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

We are seeking an Optical Engineer familiar with high power laser research and analysis to join the explosives applications laboratory. The position will be involved with providing R&D, hardware/software development, data collection, data analysis, field deployment, and end user-training for national security, high consequence laser programs.

On any given day you may be called on to:

• Perform high-power-laser work with a multidisciplinary technical team.
• Conducting laser material effects data analysis.
• Represent Sandia in discussions with government agency personnel involved in the national nuclear incident response mission.

This position may require occasional travel.

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

Salary Range

$102,400 - $199,700

*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, 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 or equivalent clearance.

Qualifications We Desire

The ideal R&D S&E Optical Engineering candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

• 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).
• Use of laboratory test equipment: oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, waveform/function generators, multimeters, power supplies, and data acquisition systems.
• Knowledge of optical design, fabrication and opto-mechanical mechanisms.
• 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:

• Experience in the following:
  • Designing and performing complex laboratory tests.
  • Analyze results of laser experiments, draw conclusions, document findings and design additional experiments.
  • Designing kilowatt-class optical systems for spectrally combined, direct-diode laser systems.
  • Qualified Laser Safety Officer.
• Experience in the following:
  • Analyzing results of laser experiments, drawing conclusions, documentation on findings and designing additional experiments.
  • Working with kW Class IV lasers.
  • Performing data analysis using Matlab, Python, or similar programming languages.
  • National Instruments DAQ's and LabView Programming.
  • Solidworks.
  • ZEMAX.
• Working with high voltage components and systems.
• Willingness to engage in field activities both and the SNL testing areas as well as customer locations.
• Ability to communicate the results of a technical project to peers.
• Proven experience in creating technical documentation.
• Proven ability to communicate technical information to a wide spectrum of audiences including law enforcement or military personnel.
• Familiar with or able to learn operation of oscilloscopes, high speed cameras, infrared cameras, integrating spheres, beam profilers and other laser beam diagnostics.
• Demonstrated ability to safely work in hazardous environments.

About Our Team

The Explosive Engineering Operations department (Org 6649) specializes in the design, development, and characterization of explosive systems through the design of energetic devices, experimental validation of energetic device performance, interior and terminal ballistic effects, and high-power laser effects research. The department provides specialized training including Improvised Explosive Device (IED), Improvised Nuclear Device (IND), Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD) render-safe, disable, and responder technologies, also provides training for nuclear and non-nuclear response forces. We collaborate with multiple Sandia departments to ensure continued innovation and success to serve customers from DOE/NNSA, DoD, DOJ, DHS, and other government agencies via IHNS, DSA, and NW SMUs.

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.