Senior Manager, R&D Science and Engineering - System Integration, Electrical Test & Analytics

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.

We are seeking a dynamic and visionary R&D Senior Manager to lead and inspire a high-performing team of managers, team leads, and technical staff dedicated to delivering innovative, cross-system solutions that form the technical foundation for successful nuclear deterrence (ND) systems development across the ND modernization portfolio. In this role, you will lead and mentor a multi-layer organization responsible for integrated cross-system solutions spanning system hardware management, assembly, testers, testing, data analytics, and information technology.

You will set and drive technical and execution priorities for system-level hardware and assembly builds, functional electrical testing, system tester design, and advanced data analytics to achieve critical ND modernization milestones. Your leadership will drive excellence at the system level, ensuring that hardware, testing, and analytics efforts are aligned to meet evolving program needs and deliver impactful results.

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

• Coordinate with ND modernization program leadership and key capability partners to anticipate needs, remove roadblocks, and ensure schedules, deliverables, and interfaces remain aligned and agile to future needs.
• Optimize resource allocation by balancing personnel, facilities, equipment, and budget across multiple concurrent programs as priorities evolve.
• Monitor technical progress and risk across ND development builds, new tester designs, and test campaigns; ensure effective corrective actions, issue resolution, and rapid troubleshooting when problems arise.
• Partner with Systems teams to define, integrate, and trace test strategies, requirements, and verification approaches across system objectives.
• Oversee development and sustainment of system testers including architecture, hardware, software, calibration, maintenance plans, and configuration management.
• Champion the adoption of advanced data analytics, dashboards, and digital tools to enhance test throughput, generate actionable insights, and support informed decision-making.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with internal stakeholders and external sites (e.g., Kansas City National Security Campus, Pantex) to align strategic investments and execute plans effectively.
• Represent the organization in cross-center and cross-program reviews communicating status, risks, resource needs, and strategic direction to senior leadership.
• Foster a culture of safety, security, and quality ensuring compliant activity-level operations in hardware, assembly and test environments through disciplined engineering practices.
• Recruit, develop, and retain top talent setting clear performance expectations, coaching leaders, and shaping the teams long-term capabilities and technical vision.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite. Moderate travel is required.

$193,000 - $328,200

*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.

• Master's degree in a relevant STEM field, plus 6 or more years of directly relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and engineering or scientific experience.
  • Bachelor's degree in relevant STEM field plus, ten or more years of directly relevant experience
• Experience in strategic planning, resource allocation, and program execution within national security or defense sectors.
• Active DOE Q clearance or equivalent with the ability to obtain and maintain an SCI clearance.

• Five or more years of proven leadership and management experience, with a strong track record of building, inspiring, and sustaining high-performing teams that consistently exceed performance goals.
• Proven expertise in multiple weapon systems design, development, and qualification, delivering technically robust and compliant solutions through rigorous modeling, testing, analysis, and simulation. Deep knowledge of nuclear weapons programs, Sandias technical capabilities, and the broader Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE), leveraging these to drive program success and innovation.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large, complex projects and Product Realization Teams from inception to successful delivery, consistently meeting challenging customer requirements for quality, schedule, and cost.
• Experience leading teams engaged in rigorous, high consequence activity level work performed safely and securely across precision mechanical assembly and electrical testing including high voltage.
• Knowledge of system tester design and development.
• Knowledge of advanced data analytics and tools especially as applied to very large data sets.
• Skilled in motivating personnel, managing complex workforce issues, and resolving conflicts to foster a productive and positive work environment.
• Exceptional problem-solving, presentation, proposal development, and negotiation skills, effectively influencing decision-making at all organizational levels.

Center 2300 partners with Center 8200 to lead the Laboratories' efforts to modernize and develop integrated engineering solutions for the next generation of nuclear weapon systems from concept to stable full-rate production. 2330 partners across the Laboratories Centers to enable the success of the current and future Nuclear Deterrence Modernization programs.

Our ND System Modernization organizations team to mature and sustain technical competencies critical to realizing ND system solutions, including, but not limited to, systems engineering, systems integration, system technical basis and qualification, product realization, system tester development, system assembly and disassembly, hardware management, and data analysis.

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.

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.