Senior/ Principal Mechanical Engineer, Computational Thermal Analyst - 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.

Sandia's Thermal Sciences and Engineering department is seeking an R&D Mechanical Engineer to join a diverse team that uses state-of-the-art analytical and computational simulation techniques, in combination with experimentation and testing, in first-of-a-kind engineering system analysis and thermal science research with a direct impact on national security. We seek individuals with educational backgrounds and professional experience in thermal fluid sciences and computational mechanics including high performance computation environments. The Thermal Science and Engineering team supports the development of defense, space, and energy systems across the national security mission space at Sandia National Laboratories.

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

• Use engineering analysis principles and computational methods to support the design, qualification, and fielding of high consequence engineered systems for national security missions.
• Engage with design engineering teams to understand system context and analysis needs.
• Engage with code development teams to derive and implement novel models and capabilities in high performance computational algorithms.
• Engage with test engineers and technicians to evaluate physical simulation data needed to validate or supplement computational predictions.
• Work to meet critical schedules in an exciting, mission focused environment.

Travel domestically and, less frequently, internationally as required, to support project efforts. Due to the nature of the work, this candidate must be able to work onsite.

$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.

• 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 Security Clearance.

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

• Graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation)
• Ability to work independently and collaborate well in a multidisciplinary team of designers and test engineers.
• Outstanding verbal and written skills, including the ability to develop and present briefings that are clear and compelling.

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

• Ph.D. in Mechanical or a highly related discipline with a thermal and fluid systems emphasis.
• Experience in high-performance computing environments.
• Experience applying finite element analysis techniques to thermal/fluid sciences including conduction, convection, and radiation transport.
• Experience communicating model credibility evidence including code verification, model validation, and uncertainty quantification.
• Experience in design of experiments, solid mechanics, or aerodynamics.
• Ability to work to results oriented schedules in a highly collaborative and multi-disciplinary teaming environment.

The Thermal Sciences and Engineering Department conducts a broad range of technical activities focused on heat transfer, numerical analyses, and related thermal capabilities. Our work spans fundamental research and development to engineering analysis of system performance, safety, and control of thermal environments.

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.