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Cleared Senior/Principal Engineering Program/Project Lead - Explosive Components, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories
401(k), relocation assistance
United States, New Mexico, Albuquerque
1515 Eubank Boulevard Southeast (Show on map)
Jun 17, 2025

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 an Engineering and Operations, Engineering Program/Project Lead to support multiple Product Realization Teams (PRTs) that are tasked with developing and qualifying explosive components for the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE).

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



  • Plan and direct engineering projects for internal and external customers, coordinating as required with work performed in other internal and external organizations.

  • Define system, subsystem, and component requirements, project scope, schedules, cost estimates, and deliverables that support mission objectives.

  • Negotiate deliverables with external customers and partners.

  • Apply standard principles and advanced project management techniques and tools to develop project plans and detailed work breakdown structures, work packages, and resource loaded schedules.

  • Organize and manage project resources to ensure that deliverables and objectives are met according to the project management plan.

  • Provide leadership and tactical planning for execution of projects and apply engineering expertise by using familiarity and experience with the product realization process and engineering understanding of the component design process.

  • Draw on technical experience such as glass to metal sealing, laser welding, resistance welding, soldering, test methods (nondestructive, destructive, environmental) to achieve project objectives and deliverables and efficiently talk to both the technical and business side of the project.

  • Use engineering judgment, within defined scientific and engineering practices (i.e. Drawing/Specifications/Technology used to produce components), to negotiate with customers and program managers to ensure that resources are available to accomplish the work, identify procurement and contracting needs, and marshal resources to complete project deliverables within the scope, schedules, and budgets defined in project work packages.

  • Oversee project teams in the planning, tracking, and execution of project plans from initiation to completion.

  • Manage changes in project scope using change management plans while identifying potential issues, and devising contingency plans, as necessary.

  • Use engineering judgment built upon a strong engineering or technical background in product realization of explosive components to direct technical teams, identify potential project risks, develop risk mitigation strategies and corrective actions, and recommend risk acceptance or avoidance for all aspects of the project.

  • Provide engineering support to one or more aspects of the program or project, in coordination with PRT Leads and Control Account Managers, to address roadblocks and technical issues.

  • Negotiate with the customer on matters of customer requirements and limitations.

  • Conduct technical and program reviews to report status of cost, schedule, and performance to management and customers.

  • Develop and deliver progress reports, proposals, requirements documentation, and presentations.

  • Calculate and analyze variances and make project decisions utilizing Earned Value Management System (EVMS) techniques and tools.

  • Serve as a liaison between the PRT and Project Controllers, Schedulers, and other Business Management Professionals

  • Conduct project postmortems and utilize lessons learned for process improvement.

  • Recommend addition, expansion, or discontinuance of projects.

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



Salary Range:

$114,000 - $227,500

*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:



  • Bachelor's in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) subject area, plus 5 years of relevant technical experience

  • Experience in scientific or engineering disciplines related to technical product realization or design and development of explosive components

  • Experience with technical project management practices for technical work, (i.e., developing project plans, work breakdown structures, and work packages; managing to scope, schedule, budget, and technical baselines; and/or documenting baseline reports and change control actions)

  • Active Q Clearance or DOD equivalent



Qualifications We Desire:



  • Master's degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) subject area

  • Experience with the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) Product Realization Process, including design, development, qualification, and production

  • Demonstrated leadership skills, including the ability to successfully plan, organize, lead, and monitor team efforts to completion.

  • Experience with managing technical requirements

  • Experience with formal problem-solving methods

  • Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with peers, customers, and stakeholders

  • Experience with SNL budget and scheduling tools, including MS Project, P6, PET, CET, PMT, ARM

  • Familiarity with Nuclear Deterrence systems and subsystems

  • Familiarity with hazardous operations

  • Familiarity with EVMS



About Our Team:

Department 7453 designs, prototypes, and evaluates explosive components for Nuclear Deterrence (ND) and Strategic Partnership Projects (SPP) applications. The department serves as the Design Agency (DA) for a broad set of non-nuclear explosive components for all ND systems, including timers, detonators, igniters, actuators, rocket motors, gas generators, indicators, piston motors, primers, command disable devices, and more. In our DA capacity, we support all stages of the component life cycle: technology maturation, requirements development, design, qualification, production, surveillance, and dismantlement. Dept. 7453 operates multiple labs with capabilities that include rapid prototyping, testing, and evaluation of explosive components and assemblies. We also seek to leverage our expertise and capabilities in SPP applications that enhance national security.

Posting Duration:

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) 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.

Job ID: 695681

Job Family: EN

Regular/Temporary Position: R

Full/Part-Time Status: F

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