R&D Manager - ICF Development and Experiments, Onsite
Sandia National Laboratories
Albuquerque, USA
Job posting number: #7333305 (Ref:Sa697837)
Posted: May 11, 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:
We are seeking a Research & Development Manager to lead the Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) Development and Experiments Department. This department is responsible for the application of Sandia's pulsed power science and technologies to advance thermonuclear fusion capabilities and address important challenges in fusion and high energy density physics for defense applications. The department is mainly responsible for developing advanced cryogenic, tritium, and nuclear diagnostic capabilities in addition to fielding these capabilities on Sandia's Z machine and performing experimental ICF programmatic research. Extensive opportunities exist to collaborate with internal and external scientists on research in the broad areas of inertial confinement fusion and high energy density science.
Key responsibilities of this role include, but are not limited to:
- Providing leadership and coordination of the Center's research activities in experimental elements of NNSA's Inertial Confinement Fusion program on the Z machine.
- Ensuring that NNSA customer needs are satisfied safely and securely through managing and coordinating specific deliverables
- Management of x-ray diagnostic, cryogenics, and gas-fill capability development and operations on the Z Facility
- Working with the 1680 management team and staff to set the technical direction and priorities of the inertial confinement fusion program
- Working with the Z facility to optimize its capabilities for fusion research
- Developing and maintaining strategic collaborations with scientists at universities, industrial partners, LLNL, LANL, and AWE on existing and new applications of the Z facility
- Recruitment, selection, training, performance assessment, and work assignments of personnel in the organization
- Supporting the Center's program and project plans, budgets, structures, schedules, and staffing requirements
- Ensuring the overall scientific excellence of the work conducted within the department by advocating for staff needs, performing performance reviews, mentoring department staff, recruiting and hiring new staff
Due to the nature of work, successful candidate 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.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q security clearance
Qualifications We Desire:
- Two or more years of demonstrated leadership experience.
- A graduate degree in science or engineering (MS or Ph.D.).
- Active DOE Q level security clearance.
- 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.
- Experience in at least one of the following areas: (1) inertial confinement fusion, (2) radiation effects science, (3) nuclear diagnostics, or (4) nuclear weapons physics
- Experience with project management to include managing the cost, schedule, and performance aspects of complex technical projects
- Experience building effective relationships and alliances within teams
- Experience developing, coaching, mentoring, attracting, and retaining good people
- Knowledge of National Security programs, including experience with DOE and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) defense programs, as well as their oversight agencies
- Broad knowledge of physical science activities in other agencies
- Experience developing and maintaining collaborations with external organizations
About Our Team:
Department 1688 develops wide range of cutting edge ICF capabilities including nuclear diagnostics, cryogenic target technologies, and gas transfer systems. It also is responsible for conducting experimental ICF and High Energy Density Science research. The majority of experiments are conducted at the Z facility.
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: 697837
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.


