Sandia National Laboratories protects America's nuclear deterrent from Albuquerque. Build research and defense technology that meets the security standards of the most sensitive national security programs.
The Albuquerque Defense Research Challenge
Building software for national laboratory environments is categorically different from commercial software development. DOE's cybersecurity program requirements impose strict controls on systems that process any nuclear security information. Research computing at Sandia and LANL operates at petascale — with HPC systems that rank among the world's most powerful. And the culture of these institutions — scientist-driven, methodical, and deeply skeptical of software that trades reliability for convenience — means that technology must earn trust through demonstrated reliability before it is trusted with sensitive programs.
Defense and Research Platform Solutions
Research Data Management
Support scientific discovery:
- Scientific workflow: Pipeline automation for computational science workflows integrating HPC, data storage, and analysis
- Research data lifecycle: Data collection, processing, analysis, and publication workflow with DOE public access compliance
- Laboratory notebooks: Electronic research notebook with version control and collaborative research documentation
- Publication management: Research output tracking from preprint through peer review and DOE reporting
Laboratory Operations
Run complex scientific facilities:
- Equipment management: Calibration tracking, maintenance scheduling, and asset inventory for laboratory instrumentation
- Chemical inventory: Hazardous material tracking with EPA SARA Title III compliance and emergency response integration
- Safety management: Incident reporting, PPE compliance, and laboratory safety inspection workflow tools
- Visitor management: Access control and security clearance verification for controlled research areas
Defense Program Support
Support Kirtland and Sandia missions:
- CUI management: Controlled Unclassified Information handling workflow with marking, handling, and destruction tracking
- Program management: Defense acquisition program tracking with earned value and DCMA reporting
- Security incident response: Cyber incident documentation and DIBNET reporting for defense contractors
- Cleared workforce management: Personnel security clearance tracking and reinvestigation scheduling
University and Startup
Support UNM and Albuquerque's emerging tech scene:
- Research grants management: NIH, DOE, and NSF grant administration for UNM research programs
- Technology transfer: UNM invention disclosure and commercialization tracking for Albuquerque spin-offs
- Startup accelerator tools: New Mexico Catalyst program participant management and milestone tracking
- SBIR/STTR management: Small business research program application, award, and reporting tools
Albuquerque's Research Economy
Sandia's $4 billion+ annual budget flows substantially into the Albuquerque economy through contractor spending, salaries, and technology transfer. The national laboratory's focus on emerging threats — AI security, quantum computing, directed energy, nuclear nonproliferation — creates technology development opportunities at the frontier of American national security that few other markets can match. Build platforms that serve this community's unique combination of scientific rigor and security discipline.
Ready to build your defense research platform? Contact ZIRA Software to discuss your Albuquerque technology needs.