Dr. Rachel C. Thayer » People

Rachel C. Thayer is an R&D Manager at Sandia National Laboratories, where she currently leads the Threat Assessments Department. She earned her B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida. Rachel joined Sandia as a graduate intern in 2011 and became a technical staff member in 2013, contributing to projects in fundamental tribology research, electro-mechanical mechanism design, and technical project leadership across diverse mission areas. Promoted to R&D Manager in 2021, she has since led two departments, focusing on breaking down barriers to enable her teams to deliver ahead of schedule and building trusted relationships to meet mission objectives.

Beyond her leadership responsibilities, Rachel is a dedicated mentor and culture champion. She has guided over 30 engineers and managers, fostering leadership development and technical growth that contribute to a resilient, high-performing workforce. She established peer mentoring cohorts and spearheaded initiatives such as a cross-site buddy program and micro-residency exchanges to deepen empathy and collaboration between design and production teams. Additionally, she actively supports STEM outreach and community mentoring programs, extending her impact beyond the laboratory.

Outside of work, Rachel enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time outdoors with her husband and two daughters.