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:
Sandia¿s Space Mission Engineering Program Office (SMEPO) strives to enhance national security by creating the future of our space enterprise. To this end we seek the toughest unmet, space control mission challenges for our DoD and IC partners. Solving these problems requires acting as a trusted resource, leveraging innovative ideas, applying differentiating technologies, and harnessing the strength of Sandia¿s unique capabilities.
We are seeking a mid-career science and engineering project manager with space systems experience to support a broad portfolio of critical high-security projects. The portfolio consists of a mix of analysis, modeling, and hardware demonstration efforts. Successful execution of these efforts will inform US Space Force acquisition planning, operations and technical risk reduction efforts. The successful candidate will have demonstrated the ability to strengthen partnerships, work with DoD or IC sponsors, manage teams effectively, and execute projects successfully through full lifecycle. The work is conducted at TS/SCI and special program levels.
On any given day, you may be called on to:
Work in a high security environment delivering critical analysis, modeling and technical risk reduction capabilities for national security sponsors
Lead diverse, multidisciplinary teams
Proactively engage with sponsors to build trusted partnerships
Team with sponsors and Sandia management and business lead to turn customer direction and guidance into proposals, contract actions and funding
Take responsibility for ensuring customer directed and funded efforts in the program are executed and delivered as agreed
Team with management, technical leads, and business leads to monitor, guide and track efforts
Working with a business lead to report program status, issues, risks, and successes to customer and upper Sandia management through weekly, monthly and quarterly reporting mechanisms
Work with program and information security staff to obtain the necessary facilities and capabilities to execute the program
Help identify Sandia staffing and capability needs to meet customer deliverables and team with management and program staff to find solutions for these needs
Must be willing to support travel 1-2 times per month.
Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.
Salary Range:
$117,500 - $235,700
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:
Bachelor¿s degree in a relevant STEM field (e.g., Physics, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science) plus five or more years of directly relevant technical experience.
A minimum of three (3) years of experience managing or leading Department of Defense or Intelligence Community programs for US Space Force or other National Security Space agencies.
Current PMP certification or equivalent certification, or the ability to obtain within 12 months.
Active DOE Q and SCI clearance.
Qualifications We Desire:
More than five (5) years¿ experience executing and leading SCI and/or Special Access Program (SAP) level projects
Demonstrated experience communicating with multidisciplinary technical and non-technical staff and leaders on technical topics, financial matters, and the strategic or tactical direction of a program.
Experience managing projects with total budgets ranging from $50k to $5M
Experience building relationships and establishing credibility with scientists, engineers, and technical project teams
Experience in technical management processes: lifecycle management, requirements engineering, configuration management, risk management, verification and validation, etc.
Experience presenting in technical field to demonstrate mastery of a technical and programmatic subject area. Such presentations could include to upper-level management and seniors for major reviews and/or conference presentations
Demonstrated teaming skills, including the ability to work effectively with leadership at multiple levels, customers, other organizations, and technical leads
Demonstrated technical writing and presentation skills, including an ability to succinctly explain complex technical concepts
Experience with business development, including the ability to develop proposals (cost/schedule/scope) and successfully being awarded sponsor funding
Demonstrated ability to effectively interface with management, customers, and stakeholders at all levels
Demonstrated experience authoring papers, for instance generating classified /unclassified reports, writing a thesis or publishing in refereed publications.
Certification in project management, either (a) a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification OR (b) completion of the Defense Acquisition University Level III Program Management certification (previous certification title) or the current Defense Acquisition University "Advanced Program Management" certification
Certification in Systems Engineering/Technical Management, either thru (a) a certification program, (b) a degree program in Systems Engineering or (c) thru Defense Acquisition University Level III Systems Engineering (previous certification title) or the current Defense Acquisition "Engineering and Technical Management - Practitioner" certification
AGILE or scrum master experience
Possess a strong dedication to positive teaming dynamics with a keen focus on supporting sponsors
About Our Team:
The Advanced Flight Systems and Enhancements department is responsible for advancing state-of-the-art flight sensing capability in our Nation's security interests. Efforts include: Expanding the capability and performance of current systems above and beyond original specifications and expectations Research and development with the goal of reducing risk, increasing TRL on emerging technologies, and creating industry standards Working with industry to help implement Space-Based ISR systems
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) SCI security clearance to start, or equivalent active security clearance with another U.S. government agency (e.g., DOD). 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 and SCI access, both of which require US citizenship. SCI access may also require a polygraph examination. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain these levels of access 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 the 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.
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Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set; set your own state tax rate. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
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The job is in Albuquerque, NM. Below is what the official statistics say about living and working there.
How Albuquerque compares. Among the 40 largest places in New Mexico, Albuquerque is #1 by population, #4 for college degrees (#1 = most), #33 for rent (#1 = cheapest), #8 for remote work (#1 = most). Its county, Bernalillo County, is #4 of 33 counties for average pay ($63,493).
The place in numbers
Albuquerque has 562,218 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 26.5% of the population of New Mexico. It covers 187 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 3,002 people per square mile. The median age is 38.8, about the same as the state median (38.8 against 39.4).
Housing
The median gross rent is $1,145 a month (rent plus utilities), 7% above the state median ($1,145 against $1,067). Over a year that is 20.1% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $291,500, which is 4.3 times the median household income ($68,317). 61.8% of households own their home, 12% below the state average (61.8% against 70.0%).
Work and pay
The Albuquerque, NM metropolitan area has 404,700 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $48,060 a year, 6% below the national median ($48,060 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (54,860 jobs, median $45,850); food preparation and serving related (38,230 jobs, median $30,990); sales and related (31,990 jobs, median $35,960). The area is most specialised in architecture and engineering (2.0 times) and construction and extraction (1.2 times), where the share of workers is well above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are architecture and engineering ($131,720) and management ($108,920). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Bernalillo County was 4.6%. 63.5% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Bernalillo County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Getting around
Among workers, 70.7% drive alone, 0.9% use public transit, 2.0% walk, 14.9% work from home. 7.5% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 42% below the state average (7.5% against 12.8%).
People and education
39.2% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 27% above the state share (39.2% against 31.0%). 10.6% of residents were born outside the United States, 13% above the state share (10.6% against 9.4%). The poverty rate is 15.5%, 13% below the state rate (15.5% against 17.8%).
Climate
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 79°F (26.2°C), and the coolest is Jan at 35°F (1.6°C). About 258 mm (10 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Jul is the wettest month (51 mm) and Mar the driest (11 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.
Nearby cities to compare
Closest cities in this guide: North Valley (5 miles, rent 22% lower); South Valley (7 miles, rent 17% lower); Corrales (9 miles, similar rent); Rio Rancho (13 miles, rent 32% higher). Rent differences are against Albuquerque; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
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Places within 50 miles (straight line) of Albuquerque, NM that have a guide, with what living there costs. No pay estimate is shown because the title did not match one occupation.
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What is the Cleared S&E Project Manager - Secure Space Systems, Onsite job at Sandia National Laboratories?
A mid level role in operations and management (project management) listed yesterday. The full description is on this page and on The Muse.
Where is this job?
Albuquerque, NM.
How do I apply?
Use the "View this job and apply on The Muse" button. AtiveSite does not receive applications.
How much does it pay?
The listing does not publish pay, and we could not match the title to one official occupation.
What is the cost of living there?
Median rent in Albuquerque is $1,145 a month and median household income $68,317 (ACS 2020–2024).
How old is this listing?
It was posted on 2026-11-07 (yesterday). Jobs older than 90 days are not shown.
Are there similar jobs?
Yes: browse project management jobs in New Mexico.
Sources and terms
Job data: The Muse public API (listing dated 2026-11-07). The job disappears from this site when it disappears from the source.
Wages and projections: BLS OEWS (May 2025) and Employment Projections 2025–35.
City and county figures: Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024, BEA, BLS QCEW and LAUS, NASA POWER climatology; distances from Census Gazetteer coordinates.
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