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: The Applied Optical and Plasma Science Department is seeking a dedicated Postdoctoral Appointee to conduct fundamental research developing active and passive optical diagnostic techniques examining plasmas used in a wide range of applications. The successful candidate will assist in research leading to new scientific insights aiding Sandia in its mission to serve the nation. You will interrogate a variety of plasma systems increasing our ability to understand the process of electrical breakdown and work in collaboration with members of our computational plasma physics team to increase our fundamental knowledge of these systems. Join us to develop creative solutions to unique national security challenges! On any given day, you may be called on to: + Establish new scientific insight on the physical mechanisms underlying low temperature plasma phenomena + Publish scientific results and participate in the scientific community + Collaborate with external partners through Sandia’s Low Temperature Plasma Research Facility (https://www.sandia.gov/prf/) + Use plasma diagnostic tools for new applications + Develop or otherwise support the development of new diagnostic tools for interrogating plasma initiation and steady states + Support verification and validation of plasma simulation tools in collaboration with modelers Salary for this Postdoctoral Appointee position is set at $90,000 annually. Qualifications We Require: + A PhD in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, or relevant STEM field + Experience with optical diagnostics or low temperature plasma experiments + Able to acquire and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance Qualifications We Desire: + 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 the audience + Strong interpersonal skills + Motivation and ability to tackle technical problems independently + Experience with LabVIEW, MATLAB, Python, or other data interpretation scripting/programming tools + Experience with setting up and operating experimental systems to study plasma generation, including plasma sources, high voltage discharge circuits, and pressure and vacuum systems + Experience with optical emission spectroscopy (OES), laser-induced fluorescence (LIF), absorption spectroscopy, Thomson scattering, Raman scattering, electric-field-induced second harmonic generation (EFISH), optical tomography, surface spectroscopy, coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) + Experience with electrical discharge (vacuum to atmospheric pressures, low to high currents), semiconductor processing, plasma-surface interactions, dusty plasma, gas/plasma chemistry, laser-surface interactions, hydrodynamics, plasma catalysis, or solid-state physics + Experience with RF (CCP or ICP), DC, AC, or nanosecond pulsed discharges + Experience with model validation using experimental results + Experience developing plasma chemistry models/mechanisms + Record of publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at scientific conferences About Our Team: Our department is a multidisciplinary group of experts in three main areas: Laser and Optical Diagnostics, Low Temperature Plasma Physics, and Thermal Characterization of Materials. The Low Temperature Plasma Physics thrust has ongoing work in plasma-driven chemistry, plasma-surface interactions, arc discharges (from vacuum to high pressure), charged particle transport, sheath physics, and more. To study this wide array of phenomena, we possess both experimental and computational experts that work together to produce new understanding. The plasma codes we use range from fully kinetic, through hybrid, to fluid models, and 0D to 3D. Experimentally, we have developed a variety of sources including multipole confinement systems, CCP/ICP RF plasmas, and atmospheric pressure plasma systems. We use a variety of diagnostics to examine these systems and are actively involved in the development or use of advanced laser diagnostics, other spectroscopic techniques, physical probes, RF sensing, and more. The Laser and Optical Diagnostics thrust conducts innovative research and application development in laser sources and characterization and optical spectroscopy providing unique, real-time, non-contact, in-situ optical diagnostic capabilities. The Thermal Characterization thrust researches the fundamental thermal properties and decomposition products and pathways of a wide variety of materials experiencing an expansive range of environments. This work entails both state-of-the-art diagnostics as well as developing custom diagnostics and techniques to provide information on the underlying science of thermal behaviors of materials. Join us and work towards your goals while making a difference!

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. Position Information: 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. Job ID: 688888