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 motivated R&D S&E, Artificial Intelligence machine-learning focused engineer to assist with a broad range of challenging technical problems associated with intrusion detection at national assets from unauthorized people, vehicles, and autonomous platforms (drones or unmanned aerial vehicles). The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of working with real-world, messy data and developing prototype systems that can be demonstrated in operational environments prior to full deployment. This role requires a deep understanding of the end-to-end lifecycle of machine learning systems, from test planning and execution to iterative development and stakeholder communication.

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

• Formulate algorithmic and machine learning approaches to solve data analysis and target localization and classification tasks in dynamic environments.
• Develop machine learning models and deploy them into a production environment.
• Write clean, efficient, and well-documented code for national security applications.
• Assist data collection teams in both indoor and outdoor field settings.
• Analyze and visualize large datasets to extract actionable insights and refine models.
• Develop and execute comprehensive test plans, integrate hardware and software, conduct experiments, and analyze results to advise government sponsor decisions.
• Troubleshoot issues with existing code or simulations and collaborate with colleagues to resolve technical challenges. Update algorithms and systems based on test results and continuously improve solutions through iterative development cycles.
• Write proposals for internally or externally funded R&D projects.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify project requirements and develop solutions.
• Communicate complex technical concepts to audiences with non-technical backgrounds, ensuring clarity.
• Stay up-to-date with emerging trends and technologies in autonomy, machine learning, vision-language models (VLMs) and uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) technology.

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

Salary Range

$99,400 - $193,600

*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, 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.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance.

Qualifications We Desire

The ideal R&D S&E, Artificial Intelligence candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

• Graduate degree in a relevant computationally-intensive discipline where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Experience in developing software and AI systems for enterprise and national security applications.
• Demonstrated software development skills and familiarity with modern software development practices.
• Proven ability to work and communicate effectively in a collaborative and interdisciplinary team environment.

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

• Five or more years of experience writing production code and leading large software development efforts.
• At least 1 year of related experience in ML Ops.
• Demonstrated ability to perform machine learning related activities such as MLOps pipeline development, model deployment, model explain ability, uncertainty quantification, and deployment to production environments.
• Experience safely managing large, growing multi-modal datasets.
• Strong knowledge of computer vision, deep learning, and other machine learning techniques and demonstrated use of PyTorch.
• Knowledge of adversarial machine learning techniques and current approaches to counter adversarial machine learning.
• Strong written communication skills (e.g., published research in technical journals)
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities and tight deadlines.
• Strong teamwork and leadership skills.
• Knowledge and understanding of multi-object tracking and filtering techniques (Multi-Hypothesis Tracking, Joint Probabilistic Data Association, Kalman Filters, Extended Kalman Filters, etc.)
• Ability to travel domestically as needed (less than 15% of the time).
• High level of competence writing python code.
• Working level knowledge and experience in the following:
• Python and other scripting and scientific computing languages (R, C++, Java, C#, Rust, Go, ROS2/3).
• Simulation software such as Gazebo, and simulation engines such as Unreal or Unity.
• Linux/Unix operating systems.
• Multi-sensor data fusion and coordination for multi-hypothesis tracking.
• Active DOE Q-level or DOD equivalent security clearance

About Our Team

The Mission of department 6554 is to counter evolving autonomous threats to key national facilities and to improve the performance of physical security systems protecting those sites. We are part of a larger group focused on countering threats from uncrewed and autonomous systems. We address real-world problems through cutting-edge research, development, testing, and evaluation of components and systems to advance the science of physical security. This enables customers to mitigate threats to these facilities by improving the ability to sense, assess, track, and respond to physical incursions, leveraging AI to address current operational challenges and emerging threats, such as uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS). In addition to research, we specialize in the development and evaluation of Counter-UAS platforms, which are critical for addressing the dangers posed by UAS. As the designated C-UAS test agent for DOE, NNSA, and DHS, we combine rigorous testing with forward-looking research to deliver transformative solutions for national security.

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.

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.