Senior/Principal Systems Engineer - Technical Security Systems, Onsite

The Technical Systems Security Department (9246) is seeking to find an Systems Engineer who will lead technical projects to enable Sandia to anticipate and prepare for changing global security by developing future nuclear security systems through extensive component evaluation and testing. The interdisciplinary studies used on security systems and components allow for strategic design decisions that benefit Sandia and DOE/NNSA. This position will interface with strategic customers & stakeholders in DOE and the Nuclear Security Enterprise and leads highly technical staff that analyze and influence DOE/NNSA policy.

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

• Lead multi-disciplined technical teams having strong project leadership skills with extensive knowledge of national security issues, emerging national security threats, suspect counterfeit techniques, cyber threats, and evolving counter threat technology that can be integrated into future advanced nuclear security systems.
• Lead a portfolio of technical, nuclear security projects at DOE/NNSA sites that spans across the United States.
• Lead technical teams in the design & development of nuclear security systems and components. Methods include quantitative and qualitative, technical research, data analysis and critical thinking.
• Perform evaluations and analysis for lifecycle management of new security system designs with strategic internal and external technical subject matter experts in interdisciplinary studies of scientific and technical characteristics (e.g., passive inferred, microwave, laser, and RF technology, magnetic & electrical principles, amplified sound attenuation, etc.)
• Support the creation, scientific research, development and/or application of scientific theories and laws and engineering methods used within scientific and engineering disciplines to develop or demonstrate new designs, concepts, products, processes, or systems.
• Interact with high-level DOE/NNSA customers on strategic and technical program direction and issues. Ensuring customer needs are satisfied by managing expectations, delivering on commitments, and managing program/projects scope, cost, schedule and staffing needs., * Company policies and procedures and ability to recommend modifications and/or improvements to Sandia’s Corporate Policy System operating policies.
• Physical protection of classified and nuclear material assets.
• Application of formal risk assessment and/or system effectiveness methodologies in management of a project or organization.
• Commitment to excellence in high-formality, highly regulated activities requiring formality of operations subject to audit and inspection.
• Demonstrated knowledge of a direct funded (DOE/NNSA) program management processes and policies (FYNSP, AOP, Supplementals, PPBR).
• Demonstrated workforce planning and technical team development.

About Our Team:

The Technical Security Systems (TSS) department at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) provides a secure, robust, and sustainable electronic security system in support of Sandia’s critical missions. The department is responsible for sustaining this security system at an acceptable level that meets Department of Energy (DOE) requirements. This is achieved by implementing high level standards and configuration control to the security systems followed by structured, preventive, and corrective maintenance processes. The TSS department interfaces and integrates with other departments within the Safeguards and Security Center which include Physical Security, Personnel Security, and the Protective Force. In addition to supporting the electronic security systems at SNL-NM, TSS provides program and technical support to several remote sites within the US.

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:

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.

• Bachelor of Science degree in relevant discipline, or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience, plus five (5) or more years of directly related experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of the job.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance.

Qualifications We Desire:

• Master of Science degree in Engineering (e.g., Electrical, Computer, Mechanical) discipline.
• Experience in leading multi-disciplined technical teams having strong project leadership skills with extensive knowledge of national security issues, emerging national security threats, suspect counterfeit techniques, cyber threats, and evolving counter threat technology that can be integrated into future advanced nuclear security systems.
• Experience and knowledge in Physical Security Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and Access Control System (ACS) platforms.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification.
• Leadership, technical, and business knowledge and experience in DOE/NNSA policy, national security, strategic planning, partnerships in government laboratories, federal agencies, and/or other non-government organizations.
• Extensive knowledge of national security issues, emerging national security threats, suspect counterfeit techniques, cyber threats, and evolving counter threat technology that can be integrated into future advanced nuclear security systems.
• Experience providing successful leadership of completed physical security related or other end-to-end system project design, analysis, and implementation.
• Expertise and competencies appropriate to the Technical Security Systems department and Safeguards & Security organization (e.g., Program Management, Assurance, Information Protection, Personnel Security, Physical Security Systems, or Classification).
• Technical expertise and knowledge with technical nuclear security systems: Alarm, Communications, & Displays, Intrusion detection, access control, and video systems; and associated DOE/NNSA requirements (e.g., DOE 473.1A, DOE 470.6, etc.).
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and negotiating skills, to include strong verbal and written communication skills that demonstrate the ability to effectively develop trust-based working relationships with multiple internal and external customers and partners.
• Demonstrated leadership, knowledge, and experience in the following:
• Leading and managing technical teams to produce high quality products on schedule in a dynamic and stressful environment.
• Manage successfully and simultaneously (e.g., prioritize and delegate, etc.) tasks and programs within a high ambiguity environment and to establish a continuous process improvement/learning environment.
• Assurance and quality systems.
• Sandia’s Leadership model and Sandia’s safety and security rules and guidelines.

*Due to the nature of the work, this position is full-time on-site.

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.

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