Postdoctoral Appointee - Remote Sensing Systems

Bidder Eligibility:

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.

Employees must remain in their current position for one year before applying for a new position, with the exception of student interns. Application of this requirement will not supersede collective bargaining agreements. See collective bargaining labor agreements for represented bidder eligibility requirements for represented employees.

Posting Duration:

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) calendar days, including the ‘posting date’. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

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.

What Your Job Will Be Like:

We are seeking a results oriented Postdoctoral Appointee to join our dynamic team and perform ground-breaking research, design, modeling and analysis to advance the nation’s technical nuclear forensics and non-proliferation capabilities including remotely detecting; locating and characterizing explosions; nuclear facilities; and proliferation activities. Join us to develop creative solutions to unique national security challenges!

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

• Build, test, calibrate and field remote sensing systems

• Plan and execute experiments or campaigns

• Perform data analysis and interpretation of acquired data

• Develop models and perform simulations to predict performance of physical systems

• Coordinate research efforts on one or more projects

• Conceptualize new sensor designs and experiments driven by mission

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite. This position will require occasional travel for field experimental work, project meetings, and program reviews.

Qualifications We Require:

• PhD acquired within 5 years' prior to employment in optical engineering, nuclear/chemical engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, applied physics, or an equivalent field

• Laboratory experience in experimental design, detector setup, noise reduction, testing, troubleshooting, calibrations, and data analysis

• Experience with high-level scientific code and algorithm development with programs such as Matlab and Python

• Ability to obtain a DOE Q clearance

Qualifications We Desire:

• Active DOE L or Q clearance

• Ability to design, model, build, and troubleshoot electrical and/or RF systems

• Experience designing, building, and working with high precision optical setups and/or remote sensing systems

• Proficiency in modeling and simulation, data exploitation, and signal or image processing.

• Proficiency with ultrafast lasers, laser damage testing, photonics, plasma diagnostics, remote sensing, near field enhancement/plasmonics, or atmospheric propagation of laser beams

• Experience working with ionizing radiation sources, neutron generators and/or detectors, gamma or x-ray spectroscopy, radiation detection systems or running nuclear radiation transport codes (e.g., MCNP, GEANT)

• Experience with running code on high performance computing (HPC) systems

• Proficiency with varied communication methods, including oral presentation, preparation of high-impact visual presentations, written reports, and the ability to clearly and concisely communicate scientific and technical information at a level tailored to the audience

• Possess a strong dedication to positive teaming dynamic to successfully execute complex projects in a variety of roles (leader and group member)

• Ability to work independently and tackle problems creatively

About Our Team:

We have researched and developed new monitoring systems and technologies for over half a century. Building on that legacy, today we support national security missions involving nuclear proliferation detection, treaty monitoring, arms control, and various needs within the national security communities.

We are one of three departments that lead the program management activities for Sandia's portfolio of proliferation detection R&D projects executed for the NNSA Office of Proliferation Detection (NA-221, PD). Specifically, the Sandia-wide PD program focuses on developing capabilities to: detect foreign nuclear weapons programs; advance the technical base in support of nuclear arms control treaties verification and monitoring needs; and support a broad set of national nuclear security technical needs. Our goal is to advance R&D efforts for national and homeland security agencies to meet their nonproliferation, counterproliferation, and counterterrorism responsibilities. The group is a key contributor to the national security mission, and regularly collaborates with academic labs, as well as domestic and international national laboratories.

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 vacations, 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.

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.

Job ID: 684678