Senior/Principal - R&D Systems Engineer - ND Futures and Special Projects, Onsite

About Sandia 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. What Your Job Will Be Like The ND Futures and Special Projects department (00231) is seeking a self‑motivated Systems Engineer Lead with a background in mechanical or electrical engineering to join our dynamic, multidisciplinary team. In this fast‑paced role, you will support the maturation and demonstration of technologies and capabilities that shape and inform both current and future nuclear deterrent systems. As the ideal candidate, you will be driven to deliver flight hardware that advances scientific and technological innovations for future nuclear deterrent programs. You will apply systems thinking to navigate technical and programmatic risks while ensuring that mechanical designs integrate seamlessly with engineering disciplines. Your ability to work under tight deadlines will be crucial in ensuring that project milestones are consistently achieved. Key Responsibilities Cost modeling and Budget Planning: manage lifecycle cost analysis to support strategic decision‑making and tactical execution related to flight system mechanical design and electrical design. Mechanical Definitions: develop and define mechanical specifications, ensuring compatibility with electrical and software systems, and coordinate thermal and mechanical analyses. Electrical Definitions: develop and define electrical specifications ensuring compatibility with mechanical and software systems, coordinate electrical system architecture, and electrical analyses. Requirements Management: Define, document, and verify system requirements to ensure alignment with project objective. Test Planning and Execution: guide the planning, execution, and verification of requirements for testing. Daily Tasks Collaboration with external agencies, fostering strong partnerships to drive project success. Coordinate with project management personnel to develop schedules, budgets, and project plans. Partner with stakeholders to define interface requirements, deliverables, and risks. Influence design decisions to optimize cost without compromising system integrity or compliance. Develop the payload layout and definition, coordinating and supporting payload integration activities, including assembly, testing, and troubleshooting. Assist with launch operations for flight tests. We collaborate with a range of external partners, including DOD stakeholders (USN and USAF), DOE/NNSA, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the United Kingdom's Atomic Weapons Establishment, and the Kansas City National Security Campus. Additionally, we work across Sandia with various organizations involved in component design, test and evaluation, foundational research, computational simulation, and intelligence analysis. Due to the nature of work, successful candidate must be able to work onsite. Some travel required (