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# Senior/Principal R&D Systems Engineer - Satellite Ground Systems, Onsite

- **Company:** Sandia Corporation
- **Location:** Albuquerque, NM, United States (Remote available)
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** $117,500.0 - $235,700.0
- **Contract:** Temporary contract
- **Skills:** Systems Engineering, Monitoring of Systems, Software Engineering, Software Requirements Analysis, Software Systems, Verification and Validation (Software), System Testing
- **Published:** August 5, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.techcareers.com/job.asp?id=3339347415&tx=FJ2522FFG&pt=1&aff=0B19D771-A501-4A5E-8338-2A822B784D54&utm_source=Job%20Feed&utm_medium=textkernel&utm_campaign=DE&utm_term=0B19D771-A501-4A5E-8338-2A822B784D54

## About the Role

Are you an authority in nuclear detonation detection systems engineering with a passion for being a part of teams in innovating the next generation of mobile ground systems? We are seeking highly motivated Systems Engineers to join our growing dynamic team! This job opening is for multiple positions to support the new UGNT 7 and MUGNT programs under USNDS. You will be part of a team of Systems Engineers that will be responsible for technical risk management, requirements derivation and management activities, and collaborating with external partners and customers to provide technical advice. The primary focus of your role is on system-level coordination. Close coordination with internal and external partners is vital. Join us to develop creative solutions to unique national security challenges!, * A 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.

 * Ability to obtain a DOE Q clearance, The ideal R&D S&E Systems Engineering 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 working with Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) laboratories and plants including Pantex, Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Kansas City National Security Campus/New Mexico Operations (KCNSC/NMO).
 * Experience working on engineering design, qualification, production, or related modeling/simulation projects.
 * 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:

 * Master's degree in relevant STEM field, such as engineering or science.
 * Experience with some aspect of this nation's survivable nuclear command and control architecture.
 * Proven ability to build effective partnerships across customer and organizational boundaries.
 * Three or more years of domain experience working on the USNDS Program, with ground system experience.
 * Knowledge of large-scale software engineering processes and software design/development experience.
 * Experience developing and documenting performance requirements for large projects.
 * Experience with formal system test processes.
 * RF and digital baseband theory as applicable to antenna and digital receiver systems.
 * Familiarity with space to ground RF link budgets.
 * Proven leadership and strong dedication to positive teaming dynamic

## Description

* Work with technical leads to track progress, resolve technical issues and support system/subsystem technical reviews
 * Work with the other Systems Engineers and Project Leads to define and clarify project requirements, develop project support plans, and acceptance criteria for system and subsystem technical reviews
 * Perform requirements definition, verification and validation, map and allocate, downlink, definition, ICD review and management.
 * Define acceptance criteria for subsystems and perform technical reviews on project documents.
 * Coordinate integration and test activities and provide technical information to internal organizations and the project office., We have researched and developed new monitoring systems and technologies for over half a century. Building on that legacy, today we support national security missions involving nuclear proliferation detection, treaty monitoring, arms control, and various needs within the national security communities.

We lead the design, development, test, and delivery of the next generation ground segment of the United States Nuclear Detonation Detection System (USNDS). The team provides leadership and technical solutions throughout the acquisition life cycle of next generation ground systems. Working with USNDS partners to define future ground system performance and operational requirements, the group ensures all work is completed within the approved schedule and budget. Additionally, the team communicates status, issue resolution, and related communications with the Space Systems Command (SSC) acquisition customer and key USNDS partner community., 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.


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