Cleared R&D Manager - Advanced Fuzing Technology, Onsite
Sandia National Laboratories
Albuquerque, USA
Job posting number: #7368104 (Ref:Sa698611)
Posted: August 10, 2026
Job 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:
The Firing and Embedded Systems Group (7620) is seeking an R&D Manager to lead the Advanced Fuzing Technology Department (7627). The department maintains a broad portfolio that supports Sandia¿s Nuclear Deterrence mission and delivers capabilities through Strategic Partnership Programs for customers across Sandia and the U.S. Government. We are at the forefront of research and development in the Department of War (DoW) and Department of Energy (DOE) fuzing communities. Our multidisciplinary staff design, develop, analyze, test, qualify, and sustain products and technologies for fuzing and firing subsystems across a range of applications and environments. The work addresses urgent operational needs and provides unique capabilities for national security missions.
Additionally, the manager will be responsible for safe operations across the department¿s labs and off-site activities, including a light electrical laboratory, a light machining laboratory, and work performed at remote locations. The manager will develop and communicate the department vision, establish hiring and workforce plans, and drive staff development and performance.
On any given day, you may be called on to:
- Guide the work of a diverse team of approximately 20 staff members and technologists; establish priorities to manage workload; and enable mentorship, knowledge transfer, and staff development
- Provide programmatic leadership for multiple Strategic Partnership Programs (SPP)
- Develop and expand trust-based relationships with U.S. Government sponsors across the fuzing community and with internal Sandia customers
- Manage hazardous electrical and mechanical work in the department¿s light electrical and light machining laboratories to prove out new concepts and designs
- Collaborate with peer managers and leadership within the Group and Center to develop and execute strategic vision, plans, and activities that leverage synergies between SPP and Nuclear Deterrence (ND) missions
Some travel will be required.
Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant will be required 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
- An active DOE Q clearance, or equivalent is required to start
- Ability to obtain and maintain an SCI clearance
- Ability to obtain and maintain Sigma 15 access
Qualifications We Desire:
The ideal R&D Manager candidate will in addition possess the following:
- Two or more years of demonstrated leadership and management experience
- A graduate degree in science or engineering (MS or Ph.D.)
- Outstanding interpersonal skills in developing trust-based relationships with peers, staff, management, customers, and stakeholders and a demonstrated ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams to achieve common goals.
- 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:
- Proven ability to lead high-performing teams across multiple organizations, manage staff on large projects, mentor team members, and foster a positive work environment to achieve successful results
- Demonstrated commitment to employee well-being and a culture where people feel respected, heard, and accountable
- Experience leading and developing staff across career stages including coaching, mentoring, knowledge transfer, and succession planning
- Experience leading Strategic Partnership Programs
- Experience with the Strategic Partnerships Programs funding process and Sandia¿s project management framework
- Proven ability to develop and foster new business opportunities that align with organizational priorities and mission space
- Knowledge of DOE/DoW weapon firing systems and mechanically hardened electronic systems and techniques
- Experience leading technical development activities while meeting customer requirements (cost, schedule, and performance)
- Dedication to establishing safe and secure operations while performing hazardous activity level work
- Familiarity with typical military specifications for safe and arm devices, testing, initiation devices, and range safety: MIL-STD-1316, JOTP-052, MIL-STD-331, RCC-319, MIL-DTL-23659, etc.
- Experience in participating and/or executing strategic planning
- Demonstrated experience working in a high rigor product development/production environment
About Our Team:
The Firing & Embedded Systems group (7620) is a recognized leader in realizing safe, secure, and reliable products. We research, design, develop, and deliver highly reliable, trusted systems and high consequence hardware and software products to serve our National Security customers today, tomorrow, and always. Our technical backgrounds are diverse. Some of us have spent years focusing on the fine details of particular technologies and are recognized as nation-level experts. Some of us are generalists and support multiple projects - keeping things connected and developing new skills. Our teams are comprised of specialists and generalists working together, and it is easy to shift between projects and technical roles over time. If this environment sounds appealing, we'd like to meet you.
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.
Job ID: 698611
Job Family: RD
Regular/Temporary Position: R
Full/Part-Time Status: F
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.


