Manager, Thermal Battery Design and Development

Posting Duration:

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.

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.

Salary Range:

$138,600 - $235,500

*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.

What Your Job Will Be Like:

We are seeking an R&D Manager with a passion for innovation and collaboration to lead the Thermal Battery Design and Development Department. We serve as the Design Agency for Thermal Battery products for Sandia’s Nuclear Deterrence mission. This translates into managing the cradle-to-grave responsibility for Thermal Battery components, including conceptual design, final design, design support during production, and full lifetime product surveillance.

As we shift towards designing for future systems in the ND spaces, other opportunities are also arising to partner with the Strategic Partnership Program on novel designs. Finally, as one of Sandia's leaders in the Advanced Digital Engineering initiatives, we use Set Based Concurrent Engineering methods for groundbreaking approaches to thermal battery design.

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

• Build and manage strong working relationships with NNSA, DoD (Air Force and Navy), internal Systems customers, internal and external Production partners, Surveillance, Reliability, Quality and Independent Assessment.
• Lead the implementation of PSTG's strategic plan as it applies to the department.
• Collaborate with strategic partners in the Program Office and NNSA to further MgO material and new battery technologies as well our set-based modeling capabilities for ND.
• Work to plan and implement development of new ND products.
• Engage with the Production Agencies to complete manufacturing of thermal battery and thermal battery assemblies for current modernization programs.
• Collaborate with Surveillance, materials analysis SMEs, and tester community to implement our Stockpile surveillance program.
• Understand and be accountable for thermal battery activity level work, to include battery testing, disassembly of live and inert thermal batteries, and environmental testing of thermal batteries.
• Serve as an advocate for these innovations both across Sandia and within the PSTG.

This position will require some travel in support of program meetings and occasional vendor visits.

Qualifications We Require:

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant STEM field, plus eight years' of directly related experience or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience
• At least two years' of leadership experience as demonstrated by having previous experience in at least one of the following roles: Principal Investigator, Project/Program Manager, Product Realization Team Lead, Team Lead, or Department Manager
• Active DOE Q clearance or equivalent

Qualifications We Desire:

• Ability to handle information security of classified, proprietary, and export-controlled information
• Hardworking change agent motivated by the prospect of collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to push the boundaries of what is possible
• Dedication to recruiting, developing, and mentoring a diverse workforce.
• Knowledge of the Nuclear Deterrence (ND) product lifecycle and governing requirements
• Recognized authority in balancing technical development needs with customer requirements for cost, schedule, and performance
• Able to investigate the nuances of component design and development processes, and/or power source design and manufacturing
• A safety culture mentality with concurrent track record of planning and performing safe and secure work in hazardous environments (thermal, mechanical, explosive)
• Demonstrated ability to create and maintain organizational, customer and partner relationships, as well as trust-based relationships with staff and management at all levels
• Experience with ND Product Development
• Experience partnering with Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC) for product development and transition to production
• Experience with Project Management and planning, including experience scoping early development efforts during ND Phase 2 or 6.2.

About Our Team:

Thermal Battery Design and Development (7547) designs, develops, and prototypes electrochemical power sources, including thermal batteries and associated battery assemblies, for nuclear weapon applications. In addition, 7547 develops advanced manufacturing techniques and automation for thermal battery production, advanced thermal battery design, and thin film technology; provides special component and cell design for thermal battery analyses and development; and offers engineering support for legacy thermal battery products and component surveillance.

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 vacations, 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.

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.

Job ID: 687606