Sandia National Laboratories
Senior/Principal R&D Mechanical Engineer - Active Ceramics Assembly Process Engineer, Onsite
Sandia National Laboratories is hiring a Senior/Principal R&D Mechanical Engineer - Active Ceramics Assembly Process Engineer, Onsite in Albuquerque, NM. Posted October 13, 2026.
Job at a glance
- Company
- Sandia National Laboratories
- Location
- Albuquerque, NM
- Pay
- $117,500 – $235,700
- Sector
- Traditional Engineering
- Posted
- October 13, 2026
- First scanned
- October 13, 2026
About the job
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:
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Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
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Extraordinary co-workers
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Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world
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Career advancement and enrichment opportunities
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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)
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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:
We are seeking an Assembly Process Engineer to join the Active Ceramics Value Stream (ACVS) team. The process engineer will be part of the manufacturing team and will be responsible for assembly and inspection processes and associated equipment used to manufacture ceramic components. Execute responsibilities in a hands-on production environment, ensuring on time delivery of product, meeting exacting quality requirements. Work closely with the broader team to ensure technical understanding of assigned processes and to successfully develop and qualify new equipment and processes.
On any given day, you may be called on to:
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Perform the day-to-day responsibilities associated with ensuring on time delivery of product including:
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diagnose any process nonconformances,
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monitor process health,
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identify ways to increase yields or decrease span times,
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mistake-proofing the processes, as issues are identified- recommend and implement corrective or preventive actions,
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maintaining written work instructions and ensuring proper training to those instructions, which may include training co-workers as needed.
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Oversee the work of process technologist and operators performing work in area of responsibility.
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As manufacturing demands permit, be expected to seek out and pursue opportunities for continuous improvement across the Active Ceramics Manufacturing Operations department.
Due to the nature of work, successful candidate must be able to work onsite.
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:
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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.
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Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q Clearance
Qualifications We Desire:
The ideal R&D Mechanical Engineer candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:
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Graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
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Experience with mechanical engineering and product realization in the NNSA complex.
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Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
Also, for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience:
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Current/Active DOE Q Clearance.
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Desire to work hands on in a schedule driven, high rigor production environment.
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Experience in a manufacturing environment.
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Demonstrated ability to plan and lead projects and manage multiple competing priorities.
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Experience working to and generating written work documentation, with particular attention paid to safety significant instructions.
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Experience troubleshooting and providing technical support for process equipment such as screen printers, ovens, furnaces, microscopes, and gauges.
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Experience with statistical process control (JMP, Minitab, etc.)
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Experience with problem-solving methodologies (RCA, FMEA, DMAIC, etc.)
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Experience with process improvement, including a Lean Six Sigma Green or Black Belt certification
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Strong technical communications skills, both verbally and written via Microsoft Office; experience creating work instructions, operating procedures, or equivalent.
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Commitment to a culture of safety and security.
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Experience transitioning products and equipment from conceptual design and development to full production.
About Our Team:
The Active Ceramics Value Stream at Sandia National Laboratories provides active ceramic elements for the Nuclear Weapons Enterprise with demonstrated value, performance, and confidence that meet customer delivery schedules. Also, the department provides a broad range of options for fabricating and machining ceramic, glass, and glass-ceramic components. Our capabilities range from chemical synthesis of powders, powder processing, billet formation and machining, component assembly, fabrication and testing. We strive to achieve agility and value-added processes through the continuous utilization of Lean/Six Sigma methodology.
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:
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.
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.
Job ID: 699365
Job Family: RD
Regular/Temporary Position: R
Full/Part-Time Status: F