Senior/Principal R&D Physics -Optical Phenomenology and Explosive Sciences, 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 dedicated and results-oriented staff member to join our dynamic team to support multiple defense and nuclear nonproliferation mission activities. Specific research areas include radiation hydrodynamics in extreme environments, optical emission modeling, supporting optical sensor concept design and development, and related modeling and analysis efforts. This can include development of computational modeling tools and/or research in measurements and sensor systems. Opportunities exist to perform data analysis and exploitation for purposes including but not limited to sensor development and model validation. We are seeking a staff member that would like to propose and lead projects.

On any given day, the selected applicant may be called on to:

• Integrate into an established team to perform research and development focused on customer mission requirements from phenomenological understanding to sensor/modeling concept development, design, and analysis in support of these missions
• Work on various systems by performing end-to-end simulations for the evaluation of sensor utility and supporting future sensor designs
• Document results in high-quality presentations and reports
• Present results and ideas to collaborators and customers succinctly and effectively
• Take on principal investigator roles from established projects
• Propose new work
• Develop, verify and validate physics-based computational models
• Apply models and codes to customer-specific problems

Due to the nature of work, successful candidate must be able to work onsite. Moderate travel is required for this position.

$117,500 - $235,700

*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.

• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and five (5) years of directly relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of directly relevant education and engineering or scientific experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform independent research and development.
• Ability to attain and maintain a DOE Q Clearance

The ideal R&D Physics candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

• Graduate degree in Physics or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Experience preparing research for dissemination through presentations at national conferences and peer-reviewed publications in top journals.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities of both projects and teams and the ability to work in loosely defined areas with minimal direction while maintaining vision for the overall mission.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.

Also, for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience:

• High level of academic success in undergraduate and graduate programs
• Experience with modeling and simulation, data analysis, and coding languages such as Python, R, C++, MATLAB, etc.
• Background in study of light-matter interactions including either modeling, experiments, or both
• Experience with running codes on high performance computing systems
• Familiarity with validation, verification, and uncertainty quantification techniques
• Lab experience, including design of experiment, testing, monitoring/troubleshooting in particular for dynamic systems
• Experience in analysis of complex coupled physics processes such as radiation hydrodynamics, explosive sciences, turbulence, computational fluid dynamics, plasma physics, astrophysics
• Familiarity in hydrodynamics, radiative transport, optical transmission, or atmospheric simulation codes
• Familiarity with code coupling or optimizing end-to-end workflows
• Application of statistical analysis methods
• Proven ability to perform independent research, as well as to work effectively in a team in various roles (leader and group member)
• Excellent communications skills with experience in giving presentations, constructively interacting with co-workers, and preparing high quality presentations and reports
• Ability to manage customer expectations and deliver high-quality results while adhering to established timelines and budget constraints
• A current DOE Q clearance, or DoD equivalent

We serve national defense and nonproliferation customers with theoretical and computational research of nuclear detonation effects and signatures. We develop first-principles models to underpin a deep physics-based understanding of the development of fireballs and their optical signatures in a variety of circumstances. Department expertise includes radiation transport, hydrodynamics, material behavior and interactions in extreme environments, and code development for high performance computing.

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.