Postdoctoral Appointee – Advanced Microsystems and Sensor Technologies, Onsite

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We are seeking a motivated Postdoctoral Appointee to join the Advanced Microsystems and Sensor Technologies Department. You will support Sandia’s advanced MEMS sensor technology development by working on research, development and testing of MEMS based inertial sensors having consequence in national security applications.

Our dedicated team has a large mix of work including Research and Development (R&D) design and product engineering with exciting opportunities to support high impact mission programs. We are a multidisciplinary team whose responsibilities span multiple areas of inertial sensor design including MEMS design, ASIC design, fabrication, packaging, characterization and environmental testing.

This position primarily involves research into the development of advanced fabrication and packaging techniques and pioneering new microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based technologies for navigation grade accelerometers with long lifetime and harsh environment applications.

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

• Fabricate MEMS devices in a cleanroom environment
• Team closely with internal and external expertise for fundamental research related to inertial sensor materials, fabrication, integration, read-out circuit development, device characterization and testing.
• Partner with experimental, characterization, and modeling experts to advance fundamental research of materials for microelectronics processing.
• Development of advanced methods for wafer level bonding and die level bonding of MEMS devices
• Coordination and execution of experiments that are used to validate models.
• Perform testing on MEMS, ASIC and/or co-packaged devices in a lab setting
• Active participation in analyzing, interpreting, and reporting on characterization, experimental, and modeling data.
• Use Sandia’s internal facilities including the MESA Fabs, MEMS environmental test labs, post-fab packaging resources, as well as failure analysis characterization.
• Present technical content and results internally within the team as well as, externally to partners, customers, and management

The successful candidate must be project-focused with an emphasis on safely working in a lab environment and possess good interpersonal skills. A desire to learn and grow, self-initiative, and self-motivation are necessary. The role may expand and gain greater responsibilities into other areas of sensor design and characterization depending upon demonstrated capabilities.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite 100% of the time.

• Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science or related STEM field conferred within five (5) years prior to employment
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance

It is not expected that a single candidate will possess all the experience desired for this position, but the candidate must be motivated to learn what is needed and grow into the role. Experience in one or more areas is desired:

• Academic or professional experience in MEMS or inertial sensors
• Experience with MEMS sensor design and fabrication
• Experience with Multiphysics modeling tools, such as COMSOL
• Computer programming proficiency, especially Matlab for data analysis and software control of lab equipment
• Experience with design of experiments
• Ability to conceive and propose ideas for process improvement through troubleshooting to overcome challenges and improve yield
• Experience with semiconductor and/or material characterization techniques (SEM, TEM, etc.)
• Experience with microelectronics packaging tools and processes, including wire bonding, flip chip bonding, etc.
• Experience with basic lab equipment such as power supplies, function generators, oscilloscopes, etc.
• Experience with environmental testing of devices, such as temperature, shock, vibration and/or radiation environments
• Strong interpersonal skills and eagerness to collaborate in a multi-disciplinary team environment

The Advanced Microsystems and Sensor Technologies Department, 5256, performs state-of-the-art design, fabrication, and testing of MEMS based sensor technologies for national security applications. The team partners closely with Sandias Microelectronics Engineering Science Applications (MESA) center with internal facilities and competency in microelectronics design, fabrication, and testing. Our team is a fun, engaging group with a strong sense of comradery! We pride ourselves in our ability to respond to tech pull with demonstrated experience in R&D as well as product engineering successfully fielding technology for real world national security applications. Come join our team to for exciting opportunities to realize new technology in support of the national interest.

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.

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.