Postdoctoral Appointee - Explosive Technology Maturation & Advanced Programming, Onsite

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.

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Appointee who is interested in developing theory, conducting experiments and modeling (and/or working with modelers) in the following research areas:

• Thermal and mechanical damage processes and effects, ignition, reaction, and transition to detonation of energetic materials. Characterization of energetic materials and their physical and chemical properties

On any given day, you may be called on to:

• Work with scientists and engineers to understand, model, and predict how energetic materials incur thermal damage and the effect of the damage on thermal runaway and reaction violence of the material. Specific activities include:
  • Defining, conducting experiments, and analyzing resulting data involving the slow thermal heating and runaway of energetic materials
  • Developing capabilities for measuring and modeling the dynamic and reactive nature of evolving thermal damage in energetic materials
  • Developing through discovery and validation physics-based modeling how thermal damage governs pre-runaway and runaway behavior of energetic materials
  • Dynamic response of energetic materials under mechanical loading
• Work with scientists and engineers to mathematically describe the nature of mechanical damage on an energetic material for input into predictive performance models. Specific activities include:
  • Defining and conducting experiments using low-strain rates to mechanically damage materials
  • Developing methods to measure the dynamic damage induced to the materials.
  • Developing theories and models to describe the evolving material changes of an energetic material under dynamic loads

The successful candidate may be preferentially focused on one of the two above areas. The position will be working in partnership with a technologist in the lab. The work is expected to be presented and published. Some travel to present the work is expected.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.

• Ph.D. in Physics, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Material Science or related field completed within the last five years or soon to be completed
• Experience conducting laboratory operations
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance

• Experience modeling or working with modelers to build an understanding of the chemical/physical reactive processes in either slow or fast temporal regimes
• An active DOE Q clearance
• Ability to apply safety policies associated with working in a laboratory, including ability to think critically and ensure safety when working independently and with others
• Experience with deducing mechanisms and kinetics of dynamic/reactive organic and/or inorganic systems
• Proven computer skills with standard software including Windows, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, including organization of data files
• Demonstrated good interpersonal skills, including good verbal and written communication abilities
• Demonstrable ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team that includes research scientists, engineers, and fellow technologists
• Experience with project development and direct customer interactions
• Willing to work with energetic materials (explosives, propellants, pyrotechnics)

7458 is responsible for bringing the explosives technology group into the future by leveraging partnerships across 7450, 7400 and Sandia through technology maturation and advanced programs. We focus on future technology and manufacturing approaches for actuators, igniters, timers, detonators, and isolators while planning for the needs of future systems.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.