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.

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.

What Your Job Will Be Like:

We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher to conduct analysis of photovoltaic (PV) system data, including image and electrical performance datasets. The work will include applying statistical and machine learning processes to PV image and timeseries data and creating/validating models to predict and optimize PV module performance. The selected candidate will work on projects funded by the DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office, and the DuraMAT Consortium, to address key challenges for photovoltaic module reliability and field efficiency. These projects help ensure widespread deployment of photovoltaics toward a clean energy future. The selected applicant can work a combination of onsite and offsite work. The selected applicant must live within a reasonable distance for commuting to the assigned work location when necessary.

On a given day, the candidate may be called on to:

• Develop python code for PV image or electrical data analysis
• Interpret and implement existing python code
• Utilize classical and statistical/machine learning techniques
• Publish and present your work to a variety of audiences
• Collaborate with others in and outside Sandia

Qualifications We Require:

• PhD in engineering, physical sciences, mathematics, computer science or a related field
• Experience with python programming and code development
• Experience with image analysis and/or time-series data
• Proven ability to write and publish peer-reviewed journals
• To be eligible for consideration, must be a U.S. citizen, asylee, refugee, or lawful permanent resident of the U.S.

Qualifications We Desire:

• Academic experience in solar or renewable energy
• Experience with PV system data
• Experience with python image processing libraries (e.g., open-cv, pillow, scikit-image)
• Experience with python machine learning libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, pytorch, tensorflow)
• Ability to handle large quantities of data
• Experience writing research grants
• Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team environment

About Our Team:

The Photovoltaics & Materials Tech Department, part of Sandia's Renewable Energy Technologies Group, conducts research and development and applies real world solutions to increase the viability of sustainable and clean energy systems. Research focuses on solar energy photovoltaics (PV), materials chemistry, and device integration for energy generation and energy efficiency. We apply PV and materials research to the following areas: PV cell technologies including Si, CdTe and CIGS thin films, and emerging technologies (i.e., perovskites), advanced PV module designs (i.e., bifacial, split cells conformable), and PV + Storage.Sandia’s PV facility includes over 50 separate R&D systems totaling approximately 1000 PV modules located onsite in New Mexico and at four other national facilities. This facility is technological diverse: each system has different materials, architectures, and performance characteristics; and dynamic, with new R&D and COTS systems added regularly. A defining feature is the facility’s focus on technical excellence.

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:

This position does not currently require a Department of Energy (DOE) security clearance.

Sandia will conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Furthermore, employees in New Mexico need to pass a U.S. Air Force background screen for access to Kirtland Air Force Base. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause access to be denied or terminated, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.

If hired without a clearance and it subsequently becomes necessary to obtain and maintain one for the position, or you bid on positions that require a clearance, a pre-processing background review may be conducted prior to a required federal background investigation. Applicants for a DOE security clearance need to be U.S. citizens. 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.

Members of the workforce (MOWs) hired at Sandia who require uncleared access for greater than 179 days during their employment, are required to go through the Uncleared Personal Identity Verification (UPIV) process. Access includes physical and/or cyber (logical) access, as well as remote access to any NNSA information technology (IT) systems. UPIV requirements are not applicable to individuals who require a DOE personnel security clearance for the performance of their SNL employment or to foreign nationals. The UPIV process will include the completion of a USAccess Enrollment, SF-85 (Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions) and OF-306 (Declaration of for Federal Employment). An unfavorable UPIV determination will result in immediate retrieval of the SNL issued badge, removal of cyber (logical) access and/or removal from SNL subcontract. All MOWs may appeal the unfavorable UPIV determination to DOE/NNSA immediately. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the MOW may try to go through the UPIV process one year after the decision date.

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: 693517

Job Family: 92

Regular/Temporary Position: T

Full/Part-Time Status: F