Sandia National Laboratories seeks a Senior/Principal R&D Cybersecurity Semiconductor Fabrication Process Engineer to support microelectronics hardware security research and assurance efforts tied to national security missions. The position emphasizes protective technology development and hardware evaluation for high-consequence systems, with onsite work in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct innovative and creative microelectronic hardware security research to develop protective technologies and evaluate hardware for high consequence systems.
- Collaborate across Sandia and with partner organizations to build protective technologies and tools that help secure critical applications.
- Lead one or more hardware-based microelectronics assurance projects.
- Develop and maintain professional relationships with external sponsors, serving as a semiconductor subject matter expert in small group discussions or larger presentations.
What Your Role Will Look Like
Sandia’s research group builds advanced microelectronics hardware assessment capabilities to support a range of National Security missions. Due to the nature of the work, the selected candidate must be able to work onsite.
Required Qualifications
- 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 demonstrating the ability to perform independent research and development.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q and SCI clearance, which may require a polygraph test.
Preferred Qualifications
- Graduate degree in Computer Science/Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Information Systems, Computer Forensics, Mathematics, or a directly related field where an independent research project was required for graduation (such as an independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
- Experience in one or more of the following: reverse engineering, software vulnerability assessment, web application assessment, computer networking, computer architecture, compilers, or related computer security topics.
- Proficiency in scripting or high-level programming.
- Familiarity with secure-system design principles and information assurance principles.
- Strong communication skills, including the ability to develop technical ideas and results and present them clearly in oral and written formats.
- Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or another relevant STEM field.
- Experience with semiconductor device fabrication, including device testing, materials characterization, or failure analysis.
- Experience with Artificial Intelligence hardware platforms (GPUs, HBMs, etc.).
- Direct experience as a process or equipment engineer supporting fabrication of state-of-the-art microelectronics (lithography, etch, thin films, chemical-mechanical polish, packing/heterogeneous integration, etc.).
- Experience in failure analysis of state-of-the-art microelectronics.
- Experience with materials analysis tools such as SEM, FIB, AFM, TEM, or STM.
- Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining effective relationships with external sponsors.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team environment.
- Active DOE Q and SCI security clearance.
About the Team
This department develops and executes microelectronics hardware analysis research programs in collaboration with Sandia’s S&T community and external partners, with the goal of informing and engaging mission-enabling applied research for national security customers. The department also provides mission leadership for Sandia’s state-of-the-art assessment capabilities that support embedded system and microelectronics measurement and analysis needs.
Location and Work Arrangement
Compensation
- USD 117,500 - 235,700 per year
Security and Citizenship Requirements
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 must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance and SCI access, which require U.S. citizenship. SCI access may require a polygraph examination. Applicants with more than one citizenship may experience limitations in obtaining these access levels. If offered employment, candidates are subject to a federal background investigation to meet requirements for access to classified information or matter when duties require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct, or other indicators of untrustworthiness can result in clearance denial or termination by the DOE, preventing performance of the assigned duties and leading to employment termination.
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 you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, additional steps may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.
Posting Duration
- 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.
