Senior/Principal R&D Microwave & Sensor Engineer - RF and Radar, 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 research and development technical staff member to serve as a RF Communication and Radar Engineer within the Space Mission Engineering Program Office (6350). The selected applicant will join our team as an R&D S&E Microwave and Sensor Engineer for Radar ISR mission and will employ differentiating technologies and capabilities to the unmet space-based mission needs of our partners. Emphasis will be placed on developing or incorporating innovative RF and radar technologies into new architectures to meet these needs. Sandia's Space Mission Engineering Program Office (SMEPO) strives to enhance and protect the nation's space enterprise. As the trusted resource to our government and industry partners we seek solutions to the toughest space-based mission challenges and respond with resolve, creativity, and skill. To this end, we innovate across the spectrum of space infrastructure; from ground stations to flight payloads, new materials to advanced algorithms, modeling and simulation to hardware realization, using the full strength of Sandia to create the future.

As part of Sandia's Space Mission Engineering Program Office (SMEPO) you will be a part of science and engineering projects that will advance our national security in space. You will have real impact supporting compelling real-world missions.

On any given day...

• You will find your "space" in National security
  • Work on real-world missions
  • Work with extraordinary people
• You will build relationships with partners and influencers:
  • Interact with customers and stakeholders
  • Represent Sandia within the technical community
  • Engage with commercial or industry partners
  • Mentor junior staff
  • Occasionally travel to engage partners
  • Work with technical teams to ensure expectations and requirements are met
• You will develop and incorporate innovative technologies
  • Analyze, design, and develop radar systems, subsystems, and modules
  • Develop or mature RF technologies to enable new mission capabilities
  • Utilize Sandia's internal scientific research programs, and internal partnerships
  • Support customer funded advanced development needs
  • Incorporate new RF technologies into remote sensing mission solutions
  • Define performance requirements
  • Provide engineering and programmatic documentation
  • Apply knowledge and experience to evaluate and review work quality, performance, and alignment of results with customer expectations.

This position is based in Albuquerque, NM, and requires work to be done onsite. Occasional travel is expected.

$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.
• The ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q with SCI security clearance.

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

• Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering or a directly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Laboratory skills and knowledge of RF and digital equipment
• Knowledge of RF, digital communications, electronic warfare, and cyber security systems and principles
• Strong space related experience
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong foundation in radar fundamentals and digital signal processing
• Advanced knowledge of microwave and RF sensor design, including radar, radiometers, and related microwave instrumentation
• RF and Microwave Design and Analysis: Proficiency in designing, analyzing, and optimizing RF circuits and systems, including amplifiers, and filters.
• Satellite Communication Systems: Understanding of satellite communication principles, including modulation techniques, link budgets, and ground station design.
• Signal Processing: Experience with digital signal processing techniques and tools for RF signal analysis and enhancement.
• Software Proficiency: Familiarity with RF simulation software (e.g., ADS, HFSS, CST) and programming languages (e.g., MATLAB, Python, C++, Java) for modeling and analysis.
• Testing and Measurement: Skills in using RF test equipment such as spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, and oscilloscopes for performance evaluation.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Understanding of FCC regulations and standards related to satellite communications and RF emissions

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

• Hands-on experience of realizing a remote sensing subsystem through its lifecycle (designs/architecture, implementation/build, testing and deployment).
• Demonstrated ability to develop new methods and processes by identifying new approaches for solving complex and difficult technical problems.
• Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with external and internal partners.
• Project leadership experience and demonstrated ability to deliver results
• Expertise with space systems engineering, remote sensing, or space control
• Experience realizing space-based payloads through its lifecycle
• Experience implementing and leading SCI and/or Special Access Program (SAP) level technical projects.
• Possess a strong dedication to positive teaming dynamics, strong written and verbal skills, detail oriented with a keen focus on customer service.
• Experience with development for satellite payloads, and/or aerospace programs.

The Resilient Systems Department executes customer-funded projects for the development of robust mission systems as part of the Space Mission Program. We have core capabilities in: the development of systems and software for space situational awareness (SSA) and space control (SC); development of SSA analytics; solutions for cybersecurity as it applies to space systems and the space mission; DevOps and its application to software development for space flight and ground systems; and development and fielding of operational mission IT systems.

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 and SCI access, both of which require US citizenship. SCI access may also require a polygraph examination. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain these levels of access 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 the 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.