Missile Defense Agency functional divisions, including the Directorate of Engineering (MDA/DE), the MDA Chief Architect (MDA/CA) office, and the Innovation, Science & Technology (MDA/DV) organizations.

The candidate will also support the Integrated Military Systems Center (05400) and assist in the development of near- and long-term strategies, while also developing and innovating using future technologies. One will drive these goals by proposing and shaping technologies and studies to provide increased weapon delivery robustness, push the state of the art on prototyping and testing, and increase Sandia’s exposure and capabilities as a national resource by providing engineering and insight into current and future Air, Missile, and Space threats through use of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.

Successful candidates will serve as a trusted interface, collaborating with current and future Department of Defense customers (primarily the Missile Defense Agency) across a broad range of Missile, Air, and Space Defense applications.

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

• Provide programmatic/technical leadership and support for one or more department efforts in the following technical areas: Nuclear and/or Conventional Payload Lethality, Hypersonic Lethality, Sensor Engineering (Optical or RF), Post Intercept Hit and Kill Assessment, Advanced Threat Engineering, or Nuclear Survivability
• Engage with established partners across the laboratory, current customers, and the nation’s national defense infrastructure to provide domain expertise and help identify areas of need in support of the national defense
• Assist in development of near-and long-term strategies for the Department and Center while providing guidance and leadership for new programs across the Air, Missile, and Space Group portfolio

• A Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, or a relevant STEM field, plus 12 years related experience; or a Master's in above, plus 8 years related experience; or a PhD in above, plus 4 years related experience
• 10 years direct experience in one of the following technical areas: shock physics, hydro-structural/non-linear solid mechanics, code and model development, threat engineering, or a related sub-discipline, signature/sensor (EO/IR or RF) development, and/or nuclear survivability
• An active DOE L-level security clearance; or other equivalent active security clearance such as DOD Secret
• The ability to acquire and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance

Experience with the following:

• Project leadership and management including task and milestone development, coordination with customers to plan and execute projects, and tracking of project metrics, including schedule, cost, and deliverables
• Working directly with DoD customers, ideally the MDA, and a solid understanding of the MDA’s Missile Defense System
• Nuclear and conventional weapon effects and lethality; knowledge of nuclear weapons, reentry vehicle structures and materials, conventional munitions, penetrators, and high explosives
• Sensor Engineering (Optical or RF) applications across a range of platforms, especially for the purposes of threat identification, post intercept hit/kill assessment, and/or target typing
• Advanced Threat Engineering and associated technical disciples; interaction/relationship with the US Intelligence Community
• Hypersonic Defensive/Offense Lethality and Survivability; related disciplines including aerothermal/aerostructural effects modeling, vehicle flight dynamics, and Navigation Guidance and Control
• Knowledge and experience with nuclear survivability concepts and tools including transient radiation effects in electronics and natural space environments
• Performing analysis using first principles, physics-based shock physics or finite element analysis codes such as CTH, PRESTO, and ZAPOTEC, or similar non-Sandia codes; experience in code development for these applications is also desirable
• Fast running engineering lethality codes (e.g. AFTES, BALAGAN, AJEM, ETB, or JTCG/ME weaponeering products)
• MATLAB, Fortran, python, or other programming language to develop post-processing tools for first principles analysis code results
• Exposure and/or experience in large-scale, parallel computing for analysis

A strong presentation ability and the capability to work successfully in a team environment

Sandia National Laboratories Lethality and Threat organization plays a key role in supporting the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) technically and programmatically across both the Lethality and Threat mission spaces. The department also supports multiple DOE and DoD customers in support of national security using advanced solid mechanics, coupled hydro-structural, and shock physics analysis capabilities. The organization is a key member of the MDA’s Corporate Lethality Program and provides technical support with an emphasis on using first principles computational tools for the development and evaluation of lethality/vulnerability criteria for target reentry vehicles, assessment, and characterization of post-intercept debris and associated signatures for target typing and kill assessment, hypersonic defense lethality, as well as other missile defense related applications. The department also supports MDA’s Threat Engineering efforts by reaching across the intelligence community and laboratory to engage experts across a wide range of technical areas including Computed Aided Drafting (CAD), Coupled Aero-thermal analysis, Trajectory analysis, and other specialized areas to develop comprehensive threat packages.

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 vacations, 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.

Position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) L security clearance to start, or equivalent active security clearance with another U.S. government agency (e.g., DOD).

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 maintain a DOE L-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.

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.