In a common area in one of Sandia’s oldest buildings, a short phrase hangs high above a scale model of a B61 nuclear gravity bomb: “A Safe, Secure, Reliable & Effective Deterrent.”

These words live at the heart of the nation’s nuclear deterrence mission and perhaps understate the complexity of that goal through simplicity of language. But at an unpreceded time when the United States faces two major nuclear powers as strategic competitors and potential adversaries, as well as other rogue states that harbor an eye toward world conflict, these words carry more urgency.

Rita Gonzales, associate laboratories director for Nuclear Deterrence Modernization and Stockpile Systems, walks past these words many times every day — and as the chief engineer of nuclear weapons for the nation’s lead systems integrator, these words weigh heavily on her shoulders.

In the most recent step in a career that has affected countless national security programs and built far-reaching partnerships across the national security enterprise, Rita assumed her role in 2024, stepping into shoes previously worn by some of the most gifted engineers in Sandia’s history.

But to an engineering mind, maintaining a safe, secure, reliable and effective deterrent is just a problem in need of a solution, and “the joy of solving problems — the fun part of engineering — is what drives me every day,” Rita said.

Making time to ask questions

While Sandia employs thousands of engineers across a multitude of roles, there is only one chief engineer of nuclear weapons.

In this role, Rita represents all of Sandia’s nuclear weapons engineering activities and is responsible for the qualification and quality of Sandia’s nuclear weapon products. She approves all technical authority for every weapon system, including the safety and security of each system, and in doing so, makes countless complicated decisions over the course of a year.

Rita’s approach to this challenge is to be inquisitive. “You have to make the time to ask questions before moving forward,” she said, “because the nation depends on it.”

Though she is the only person in her role, Rita isn’t alone in her work: she makes many final decisions that impact the Labs and the nation, a large, dedicated pool of experts advise her on every issue.

Rita often calls on the expertise of colleagues, partners, independent assessment groups, financial professionals and more in order to exercise her approval authorities. So when Rita talks about the importance of partnerships at the Labs, she truly means it. Professional partnerships drive the role.

At the end of the day, a decision must be made

Formally, much of the responsibilities of her role are outlined in the Realize Product Procedures, which, along with the Business Management Procedures, provide a structured approach to implementing DOE-NNSA contractual requirements across all nuclear deterrence programs. These are mandatory procedures developed by Sandia to provide consistent delivery of nuclear deterrence projects with unparalleled reliability, performance and quality. And all this responsibility must also fall with budgetary guidelines.

Amongst many other responsibilities, the Realize Product Procedures note that the chief engineer of nuclear weapons is expected to resolve most if not all differing professional opinions within the nuclear deterrence portfolio, which are “encouraged, expected and considered healthy aspects of the nuclear weapons engineering discipline.”

Essentially, when two or more diverging paths on a weapons program escalate through the normal management chain, the chief engineer of nuclear weapons must review all available information and point Sandia down the most appropriate path.

“But that is the role, and at the end of the day, a decision must be made,” Rita said.

And in an evolving threat landscape, the chief engineer of nuclear weapons must take everything one day at a time.

Engaging in critical thought and deep thinking

Back at her desk during a particularly busy day, Rita’s eyes lit up with the idea of highlighting the chief engineer of nuclear weapons role during Engineers Week.

A lifelong engineer, Rita received her master’s degree in electrical engineering from Stanford and her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from New Mexico State University. The engineering community is near and dear to her.

Her Sandia career has taken her to positions with advanced systems and transformation, radio frequency and electronic systems, the threat intelligence center and the microsystems center, where she spent 17 years designing application-specific integrated circuits and eventually leading the organization at a senior level. And now, she sees much of work at the Labs from a unique point of view.

But according to Rita, all engineers, no matter where they are in their careers, share a particular set of traits.

“Being an engineer at Sandia is more than what job you have or what degree you pursued,” she said. “Being an engineer means engaging in critical thought and deep thinking. What kind of engineer you are matters less.”

As Rita left the building for the final time that day, that phrase on the wall — “A Safe, Secure, Reliable & Effective Deterrent” — hung static where it always hangs, ready to greet her in the morning. But the critical thought and deep thinking needed to fill one of the most visible and vital engineering roles at the Labs left with her, because it’s part of who she is.

And thanks to the work of the chief engineer of nuclear weapons and engineers from across the Labs and beyond, there will always be tomorrow.