Senior/Principal R&D Materials Science - Welding Engineer, 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 Power Sources Technology Group is seeking an enthusiastic, self-motivated Welding Engineer to join our dynamic, high-impact team. This role is a mix of two distinct, but unique roles as both a subject matter expert in welding and joining various materials as well as a member of the PSTG Engineering Projects team supporting design and R&D efforts in the thermoelectric energy conversion space.

For the role of welding engineer, you will own the development and qualification of Power Source weld schedules for mission critical production, as well as support R&D weld development. Expertise in materials science and metallurgy, including steels and nonferrous alloys is highly desirable. Understanding and familiarity with various welding techniques such as laser, resistance, and TIG welding of various metals including nickel, cobalt, titanium, stainless steels (austenitic, martensitic, precipitation hardening steel etc.), and refractory alloys.

The work is a balance of managing emergent welding issues and capability maintenance for the Power Sources Technology Group with a secondary focus in thermoelectric and energy conversion design and R&D.

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

• Oversee a wide berth of projects requiring evaluation of welds and their suitability using advanced materials characterization, metallurgical analyses, materials knowledge, and failure analysis efforts as part of the ND mission
• Develop, inspect and approve weld schedules, maintenance and troubleshooting of welding systems, analysis of field return hardware, and direction and training of hands-on welding activities to support Product Realization activities
• Solve complex problems in conversion power source technologies ranging from tech basis R&D to full Production.
• Interface with multiple groups within 7440, as well as other labs, plants, and sites including Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC) and Los Alamos National Labs (LANL), weapons systems, and NNSA customers in addition
• Collaborate with other Sandia Subject Matter Experts

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
• Ability to obtain and maintain Sigma 15 access

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

• Graduate degree in Materials Science or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation)
• Experience in a research and development environment
• Experience with materials characterization techniques
• Experience working on teams consisting of multidisciplinary and multi-disciplinary experimentalists, modelers, and theorists with a common goal
• Effective interpersonal skills for giving presentations, preparing reports, writing articles, and explaining the important aspects of technical work to customers

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

• Preference for a background in physical or welding metallurgy
• Familiarity with automated welding systems including programming and troubleshooting
• Comfortable with self-directed work
• Familiarity with battery and other power source technologies, principles, hazards, and operating characteristics
• Experience with 6.X product realization within the NNSA complex.
• Demonstrated ability to perform complex, hazardous operations safely
• Experience applying Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)
• Demonstrated commitment to learning and adhering to Sandias policies and procedures
• Ability to model and promote behaviors that align with Sandias core values
• An active DOE Q-level security clearance; or other equivalent active security clearance
• Ability to uphold a culture of rigorous safety, security, and mutual respect

Organization 07449, Engineering Projects, is responsible for design, surveillance, and R&D for high consequence energy conversion technologies that support critical Nuclear Deterrence applications and others. Providing support to the entire product life cycle, developing novel power source solutions to meet the challenges of today and the future.

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.