Description

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

Passionate about your work and dream of developing and implementing state-of-the-art solutions to pressing national and global security needs? Join our team!

We are seeking a senior computer scientist to join our Proliferation Detection Data Exploitation team. The selected applicant will work across multi-disciplinary teams to advance state-of-the-art data science for nonproliferation applications. This work could span multiple domains including data management, data science, applied mathematics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence engineering, with interactions with subject matter experts across multiple nuclear proliferation detection and national security applications. This is a great opportunity to make a mark in an exciting field with next-generation technology.

On any given day, your duties may include the following, depending on the specific role:

• Identify, analyze, and provide data science solutions and alternate approaches for national security challenges
• Interpret and apply industry standards to data management and FAIR (finable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) data principles
• Apply technical judgment in determining efficient application of potential solutions
• Collaborate with your team to solve encountered problems
• Report results through team meetings, writing publications, and attending conferences
• Participate in teams proposing novel research and development to our US government sponsors to apply data science solutions to national and global security challenges

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite. Occasional travel is required.

Salary Range

$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.

Qualifications We Require

• 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.
• Active DOE Q clearance or Equivalent

Qualifications We Desire

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

• Graduate degree in Computer Science or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Demonstrated software development skills and familiarity with modern software development practices and tools (e.g., Agile).
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams, and a passion to improve and expand technical skills.

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

• Educational or professional experience in applied mathematics, statistics, operations research/industrial engineering, and related fields
• Research experience in data management, data analysis, and/or algorithm development
• Experience working in multiple computer programming languages
• Experience implementing multiple machine learning and artificial intelligence approaches and capabilities (e.g. natural language processing, computer vision, agentic systems)
• Knowledge of good software engineering practices
• Knowledge of nuclear nonproliferation needs
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proven ability to conduct creative, independent research
• The ability to obtain and maintain an SCI security clearance

About Our Team

The Proliferation Detection R&D Department leads the program management activities for Sandia's portfolio of proliferation detection R&D projects executed for the NNSA Office of Proliferation Detection (PD). Specifically, the Sandia-wide PD program focuses on developing capabilities to: detect foreign nuclear weapons programs; advance the technical base in support of nuclear arms control treaties verification and monitoring needs; and support a broad set of national nuclear security technical needs. Additionally, staff in the department provide essential Systems Engineering functions in the execution of complex, multi-lab R&D projects executed at the Nevada Nuclear Security Site (NNSS) and other locations. These R&D activities are directly linked to projects managed by Nonproliferation Technologies R&D Group.

Posting Duration

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.

Security Clearance

Position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q security clearance to start, or equivalent active security clearance with another U.S. government agency (e.g., DOD). Sandia is required by DOE directive 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 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.

EEO

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.

NNSA Requirements for MedPEDs

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.