Early Career Computer Scientist - Satellite Ground Software Modernization (Java), Onsite

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.

Join our team to modernize mission-critical software for satellite operations. We are seeking an early-career computer scientist who is excited to write highly efficient Java, learn an established operational codebase, and help evolve a large monolithic system into a modular, container-based architecture.

This is not a web or browser application role. We build high efficiency native desktop applications using JavaFX, supported by a backend architecture primarily written in Java. Our backend systems are designed to ensure reliability, scalability, and mission continuity for satellite scheduling, commanding, telemetry processing, state-of-health monitoring, and constellation operations. Working alongside experienced engineers and mission specialists, you will enhance and strengthen existing capabilities while introducing modern practices such as automated testing, continuous integration and delivery, modular design, and containerized deployment.

This role offers the opportunity to solve challenging problems with real-world national security impact, develop expertise in satellite ground systems, and grow through mentorship and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team. You do not need to arrive as a satellite-domain expert; we value strong fundamentals, curiosity, sound engineering judgment, and a willingness to learn.

We encourage you to apply if you have a solid foundation in Java and are motivated to learn complex systems. Experience can come from many settings, including coursework, research, internships, military service, personal projects, or professional employment. If the mission and technical challenge interest you but you do not meet every desired qualification, we still welcome your application.

On Any Given Day, You May Be Called On To:

• Develop, test, debug, and maintain object-oriented Java and JavaFX software for operational satellite ground systems.
• Learn and improve a large, mature codebase while protecting reliability, performance, and mission continuity.
• Help decompose monolithic applications into well-defined, modular, containerized components.
• Build and enhance capabilities for satellite scheduling, commanding, telemetry processing, state-of-health monitoring, and constellation management.
• Use source control, build tools, automated tests, static analysis, test harnesses, and debuggers to improve software quality.
• Contribute to continuous integration and delivery workflows and repeatable deployment in controlled operational environments.
• Collaborate with software architects, developers, systems engineers, technical leads, customers, and end users to understand needs and deliver practical solutions.
• Document designs, communicate technical decisions, participate in code reviews, and support team planning.
• Investigate software and algorithm performance for near-real-time mission operations.

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

$102,400 - $199,700

*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.

• Bachelors degree in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, or a closely related discipline; or an equivalent combination of directly relevant education and engineering or scientific experience.
• Ability to obtain and maintain DOE Q and SCI security clearances, which may require a polygraph examination.
  

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

• Graduate degree in Computer Science or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Demonstrated software development skills and familiarity with modern software development practices and tools (e.g., Agile).
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams, and a passion to improve and expand technical skills.

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

• Experience writing object-oriented Java through coursework, research, internships, personal projects, or professional work.
• Understanding of core software engineering concepts, including data structures, algorithms, testing, debugging, version control, and maintainable design.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment and communicate technical information clearly.
• Familiarity with Unix or Linux development environments.
• Experience maintaining or modernizing an existing codebase, including academic, research, internship, or professional projects.
• Exposure to Docker or other container technologies and an interest in modular or distributed system design.
• Familiarity with continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) tools such as Jenkins, automated testing, and Agile development practices.
• Experience with C++ or Python in addition to Java.
• Exposure to satellite ground systems, aerospace software, command-and-control systems, telemetry processing, vehicle health management, or other mission software.
• Experience developing algorithms or software for near-real-time systems.
• Active DOE Q security clearance.
  

The Tasking, Planning, and Mission Management Department (5523 ) focuses on the development of software to aid in satellite and payload command and control, task and asset scheduling and coordination, state of health analysis and visualization, mission planning, and other control elements such as navigation, geolocation, and payload pointing. We work in partnership with and maintain integral technical relationships with departments across the laboratories.We maintain active research and grow and continuously nurture expertise in the subjects of: Communication and interface designs and technologies for effective flight/ground software and command/control, Orbital mechanics, modeling, and simulation software, Kalman filtering, payload pointing, and attitude control for complex navigation, Constellation management, particularly scheduling optimization theory and algorithms, Camera projection, distortion mapping, and terrain use for complex geolocation

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.

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.

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.

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.