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

We are seeking a dedicated R&D Manager to lead Sandia's Electric Grid Security and Communications Department (Organization 8815). The department is part of Sandia's Electric Grid Security Group, which focuses on solutions that improve our national security, including the advancement of new optimization and controls tools, innovative artificial intelligence (AI) applications, energy storage technologies, new power conversion devices and systems, and the integration of advanced technologies such as small modular nuclear reactors - all of which depend on early and integral emphasis on cybersecurity, physical security, and often secure communications technologies. The selected candidate will lead a team to develop and apply technologies to ensure that our evolving electric infrastructure is resilient to cyber, physical, natural, and related threats to secure operations. This will include growing capabilities related to cybersecurity and secure communications of an evolving and rapidly growing energy system. The department serves several DOE offices and customers in other agencies while collaborating with subject matter experts across Sandia.

This is an exciting time for Sandia and the nation as our electric system is undergoing dramatic changes and facing unprecedented challenges. Tremendous growth in loads to support developments in AI are driving grid planners and operators to employ new generation, planning, control, and protection technologies to meet growing needs. At the same time, the grid infrastructure is aging and requires modernization. The employment of AI is rapidly changing how the grid functions and how humans interact with the grid. This rapid evolution brings changes in the threats - both natural and anthropomorphic - that we must address, while also providing opportunities for new approaches.

While the department focuses on directly addressing needs of the grid and energy storage systems, team members work closely with colleagues across our energy programs, providing subject matter expertise in security and communications technologies. Efforts span a range of research, including exploration of fundamental concepts, applied analytical tools, field-based systems integrations, and codifying best practices as precursors to new codes and standards. Staff partner with multidisciplinary researchers to bring to bear Sandia's considerable capabilities in addressing national grid security.

This position is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and it requires significant travel - up to 2 or more times per month.

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

• Create and implement a vision for the department in collaboration with colleagues and managers across Sandia's energy and national security missions.
• Apply a broad spectrum of core S&T strengths to address pressing national needs related to a secure and resilient electric infrastructure.
• Contribute to the evolving national security strategies in Sandia's broad energy and infrastructure program areas.
• Participate in the national dialogue on grid security as you develop partnerships and work with external colleagues in professional societies and various industry, academic, and government research organizations.
• Build world-class teams to address the nation's toughest grid challenges.
• Develop new partnerships across Sandia and with external organizations that complement our capabilities. This will include work with sponsors in the U.S. Department of Energy and other U.S. Government Agencies, such as the Department of War, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of State.
• Create new programs through white papers and proposals to improve on our core competencies and expand the department's customer base, including Lab-Directed Research and Development projects.
• Provide technical leadership and create a learning environment for a strong and growing department staff by allocating and prioritizing work while managing staff and financial resources.
• Guide your team to develop new experiments in one of Sandia's set of distributed labs through which we can conduct a variety of advanced grid experiments.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.

Salary Range

$163,700 - $278,000

*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

• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and eight (8) 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-level security clearance.

Qualifications We Desire

The ideal Manager, R&D Science & Engineering candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

• Two or more years of demonstrated leadership experience.
• A graduate degree in science or engineering (MS or PhD).
• Outstanding interpersonal skills in developing trusting relationships with peers, staff, management, customers, and stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in the development and delivery of presentations, proposals, reports and documentation.

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

• PhD in Engineering, Mathematics, or a related field.
• Significant experience in grid security, cyber security, and/or secure communications.
• Experience establishing and implementing program and organizational strategy.
• Experience in technical business development.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver results, effectively manage and mentor staff, and guide multidisciplinary teams.
• Successful track record in leading and conducting team-based R&D (analytical and/or laboratory-based) in one or more of the following: power systems, cybersecurity, advanced communications networks, or an equivalent field.
• Recognized expertise in secure applications of power systems engineering and the U.S. Electric Grid structure and regulation; for example, via publication history, participation on international panels, etc.
• Ability to interact effectively with all levels of internal and external customers, including the ability to build, manage, and strengthen effective working relationships.
• Ability to mentor and lead the organization on department tasks and organizational goals and objects.
• Demonstrated record of consistently adhering to safe engineering principles.

About Our Team

The Electric Grid Security Group (8810) focuses on creating the electric infrastructure of the future for the civilian and military sectors. We strive to secure our grid as we face an aging infrastructure, growing natural and anthropomorphic threats, and rapid growth in supply and demand. Group 8810 consists of five departments: Energy Storage Technology and Systems, Resilient and Distributed Systems Integration, Electric Power Systems Research, Power Electronics and Energy Conversion Systems, and Electric Grid Security and Communications. Ensuring functionality and security of our electrical grid is a tremendous undertaking, requiring the coordination and collaboration of a wide range of partners spanning federal and local governments, the energy industry, electric utilities and - perhaps most importantly - all types of energy users. The Group is highly inter-disciplinary, working collaboratively with universities, utilities, government agencies, and national and international research organizations.

The Electric Grid Security and Communications Department (8815) develops technologies to ensure that our evolving electric infrastructure is resilient to cyber, physical, natural, and related threats to secure operations. Efforts span a range of research, including exploration of fundamental concepts, applied analytical tools, field-based systems integrations, and codifying best practices as precursors to new codes and standards. In addressing national needs related to grid security, the department team leverages Sandia's core competencies that exist in several other departments.

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.