Cleared R&D Manager - Inertial Systems, Onsite

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
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• 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.

Sandia's 5320 Navigation, Pointing, and Control & Electronics Systems Group is seeking a visionary and technically grounded R&D Science and Engineering Manager to lead our Inertial Systems Department (5326), operating at the intersection of advanced technology development and national security. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of mission-critical systems by building and empowering a multidisciplinary team of world-class engineers while partnering with senior leaders across a complex, fast-moving environment. This role is pivotal in supporting our mission to deliver inertial sensor subsystems for defense and nuclear deterrence applications. The ideal candidate brings both technical depth and the leadership maturity to operate strategically across programs, partnerships, and people.

On any given day you may be called upon to:

Leadership & People Development

You will recruit, develop, and retain exceptional engineering talent across Electrical, Mechanical, and Systems Engineering domains for high-performing inertial sensor subsystems teams. You are intentional about building culture, creating development pathways, and mentoring future technical and people leaders. You set high standards, hold your team to them with care, and celebrate their growth. You build pipelines, not just headcount, and think about long-term organizational health with every hire.

Strategic Planning & Organizational Direction

Working closely with program managers, senior leaders, and government partners, you will help shape the long-term technical roadmap and resource strategy for the organization. You will:

• Advocate for performance quality in inertial sensor subsystem development, optimizing engineering release timelines to ensure successful project outcomes,
• Develop embedded hardware and software test beds utilized for sensor characterization, and
• Enhance the capabilities of the Inertial Test Lab (ITL) through strategic acquisitions and improvements.
• Expand influence through the right balance of delivery and business development.

Peer Collaboration & Cross-Functional Partnership

You will work shoulder-to-shoulder with peer managers and stakeholders to align priorities, share resources intelligently, resolve interdependencies, and maintain a culture of collaboration across a matrixed organization. You build trust through consistency, candor, and follow-through. Specifically, you will:

• Collaborate with stakeholders to identify and implement tech insertion options, enhancing the development landscape for the W87 HASP IMU.
• Oversee the engineering development and qualification of the W87-1 JTA10 IMU HASP and partner with KC-NSC as we assure successful production transition.
• Lead sub-sensor teams for the W93 PLM accelerometer evaluation, collaborating with external vendors to test and evaluate next-generation sensors.
• Augment team capabilities through strategic contracting and partnerships with external design and manufacturing firms.
• Oversee the delivery of legacy flight units (RSR, GLN-MAC, W87-0 JTA4 HASP) for various programs, ensuring alignment with defense and nuclear deterrence objectives.
• Maintain strong partnerships with AFNWC and other stakeholders to assess sensor vulnerabilities and enhance testing methodologies.

Due to the nature of work, successful candidate must be able to work onsite.

$163,700 - $278,000

*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.

• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and eight (8) 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 Q security clearance or equivalent.

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

• Two or more years of demonstrated leadership experience.
• A graduate degree in science or engineering (MS or Ph.D.).
• Outstanding interpersonal skills in developing trusting relationships with peers, staff, management, customers, and stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in the development and delivery of presentations, proposals, reports and documentation.

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

• Demonstrated experience leading within Sandia Labs and/or a peer national security, defense, or intelligence community environment
• Experience as a theorist and experimenter in full cycle of engineering development and delivery, concept, design, review, fabrication, prototype, test, analysis, product acceptance
• Proven experience in the field of inertial sensors and related technologies.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and innovation in engineering practices.

Sandia's Department 5326 - Inertial Systems is dedicated to developing and delivering cutting-edge sensor and electronic subsystems for missile systems, air-delivered applications, and ground navigation. Our work involves advancing current design initiatives and creating prototype and surrogate items, all of which undergo rigorous testing and characterization in thermal, vibration, shock, various motion, electromagnetic, and radiation environments. The organization excels in engineering development for the interface, testing, and evaluation of inertial sensors, ensuring their integration into complex electronic and mechanical systems. Our team possesses a diverse range of skills, including expertise in electronics engineering, software design, mechanical modeling and design, and electro-mechanical fabrication. Our product development process encompasses conceptualization, requirements gathering, modeling, detailed design, fabrication, system integration, testing, and data analysis, all aimed at delivering reliable solutions to our various customers.

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.

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.

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.

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.