1

Federal Background Investigator Jobs in Rio Rancho, NM

Harry S. Truman Fellowship 2027

Albuquerque, NM ยท On-site

$47K - $64K/yr

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 ...

Dental Hygienist

Albuquerque, NM ยท On-site

$110K - $115K/yr

Must successfully complete a background investigation, including e-QIP, Indian Child Protection Act (P.L. 101-630), and character investigations. - Training: Must complete Information Systems ...

Dental Hygienist

Albuquerque, NM ยท On-site

$110K - $115K/yr

Must successfully complete a background investigation, including e-QIP, Indian Child Protection Act (P.L. 101-630), and character investigations. - Training: Must complete Information Systems ...

Dental Hygienist

Albuquerque, NM ยท On-site

$110K - $115K/yr

Must successfully complete a background investigation, including e-QIP, Indian Child Protection Act (P.L. 101-630), and character investigations. - Training: Must complete Information Systems ...

Showing results 41-60

Federal Background Investigator information

See Rio Rancho, NM salary details

$30.1K

$70.9K

$123.2K

How much do federal background investigator jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for federal background investigator in Rio Rancho, NM is $70,851.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $49,400.00 and $92,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a federal background investigator?

Federal Background Investigators are professionals responsible for conducting thorough investigations into individuals' backgrounds to determine their suitability for federal employment or security clearances. Their work involves interviewing subjects and references, reviewing records, and compiling detailed reports for government agencies. These investigations help ensure that individuals granted access to sensitive information or positions of trust meet strict standards for reliability, character, and trustworthiness.

What are some common challenges faced by federal background investigators during the investigation process?

Federal Background Investigators often encounter challenges such as locating and interviewing reluctant or hard-to-find subjects, managing tight deadlines for case completion, and navigating complex or incomplete records. Additionally, they must handle sensitive information with discretion and comply with strict federal guidelines and protocols. Success in this role requires strong organizational, communication, and analytical skills, as well as adaptability to varying work environments and evolving investigative requirements.

What is the difference between Federal Background Investigator vs Federal Security Specialist?

AspectFederal Background InvestigatorFederal Security Specialist
Required CredentialsBackground check experience, security clearanceSecurity clearance, security protocols
Work EnvironmentGovernment agencies, field investigationsSecurity screening, compliance roles
Employer & IndustryFederal agencies, investigations

Federal Background Investigators focus on conducting background checks and investigations for federal employment or security clearance purposes, often working in the field. Federal Security Specialists handle security screening, ensuring compliance with security protocols within federal agencies. While both roles require security clearance and involve security-related work, investigators primarily gather information, whereas specialists focus on security procedures and compliance.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a federal background investigator?

To thrive as a Federal Background Investigator, you need a solid understanding of investigative techniques, critical thinking, and a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in criminal justice or a related field. Familiarity with specialized databases, case management systems, and compliance with federal guidelines is essential, and some roles may require a security clearance. Strong interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate effectively are critical for conducting interviews and compiling accurate reports. These skills ensure thorough, unbiased investigations that maintain the integrity of federal hiring and security processes.

What does a federal background investigator do?

A federal background investigator performs in-depth research on individuals before hiring them to ensure the security and safety of the public. In this role, you work for a government agency and review potential government personnel and contractors. Your investigation responsibilities include following operations policies to verify provided information, interviewing friends and family, obtaining related documents from law enforcement and credit agencies, and providing a summary of your findings. Upon completing your duties, you offer a final recommendation on whether to give clearance or not. You often collaborate with technical specialists to obtain information.

What are the most commonly searched types of Federal Background Investigator jobs in Rio Rancho, NM? The most popular types of Federal Background Investigator jobs in Rio Rancho, NM are:
What are popular job titles related to Federal Background Investigator jobs in Rio Rancho, NM? For Federal Background Investigator jobs in Rio Rancho, NM, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Federal Background Investigator jobs in Rio Rancho, NM look for? The top searched job categories for Federal Background Investigator jobs in Rio Rancho, NM are:
What cities near Rio Rancho, NM are hiring for Federal Background Investigator jobs? Cities near Rio Rancho, NM with the most Federal Background Investigator job openings:
Infographic showing various Federal Background Investigator job openings in Rio Rancho, NM as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $70,851 per year, or $34.1 per hour.

Postdoctoral Appointee - Power Electronics and Energy Storage, Onsite

Sandia

Albuquerque, NM โ€ข On-site

$98K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago


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 an independent and highly motivated Postdoctoral Appointee to perform high-impact research on experimental power electronics and energy storage devices within the Power Electronics and Energy Conversion Systems Department. Our team develops new hardware architectures and intelligent control strategies for high-performance power conversion systems. You will be responsible for supporting existing research projects and contributing to the development of new projects and proposals focused on power conversion systems for utility-scale energy storage applications.
On any given day you may be called on to:
  • Integrate experimental power converter hardware and custom battery modules.
  • Develop firmware and control code in microcontrollers, digital signal processors, or field programmable gate arrays.
  • Assist with hardware testing, troubleshooting, and performance verification.
  • Document research findings for external publication.
  • Present on research progress at group meetings, peer review events, and technical conferences.
  • Develop new solutions for utility-scale storage applications as part of an interdisciplinary team.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite. This position is located in Albuquerque, NM, and the annual salary for this position is $98,500.
Qualifications We Require
  • PhD in Electrical Engineering or other relevant field.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, as evidenced by publication(s) in peer-reviewed journals and/or presentation(s) at scientific conferences.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance.

Qualifications We Desire
  • Proficiency in power converter hardware design, implementation, testing, and analysis.
  • Proficiency in PCB design.
  • Experience with embedded system programming.
  • Experience with battery cycling and battery management system operation.
  • Experience with data analysis software such as MATLAB or Python.
  • Experience with LabVIEW.

About Our Team
The Power Electronics and Energy Conversion Systems Department is focused on the development and integration of power conversion devices and systems into our future electric grid. The department has numerous projects with the Energy Storage Technology and Systems Department, which focuses on the development of advanced energy storage technologies, safety and reliability of energy storage systems, and the development of methods and tools to evaluate the performance of storage 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
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.
Position Information
This postdoctoral position is a temporary position for up to one year, which may be renewed at Sandia's discretion up to five additional years. The PhD must have been conferred within five years prior to employment.
Individuals in postdoctoral positions may bid on regular Sandia positions as internal candidates, and in some cases may be converted to regular career positions during their term if warranted by ongoing operational needs, continuing availability of funds, and satisfactory job performance.