R&D Computer Software Tester Engineer - NW Arming & Fuzing Systems, 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

On Any Given Day, You May:

• Software Development: Design, develop, and enhance software for both new and existing test systems utilizing your expertise in programming languages such as Python, C#, C++, and LabVIEW, among others. Ability to develop and work with the Test Stand.
• Test Sequence Management: Create and modify test sequences for both new and existing testers, addressing, and debugging failures, and implementing software updates to facilitate field testing and troubleshooting.
• User Interface Design: Develop intuitive and user-friendly Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) that significantly improve usability and testing effectiveness.
• Data Analysis Algorithms: Design algorithms for parsing and evaluating test data to ensure accurate and efficient analysis.
• Cross-Organizational Collaboration: Work collaboratively across organizations to develop modular software algorithms that are compatible with multiple tester platforms.
• Hardware Integration: Integrate software solutions that interface with Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) products or custom-designed hardware specifically developed for weapon systems.
• Documentation and Reporting: Author, maintain, and review comprehensive software documentation and technical reports to support long-term system sustainability.
• Design Review Leadership: Lead and actively participate in tester design reviews, influencing technical direction and design decisions.
• Technical Drawing Development: Contribute to the development, review, and maintenance of tester drawing sets to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Presentation Skills: Present software architecture, testing strategies, and design concepts to multidisciplinary engineering teams, fostering understanding and collaboration.
• Team Collaboration: Collaborate closely with team leadership, systems engineers, and cross-functional partners to address product and test-related inquiries effectively.
• Field Support and Travel: Periodically travel to the Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC) for tester collaboration and troubleshooting, as well as to remote test sites to support modifications and enhancements.

Why Join Us
Our team thrives in a positive, inclusive environment where mentors and learners work side by side. We believe the best ideas emerge through collaboration, shared knowledge, and mutual respect, and we actively invest in each other's technical growth and career development.

By joining Department 5357, you'll be part of a high-performing, mission-driven organization solving complex, meaningful engineering challenges that directly support national security. Your work will matter, your expertise will be valued, and your contributions will have real impact.

If you're seeking a role where your software and test engineering skills enable cutting-edge systems, where your voice and leadership are encouraged, and where you can grow alongside talented peers, we invite you to apply and build your future with us.

• Due to the nature of work, successful candidate must be able to work onsite.

$102,400 - $199,700

• 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, 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-level security clearance.
  

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

• Graduate degree in Computer Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Demonstrated ability to execute and deliver technical work products with application of appropriate rigor and pedigree documentation (design/code reviews, technical oversight/approvals, project team concurrence, artifact generation, etc.).
• Experience in computer systems design and software development for real-time and embedded processing systems, distributed processing systems, or real-time client server implementations.
• Familiarity with hardware/software requirements generation for verification, validation and qualification.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multidisciplinary, multi-disciplinary team setting for a common purpose.

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

• Programming experience and/or utilizing data acquisition and control hardware, including controllers, power modules, multiplexers, and other I/O peripheral hardware.
• Demonstrated software development experience.
• Experience with analog, digital, and/or radio frequency (RF) circuit design, including requirements definition, preliminary design, system integration, and verification/validation.
• Hands-on experience using laboratory equipment such as power supplies, signal generators, oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, spectrum analyzers, and network analyzers.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience developing and delivering presentations, proposals, reports, specifications, test plans, and technical documentation.
• Proven teamwork and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated abilities in leadership, collaboration, negotiation, delegation, and conflict resolution in diverse team environments.
• Ability to successfully manage multiple priorities, adapt to changing requirements, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced engineering environment.
• Active DOE Q-level security clearance.

The Weapon Interface & Controllers Department is responsible for the development and delivery of arming and fuzing controllers that interface with nuclear warheads/bombs and their delivery platforms. Currently, the primary focus of the department is on the design and qualification of the W80-4 Warhead Controller Unit (WCU) and the W80-5 Warhead Interface Unit (WIU). Our technical expertise encompasses the entire product realization lifecycle, including weapon controller architecture and design, prototyping, testing, and qualification. We specialize in radiation-hardened electronics, test development, and integration of flight-test modules.

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.