Senior/Principal R&D Chemical Engineer - Neutron Tube Design, 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 highly motivated, team-oriented individual to join our neutron tube design team. A core responsibility of the neutron design team is to maintain the product definition for existing products and create the definition for new designs. In support of neutron tube production, you will be asked to assist with the procurement of piece parts (addressing non-conformances), provide technical recommendations for processing, and support problem solving activities. You will also perform technical analysis of designs to better understand performance limitations and use this knowledge to create advanced designs. You will also support the neutron generator component design teams (both ferroelectric and electronic) with the sustainment of existing products as well as the development of new generator concepts. The selected candidate will regularly interact with technical peers of diverse technical backgrounds within the organization as well as co-workers across the Neutron Generator Enterprise and technical experts around Sandia.

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

• Provide engineering support for the local production agency by analyzing the impacts of changes/exceptions to the manufacturing process, maintaining process specifications, and assisting with the development of work instructions
• Support sustainment and assessment efforts on our NT designs and maintain our lifetime estimation algorithms
• Provide technical support to our tester development team to help with maintaining our neutron tube tester fleet used on the production floor
• Work as part of a team to explore advanced NT designs and perform trade analyses that consider design constraints passed down by next assembly
• Maintain drawing definition for our piece parts and use both engineering judgement and technical analysis to address non-conformance situations
• Perform geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) analysis of drawings to improve our ability to fabricate, inspect, and assemble parts
• Collaborate with experts on plasma physics experiments, advanced plasma modeling, and materials analysis in our S&T organization 07585 and partners in division 01000
• Coordinate and track the pedigree of multiple experimental test units, document test results, and communicate through presentations

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
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance

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

• Graduate degree in Chemical Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation)
• Proven ability to work and communicate effectively in a collaborative and interdisciplinary team environment
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced/schedule driven environment

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

• Experience with mechanical design, CAD software (e.g., CREO), and geometrical dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T)
• Experience with the ND product development cycle (i.e. 6.x) and a working knowledge of the engineering documentation system (e.g., PRIME, PDMlink)
• Experience and familiarity within the plasma physics, neutron tube operation, nuclear deterrence arena and product lifecycles, relating to the system or component level
• Experience with component environmental testing (radiation, thermal, shock & vibe), qualification processes, and surveillance activities
• Experience with high voltage design and methods to avoid electrical breakdown
• Computational modeling experience using Sandias Sierra codes or multiphysics simulation packages (e.g., COMSOL) to manage electric field and plasma dynamics.
• A functional understanding of materials, particularly metals and ceramics, and processing knowledge
• Demonstrated ability to successfully coordinate complex work activities, document & present results, and manage resources
• Experience supporting multiple customers, ranging from production, NG component engineers, and advanced and exploratory personnel

The FENG and Tube Lifecycle Engineering Department (7584) is responsible for the design and development of Neutron Tubes (NTs) and Ferroelectric Neutron Generators (FENGs) for War Reserve, Laboratory, and Field Test applications of Nuclear Weapons. Within the department resides expertise in nuclear engineering, chemical engineering, materials science, chemistry, and electrical engineering. These diverse areas work together to innovate and mature technology in the areas of NT and NG physical and electrical design, NT and NG modeling/simulation, active ceramic and insulative ceramic materials. We also work closely with the explosives component organization and the local NG production agency. Team members are responsible for assessing the health and performance of the current Nuclear Stockpile and contributing to the Annual Assessment Report for the Nuclear Stockpile. We provide stewardship of our designs and products from delivery to the stockpile through disposal at end of life. By working together our department is flexible and resourceful, allowing us to contribute to our nation s need for a reliable deterrent.

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.

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.