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Early Career Test Engineer - Soft Materials Characterization and Development, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories
401(k), relocation assistance
United States, New Mexico, Albuquerque
1515 Eubank Boulevard Southeast (Show on map)
Apr 22, 2025

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 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.



What Your Job Will Be Like:

Sandia's Energetics, Multiphase, and Soft Matter Science Department is seeking a test engineer to support research and applications in materials development and characterization. This position will involve experimental test design, construction, operation, data collection and analysis, as well as support 3D printing operations. Experimental techniques include sample preparation, rheological characterization, high-speed digital imaging and particle tracking, and laser diagnostics such as light scattering among others. Experimental work will invovle design, construction, and operation of test aparati and data collection related to flow of fluids, multiphase and soft materials with temperature, pressure, electrical, chemical, radiation and other hazards. In addition, support for development of materials and products from operation of 3D printers is encompassed as well as test planning, documentation, and customer interation. In this role, you will work alongside R&D staff, test engineers, and technologists to achieve project objectives.

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



  • Design and set up experiments involving high-speed visible and infrared cameras or laser diagnostics of other data collection in small-scale laboratories and/or partner facilities.

  • Analyze data from experiments to extract desired quantities such as mass/flow rates, stress, particle velocities or sizes/morphology, material composition, and temperature.

  • Operate 3D printers and support product development, once trained.

  • Design, order, assemble, modify or repair test hardware thermal, rheological/mechanical, or optical components, and fixtures.

  • Travel to partner facilities to support experimental operations and product development.

  • Team with a diverse, multi-disciplinary group of staff engineers, test engineers, and technologists to create novel test/diagnostic capabilities and realize complex experiments.

  • Interact with staff and customers to define strategy for capability development, assess technical needs/requirements, design and schedule and execute tests, and to report/present results.

    Are you ready for your next challenge? Join our team and achieve your goals while making a difference.

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



Salary Range:

$72,800 - $164,100

*Salary range is estimated, and actual salary will be determined after consideration of the selected candidate's experience and qualifications, and application of any approved geographic salary differential.

Qualifications We Require:



  • Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or other related engineering field

  • Expertise in laser diagnostics

  • Expertise in rheological characterization of materials

  • Experience in imaging techniques including digital imaging (high-speed camera, DIC, particle tracking) and xray CT for characterization of materials

  • Experience with 3D printing techniques for polymeric materials (FDM, SLA, etc.)

  • Experience with novel laboratory test design, setup, execution, and documentation

  • Ability to acquire and maintain a DOE Q security clearance



Qualifications We Desire:



  • Experience with thermal characterization of materials (e.g., TGA, DSC, etc.)

  • Experience with design, assembly, and operation of simple pressure and vacuum systems

  • Experience with data acquisition software (e.g., Arduino, LabView)

  • Experience with data analysis software (e.g., Python, Matlab)

  • Experience with mechanical design tools (e.g, Solidworks) and mechanical drafting



About Our Team:

We conduct applied research on the structure and behavior of complex engineered material systems exhibiting coupled physical processes that span multiple length and time scales. This research encompasses theoretical/computational and experimental methods and analysis of energetic (propellants, explosives, pyrotechnics) and soft materials (complex fluids, aerosols, polymers, powders and particles) and multiphase/composite systems. We support partner organizations in scientific assessments for design, production, performance and safety of material systems (e.g., critical components) as well as in the development and manufacturing of novel materials for high consequence, extreme environment applications.

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.

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.

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.

Job ID: 695466

Job Family: EN

Regular/Temporary Position: R

Full/Part-Time Status: F

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