Postdoctoral Appointee – Experimental Thermal Sciences & Engine Combustion, Hybr

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 vacation, 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.

The Applied Combustion Research Department seeks motivated candidates with expertise in experimental thermal sciences and their Application to reciprocating or gas turbine combustion engines used for ground transportation, aero-propulsion, and stationary power applications. The work will advance technologies that enable the use of conventional and alternative fuels while maintaining criteria pollutant emissions within acceptable limits. Successful candidates will conduct research under the mentorship of Sandia technical staff using state-of-the-art experimental facilities and diagnostic tools.

In this role, you may be responsible for:

• Designing, fabricating, installing, and evaluating test-facility instrumentation and control systems within existing laboratory infrastructure.
• Developing data acquisition and analysis capabilities by specifying equipment and using custom code and commercial software for data acquisition, scientific and statistical processing, and experiment monitoring.
• Developing and applying state-of-the-art optical, laser-based, and miniaturized sensor diagnostics to investigate complex reacting flows in applied environments.
• Identifying and quantitatively characterizing the key physical and chemical processes that control these flows.
• Using commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software or research-grade, high-fidelity codes to further investigate complex reacting processes.
• Integrating experimental and simulation data to develop new insights, improved models, and predictive tools for combustion devices and fuel behavior.
• Collaborating with leading engineers and scientists from industry, universities, and other technical institutions.
• Developing and evaluating new intellectual property related to engine combustion.
• Preparing high-impact journal articles, conference papers, and presentations.

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.

• PhD in Engineering, the Physical Sciences, or a related field.
• A strong background in thermal sciences, fluid mechanics, and combustion sciences.
• Demonstrated accomplishment in experimental research.

• experience with optical diagnostics.
• Experience with combustion research on engines (reciprocating or turbine) or other high-pressure systems
• Programming experience (MATLAB, Python, C++, LabView or similar).
• Familiarity with CAD software (Solidworks, Pro-E or similar).
• Working knowledge of pressure, chemical, and laser safety systems.
• Experience interfacing with DAQ systems and embedded controllers.
• Well-developed hands-on skills.
• Demonstrated initiative and a willingness to take on considerable individual responsibility.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• The ability to work effectively in a teaming environment.

The mission of the Applied Combustion Research Department is to develop the science base needed by industry to build and optimize a new generation of advanced, high-efficiency, clean combustion engines that use both conventional and alternative fuels. The department is part of Sandia’s Combustion Research Facility (CRF), where ~100 scientists, engineers, and technologists conduct basic and applied research to improve our nation’s ability to use and control combustion processes efficiently and cleanly. The CRF offers a challenging and stimulating work environment that addresses today’s most critical energy and environmental issues, as well as opportunities for personal, professional, and technical growth.

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of three (3) calendar days, including the ‘posting date’. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

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. Under federal law, citizens and agents of the People’s Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea, and the Russian Federation are generally prohibited from accessing Sandia National Laboratories. Accordingly, such individuals will not be considered for employment unless they are also a citizen of the United States.

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.

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.

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.