Description

About Sandia

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.

What Your Job Will Be Like

We are seeking a R&D S&E, Systems Research professional to support U.S. Government efforts at the intersection of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information (NNPI) and international/state safeguards implementation. This role requires deep, hands-on experience with Naval Reactors (NR) programs and naval reactor plant information, strong systems-engineering discipline, and the ability to translate complex technical and security requirements into workable information-protection processes that still enable mission execution.

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

• Review and assess existing NNPI protection practices, identify gaps/vulnerabilities, and recommend mitigations consistent with applicable security requirements and directives.
• Develop or refine a safeguards-aligned information-protection framework that enables safeguards obligations (e.g., managed access, declaration review, controlled disclosures) while preventing release of restricted naval propulsion information.
• Define and document information boundaries, redaction rules, controlled release processes, and decision workflows for sensitive technical materials.
• Prepare briefings, talking points, technical summaries, and decision memos for Government stakeholders; communicate clearly with interagency and (as appropriate) international counterparts.
• Support interagency coordination by interpreting safeguards implementation needs and translating them into practical engineering and information-protection requirements.
• Develop and deliver training and awareness materials (slides, job aids, reference guides) and support orientations for Government and contractor personnel.
• Produce monthly progress updates and contribute to written assessments and final deliverables under short timelines.
• Apply systems engineering methods to ambiguous, high-consequence problems involving security, compliance, and technical program execution.

Due to the nature of this work the selected applicant will need to work onsite in Washington D.C.

Salary Range

$120,900 - $242,500

*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.

Qualifications We Require

• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and five (5) 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 DOE Q clearance or Equivalent

Qualifications We Desire

The ideal R&D S&E Systems Research and Analysis candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

Desired Qualifications

• Graduate degree in a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• The ability to understand, synthesize, and draw insights from multiple types of data streams (e.g., technical, economic, policy) through the use of various analytical tools.
• Experience working as part of multi-disciplinary teams examining complex systems.
• Knowledge of the fundamentals of good project management, especially as it pertains to the execution of federally-funded work (e.g., proposal development through annal review, final delivery, and closeout).
• Experience working with federal sponsors in the defense and intelligence sectors, as well as their domestic FFRDC partners, international partnering agencies, and foreign governments.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams delivering critical information to customers in a succinct manner.

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

• Demonstrated experience developing and executing systems engineering products (requirements, interfaces, verification/validation approaches, technical baselines, decision documentation, or comparable artifacts).
• Experience working in high-security, controlled-information environments with rigorous handling requirements (e.g., classified, controlled unclassified, export-controlled, or similarly restricted information).
• Strong technical writing and briefing skills; ability to produce clear materials for senior technical and policy stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively across organizations and disciplines (technical, security, policy, program management).
• Deep, direct experience supporting Naval Reactors (NR) / naval nuclear propulsion programs, including familiarity with how NNPI is generated, used, protected, and reviewed in real operational/programmatic contexts.
• Experience applying or supporting NNPI protection rules and implementing practical processes for controlled review, redaction, and release.
• Background supporting IAEA safeguards, U.S. safeguards policy implementation, State System of Accounting and Control (SSAC) concepts, managed access, or declaration review processes.
• Experience building information-protection frameworks that reconcile competing requirements (mission execution vs. information restriction), including boundary definition and governance/workflow design.
• Experience supporting Government stakeholder engagement: interagency coordination, meeting facilitation, and preparation of executive-level briefings.
• Training development experience (job aids, slide decks, reference guides) for technical/security audiences.

About Our Team

The mission of the International Safeguards and Engagements Department (6817) is to provide technical solutions to the international safeguards regime and support the development of safeguards and export control competencies in partner countries. Through our US government sponsors we research technologies, build capabilities, and provide analyses to support the international nuclear nonproliferation monitoring regime's mission of ensuring that nuclear activities are used for peaceful purposes.

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

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.

EEO

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.

NNSA Requirements for MedPEDs

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.

Position Information

This Limited Term Employee (LTE) position is a temporary position for one year term, which may be renewed at Sandia's discretion up to a maximum of seven years.

Individuals in LTE positions may bid on regular Sandia positions as internal candidates, and in some cases may be converted to regular career positions during their term if warranted by ongoing operational needs, continuing availability of funds, and satisfactory job performance.