Job Description

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:

The High Energy Density Physics Theory department makes extensive use of atomistic modeling techniques including density functional theory, quantum Monte Carlo, and molecular dynamics to develop material models used throughout the NNSA. We routinely use and develop new methods to accurately predict the properties of matter under extreme conditions of pressure and temperature. We seek a specialist in the development and application of machine-learning interatomic potential development from a variety of ab-initio electronic structure methods to accelerate molecular dynamics calculations.

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

• Apply existing or develop new molecular dynamics methods for computing the thermodynamic and constitutive response of various metals, polymers, condensed gasses, geological materials, and/or energetics.
• Collaborate with internal and external scientists on research in the broad areas of dynamic material properties and high energy density science.
• Contribute to the scientific community through the presentation of your research at national and international conferences and publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Join our team and achieve your goals while making a difference!

Postdoctoral Appointee Salary is $98,500/annual for NM Location.

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

Qualifications We Require:

• PhD in physics, chemistry, computer science or a related field
• A track record of strong scholarly communication demonstrated through peer reviewed publications and conference presentations.
• Experience in machine-learning techniques, molecular dynamics, and density functional theory

Qualifications We Desire:

• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a broad team including multiple institutions.
• Experience programming in C+
• + Knowledge of modern software development practices such as git, continuous integration and software analysis tools

About Our Team:

Research within the High Energy Density Physics (HEDP) Theory Department 1641 spans a broad range of topics with a common theme of gaining an improved understanding of physical processes at normal as well as extreme conditions of high densities and/or temperatures, pressures, magnetic fields, and rapidly changing states. Major efforts of the department include developing simulations codes and high-fidelity material models with predictive capabilities together with designing dynamic material and plasma physics experiments for Sandia's Z Machine. Our research has both applied and fundamental dimensions – for example in the areas of electronic structure, shock physics, material science, planetary science and astrophysics.

Current research areas include Dynamic Material properties/NNSA Science Campaigns, Quantum Monte Carlo within Basic Energy Sciences/DOE Office of Science, Sandia Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD), Advanced Simulation and Computing (ASC), and the program for fundamental science experiments on the Z machine. The department has active collaborations with research groups at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Argonne National Laboratory as well as with academic institutions in the US and in Europe, for example University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Harvard University, Northwestern University, University of Rostock in Germany, Princeton University, Cornell University, and University of Texas at Austin.

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.

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: 693997

Job Family: 92

Regular/Temporary Position: T

Full/Part-Time Status: F