Quality Assurance Specialist - SNL WIPP, 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
• 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 motivated and innovative Quality Assurance Specialist to join Sandia's Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (SNL WIPP) Quality Assurance team in Carlsbad, NM. As a QA Specialist, you will play a critical role in ensuring the integrity and effectiveness of Sandia's scientific and operations activities. You will be expected to perform analyses, conduct investigations, and formulate and recommend corrective and preventive actions for specific issues. You will develop and monitor performance metrics and liaise with stakeholders on new or updated procedures and test plans. As a champion for high quality results institution-wide, you will help drive continuous improvement and foster a culture of excellence.

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

• Assess processes and systems against various requirements, conduct risk analysis, root cause analysis, and corrective or preventive actions.
• Assist the QA Team, Management, and staff with quality planning, documentation, and problem identification and resolution.
• Apply principles and techniques of auditing, including planning, examining, evaluating, and reporting.
• Conduct QA audits, assessments, and surveillances and support internal and external audits.
• Identify opportunities to eliminate, create, or streamline internal procedures and local policies to enhance efficiency and quality.
• Assist in preparing for external audits/ assessments.
• Exercise quality management over SNL Carlsbad procedures and test plans to ensure compliance with regulatory, contractual, and internal legal requirements.
• Ensure continuous improvement of document control by streamlining processes and increasing operational efficiency and transparency.
• Foster a safe, secure, creative, and productive work environment for all.

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

$74,700 - $144,400

*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.

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, geology, hydrogeology, hydrology, chemistry, math, or other relevant field; or equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of the job.
• Demonstrated experience with the quality assurance requirements, such as ASME NQA-1, -2, or -3.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE L-level security clearance.

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant STEM field.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and follow through to completion on multiple tasks.
• Ability to deliver results and effectively guide multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to facilitate uncompromising, high-quality standards while maintaining effective working relationships.
• Ability to track, analyze, and identify trends in data to detect areas of risk and systemic issues, and provide effective solutions.
• Ability to identify and implement process improvements while adhering to standards and raising expectations.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to model behaviors that reflect Sandia's core values.
  

The INWM program comprises approximately 50 staff across three departments, supporting Sandia's role as scientific advisor to the Department of Energy's Carlsbad Field Office (CBFO) for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). Sandia's involvement with WIPP began in the fall of 1974, and our Carlsbad office was established in 1994, reflecting the enduring importance of this work. WIPP, operated by Salado Isolation Mining Contractors, LLC under contract to CBFO, is the world's only licensed and operating deep geologic repository for the disposal of transuranic waste. Its significance to the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) will only increase with new plutonium pit production at Los Alamos National Laboratory, as WIPP remains the nation's sole repository for defense-related nuclear waste. Sandia National Laboratories Carlsbad provides scientific advice to CBFO in areas such as modifications to the repository's operating permits, periodic recertification, ongoing monitoring of repository performance against regulatory requirements, and optimization of the national transuranic waste complex. The Quality Assurance team oversees the SNL WIPP quality program to ensure that work products meet or exceed customers needs and expectations. Our work is vital to ensuring the future of nuclear waste management in the United States.

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.

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 L-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 the 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.