Senior/Principal Nuclear Engineer - Applied Nuclear Technologies, 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.

The Applied Nuclear Technologies department is seeking a Senior/Principal Nuclear Engineer to support technically challenging work in service of nation's security missions. In this role, you will contribute to the development, execution, and analysis of experiments focused on radiation effects in materials and electronics.

You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team supporting mission-driven programs and will be expected to contribute across a range of activities, including hands-on experimental work, modeling and simulation, numerical data analysis, and technical and Work Planning and Control (WP&C) documentation. The successful candidate will be a self-motivated engineer or scientist who is excited to contribute to demanding experiments and take ownership and grow into a leadership role.

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

• Support the planning, setup, execution, and post-test analysis of radiation effects experiments.
• Apply knowledge of radiation interactions with materials to interpret results and support the design of experiments.
• Work with a team to use MCNP and related computational tools to enhance understanding of experiments.
• Process, analyze, and visualize experimental or simulation data using Python, MATLAB, or similar technical tools.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, and other documentation that clearly communicate methods, results, and recommendations.
• Work closely with scientists, engineers, and technologists in a collaborative team environment.
• Contribute to both hands-on laboratory/test activities and office-based work.

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

$117,500 - $235,700

*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 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.
• The ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-clearance

The ideal R&D Nuclear Engineer candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

• Graduate degree in Nuclear Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g. independent project, thesis, or dissertation)
• Operational experience with radiological and/or nuclear facilities
• Experience performing radiation transport modeling
• Knowledge of criticality safety and criticality analysis
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams

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

• Experience or background in radiation interactions with materials.
• Experience supporting or conducting experimental work, including test execution, data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
• Experience using Python, MATLAB, or similar tools for numerical data processing, analysis, and visualization.
• Ability and interest to work in a role that combines hands-on experimental activities with office-based modeling, planning, analysis, and reporting.
• Demonstrated self-motivation, strong work ethic, and ability to take initiative in a technically demanding environment.
• Familiarity with MCNP for radiation transport or related nuclear engineering analyses.
• Experience in nuclear engineering, radiation effects, experimental science, or related technical work.
• Experience helping lead or coordinate experimental activities, test campaigns, or technical tasks.
• Experience applying computational modeling to support experimental design or interpret results.
• Familiarity with radiation effects testing, detector systems, dosimetry, or nuclear measurements.
• Experience with uncertainty analysis, statistical methods, or validation of simulation results against data.
• Demonstrated interest in applying technical skills to national security missions.
  

As a part of the Radiation & Electrical Sciences Center, the Applied Nuclear Technologies Department (org. 1314) explores, develops, and applies physics and engineering principles to many areas of nuclear and electrical engineering. The Department is responsible for the Device Physics, Energetic Neutrons, Transient Neutrons and High-G portion of the Sandia's Weapon Survivability (WS) Program. Our group conducts high fidelity radiation effects experiments on semiconductor devices and materials at facilities such as the Annular Core Research Reactor, the National Ignition Facility, and the Laboratory for Laser Energetics in support of national security missions. We collaborate with the Nuclear Facilities Operations and the Radiation Modeling and Metrology departments at Sandia to 1) tailor and characterize appropriate testing environments in the TA-V nuclear facilities to meet customer needs and 2) design and conduct nuclear criticality experiments in the Sandia Critical Experiments (SCX) Facility for the NNSA DOE Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP) and develop and deliver Hands-on training with critical experiments for the NCSP. We operate and maintain a semiconductor devices laboratory which uses a variety of semiconductor defect characterization techniques to analyze native defects and radiation-induced defects in semiconductor devices and to understand the damage mechanisms in devices exposed to radiation. This team is part of the Radiation, Electrical and High Energy Density Science (REHEDS) Research Foundation at Sandia.

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, 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.