Job details
Job type full-time
Full job description
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.
Covid-19 vaccination mandate
Sandia demonstrates its commitment to public safety in the national interest by requiring that all new hires attest to their vaccination status before commencing employmentThe requirement also applies to those who are telecommuting and working virtually.
Any concerns about the ability to meet this requirement should be directed to hr solutions at (505) 284-4700.
What your job will be like
Are you passionate about fundamental and applied research in support of a critical national security mission? are you passionate about developing and maturing leading edge diagnostics technologies to impact our mission? do you want to join a dynamic organization that shoulders crucial responsibilities for our nation’s security?
You could be the future diagnostics development and application researcher we are seeking in the neutron generators applied science and technology maturation department.
You will be working with other smes and researchers in the group to develop diagnostic techniques for the investigation of physics relevant to neutron generators, especially neutron tubesThese investigations will be in service of improving understanding of the relevant physics governing the operations of the tube and closing knowledge gaps in this domainThe data from these investigations will also provide model development and validation data for a computational modeling capabilityTypical techniques of interest include electrical waveform capture and analysis, non-intrusive diagnostic methods applicable to understand high voltage breakdown (flashover) in particle accelerators, spectroscopic and other techniques for composition and thermal field measurementsFamiliarity with diagnostics equipment, their safe operations and associated data analysis methods will be critical for success in this roleFamiliarity and experience with laser based optical diagnostic techniques is a plusYou will work with engineers designing current and future generations of tubes, production engineers responsible for their production and smes developing modeling capabilities to simulate the operation of these tubesA background in high voltage electrical engineering, electrical and material aspects of particle accelerators and the plasmas therein, in addition to advanced diagnostic and data analysis techniques to interrogate these physics is needed.
On any given day you may be called upon to:
Develop, design, and implement an experiment to investigate physics relevant to neutron tubes through electrical signal measurements and analysis, spectroscopic and other non-intrusive techniques.
Work with other staff members and technologists to safely implement diagnostics to obtain data from these experiments.
Analyze the data to inform the understanding of relevant physical phenomena.
Collaborate with designers and production floor engineers to problem solve issues arising due to design or production processes.
Document the findings in presentation, reports and publications.
Collaborate with numerical modeling smes to identify validation data requirements and develop strategies to assert model credibility in relevant regimes.
Qualifications we require
Doctoral degree in physics, electrical engineering or other relevant science or engineering disciplines.
Experience with high-vacuum and pulsed high-voltage systems.
Knowledge of and experience with non-intrusive diagnostics for high-voltage electrical systems and waveform analysis for physics discovery.
Familiarity with dynamic plasma-surface interactions such as surface desorption and erosion, secondary-particle emission, insulator breakdown, and other non-equilibrium effects.
Proficiency in methods and tools commonly used for data acquisition in and analysis of data collected from experimental investigations of spatio-temporal physical phenomena.
Ability to obtain and maintain a doe q clearance.
Qualifications we desire
Understanding and experience with experimental, theoretical, and modeling techniques for plasma physics.
Knowledge of and experience with optical and non-optical diagnostic techniques for plasma density, temperature, and composition.
Experience and understanding of laser based techniques for plasma physics investigations.
Experience and demonstrated ability to work with multi-disciplinary teams.
Ability to make decisions requiring scientific or engineering judgment across more than one discipline.
About our team
You will be working across all the departments in the ng product design and technology groupThe neutron generator product design and technology group has design agency (da) responsibility for mark quality (mq) neutron generators used in all nuclear weapons in the us stockpileWe also have da responsibility for neutron tubes and active ceramics used in our neutron generators, neutron monitors that measure pulsed neutron and x-ray output of neutron generators and we design ancillary, non-mq devices used for calibration and testing (portable neutron detectors, lead probes, controlatrons, field neutron generators, and x-ray sources)An additional design capability supports design of mq sprytrons used in neutron generators, other nuclear weapon components, and dod high voltage switching applicationsWe have production agency (pa) responsibility for sprytrons, overseeing sprytron production at a commercial vendorThe group is responsible for applied research into early stage design concepts and employs advanced diagnostic and modeling capabilities to increase our understanding of the underlying science behind our productsWe design and provide engineering support for all neutron generator production, product acceptance, development, and surveillance testersThese same diagnostic, modeling, and test capabilities are employed within the group to understand life-cycle performance through surveillance of fielded neutron generators and shelf-life aging studiesWe provide data and analysis that supports the annual assessment of the nuclear weapon stockpile delivered to the president of the united statesWe work closely with our production agency (pa) partners as well as our design partners in the explosives technologies group (7550) to provide high reliability components to the national nuclear security administration and our weapon systems customers and are proud of our role in maintaining the nuclear deterrent that aims to enhance global peace and security.
You will be in the ng applied science and technology maturation department in the ng product design and technology groupThe mission of the neutron generator applied science and technology maturation department is to conduct focused research towards the discovery, integration, and protection of the scientific knowledge behind the design, production, and sustainability of neutron generatorsOur work uses computational modeling and experimental techniques spanning materials science, chemistry, plasma science, high voltage & arc physics, advanced manufacturing methods, and neutron testing to support manufacturing and designAlong with our internal expertise, we also collaborate with a variety of internal organizations and external institutions to accomplish our goalsWe apply this knowledge in creative and innovative ways for understanding the health of the existing stockpile, to design for the future, and to support national security.
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 areasSome 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 technologiesLife-changing careersLearn 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 verificationsApplicants for employment need to be able to obtain and maintain a doe q-level security clearance, which requires u.sCitizenshipIf you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the u.sAnd 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 clearanceSubstance 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.
