Embedded System Validation Engineer Jobs in Santa Barbara, CA

Mission Support and Test Services, LLC (MSTS) manages and operates the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Our MISSION is to help ensure the security of the United States and its allies by providing high-hazard experimentation and incident response capabilities through operations, engineering, education, field, and integration services and by acting as environmental stewards to the Site's Cold War legacy. Our VISION is to be the user site of choice for large-scale, high-hazard, national security experimentation, with premier facilities and capabilities below ground, on the ground, and in the air. (See NNSS.gov for our unique capabilities.) Our 2,750+ professional, craft, and support employees are called upon to innovate, collaborate, and deliver on some of the more difficult nuclear security challenges facing the world today.

• MSTS offers our full-time employees highly competitive salaries and benefits packages including medical, dental, and vision; both a pension and a 401k; paid time off and 96 hours of paid holidays; relocation (if located more than 75 miles from work location); tuition assistance and reimbursement; and more.
• MSTS is a limited liability company consisting of Honeywell International Inc. (Honeywell), Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (Jacobs), and HII Nuclear Inc.

Responsibilities
MSTS is seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer for our Special Technologies Laboratory to support advanced R&D focused on understanding, exploiting and protecting operational technology systems. This role blends hands-on engineering with adversarial thinking - evaluating how systems can fail, be disrupted or subverted, and developing sensing and monitoring approaches to detect and mitigate those risks. You will work across embedded systems, industrial controls, and custom instrumentation in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment. The ideal candidate is technically strong, curious and creative - someone who enjoys probing system weaknesses, building novel solutions and contributing to defensive engineering efforts.
Located in Santa Barbara, California, the laboratory is a key satellite location within the NNSS and is responsive to NNSA nuclear security mission requirements and broader national security objectives. At STL "problem solving is in the DNA," using a diverse team of experts composed of scientists, engineers, technicians, facilities specialists, academic collaborators, and professional support staff.
Key Responsibilities

• Assess vulnerabilities in operational technology systems, including industrial controls, embedded devices, and sensors networks, using both analytical and hands on approaches.
• Design and develop sensing and data collection systems to monitor system behavior, detect anomalies and validate system integrity.
• Develop and test techniques to emulate, induce and detect system faults or disruptions, supporting red team and resilience efforts.
• Implement and integrate embedded and control systems solutions, including firmware, interfaces, and communication with industrial hardware.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to translate findings into actionable improvements in system design, monitoring and protection.
• Perform other duties assigned by Management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) required for Civil, Mechanical and Electrical engineering degrees
  • Or, Calculus-based STEM bachelor's degree in engineering
  • Or, for Architects, Certification from the National Council or Architectural Registration Board (NCARB)
  • Or Professional Engineer license
  • Plus at least 5 years' relevant experience. Skill building experience must demonstrate either deeper technical specialization or additional cross-disciplinary knowledge; graduate research experience may be recognized.
• Demonstrated desire to learn and innovate.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and troubleshoot complex electro-mechanical systems, with a curiosity for identifying system vulnerabilities across failure modes
• Should be self-motivated and able to complete assigned tasks with minimal supervision.
• Ideally, the applicant will have strong time-management skills. Be well organized, maintain safe work habits and have a broad range of technical interests and education.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to write reports and technical documents.
• The primary work location will be at the Special Technologies Laboratory (STL) located in Santa Barbara, CA.
• Work schedule for this position will be negotiated with the supervisor; employees can work 5-8, 9-80, or 4-10 work-weeks.
• Pre-placement physical examination, which includes a drug screen, is required. MSTS maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing.
• Must possess a valid driver's license.

MSTS 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 offered employment with MSTS are also 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. In addition, Applicants for employment must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship, at least 18 years of age. Reference DOE Order 472.2, "Personnel Security". 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.
Department of Energy Q Clearance (position will be cleared to this level). Reviews and tests for the absence of any illegal drug as defined in 10 CFR Part 707.4, "Workplace Substance Abuse Programs at DOE Sites," will be conducted. Applicant selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation, required to participate in subsequent reinvestigations, and must meet the eligibility requirements for access to classified matter. Successful completion of a counterintelligence evaluation, which may include a counterintelligence-scope polygraph examination, may also be required. Reference 10 CFR Part 709, "Counterintelligence Evaluation Program."
MSTS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. MSTS is a background screening, drug-free workplace.
Annual salary range for this position is: $101,524.80 - $152,297.60.
Starting salary is determined based on the position market value, the individual candidate education and experience and internal equity.