Early Career RF/Microwave & Sensor Engineer - Advanced RF Comms, 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 early-career RF/Microwave & Sensor Engineer. The ideal candidate will participate in the development of advanced RF systems and concepts in support of a broad range of defense, interagency, special communications, and other programs and R&D initiatives.

On any given day, the successful candidate may be called upon to:

• Analyze, design, and develop RF/microwave circuits, subsystems, and modules
• Design and develop both passive and active antenna structures
• Negotiate technical and programmatic requirements with customers
• Deliver hardware within schedule and budgetary constraints

Candidates are expected to have experience and understanding in the application of principles, theories, concepts, and practices relating to RF system design, to perform modeling and simulation in support of design and analysis activities, and to participate in experimental testing of completed designs. Candidates must have the ability to work successfully in a dynamic, interdisciplinary, team environment.

This R&D RF/Microwave & Sensor Engineer position requires on-site work in a collaborative electronics laboratory environment using iterative/agile methods to develop capabilities and requires occasional travel of approximately 4 trips per year.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant will be required to work onsite. Relocation provided for those who qualify.

$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.

• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, 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 and maintain a DOE Q and SCI clearance which may require a polygraph test.
  

The ideal R&D S&E Microwave & Sensor Engineer candidate will in addition possess the following:

• Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Laboratory skills and knowledge of RF and digital test equipment.
• Knowledge of RF, Digital Communications, Electronic Warfare, and Cyber Security systems and principles.
• Ability to work successfully in a dynamic, interdisciplinary, teaming environment.

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

• Experience with antenna design, RF circuit design, and RF system design
• Experience with commercial RF circuit simulation, antenna design tools, and system simulation tools (Altium Designer, Siemens Xpedition, Keysight RF Synthesis, Keysight ADS, Ansys STK etc.)
• Familiarity with and experience in the use of RF test equipment (network analysis, spectrum analysis, noise measurements, etc.)
• Experience with design, fabrication, and testing of the following: RF front ends, low noise amplifiers, power amplifiers, phase locked loops and synthesizers, mixers, filters, other RF components, etc.
• Experience with pulse Doppler radar design, testing, and troubleshooting
• Familiarity with and experience in the use of antenna measurement techniques (radiation pattern characterization on a compact range or near-field scanner, etc.)
• Ability to work successfully in a dynamic, interdisciplinary, teaming environment
• Excellent communication and documentation skills
• Willingness to make independent contributions to diverse, multi-disciplinary team efforts
• Ability to effectively prioritize and make decisions
• An active Energy Department Q or War Department TS security clearance
• Active SCI access

The Advanced RF Communications department provides system analysis and design for a wide variety of radio frequency (RF) and microwave communications, geolocation, and radar missions with an emphasis on electromagnetic protection. The department missions include terrestrial, airborne, and space systems. Expertise within the department includes digital communications, waveform development, waveform detection, signal processing, and transceiver development. We actively work with our sponsors to understand their complete mission space, including development of new assets or exploitation of existing assets for novel capability or enhanced performance. We intimately partner with other departments within the Intelligent RF Communications business area and throughout Sandia to provide complete solutions to our sponsors.

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 Q-level security clearance and SCI access, both of which require US citizenship. SCI access may also require a polygraph examination. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain these levels of access 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.