Postdoctoral Appointee – Fluid Flow Modeling & Simulation Development, Hybrid

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.

We are seeking a dedicated postdoctoral researcher (job title: Postdoctoral Appointee) to join our multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers. You will be conducting innovative research to develop advanced numerical simulation capabilities describing the multi-scale, multi-physics subsurface processes related to topics of national interest, such as geologic hydrogen production and storage, enhanced geothermal systems, underground nuclear explosion monitoring, and deep geologic disposal of nuclear waste. You will use state-of-the-art tools and high-performance computing to develop simulation software and visualize results. Are you ready to put your knowledge, skills, and experience to work crafting creative solutions to challenging problems that impact the nation? If so, come join this dynamic team and embark on a rewarding career.

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

• Formulate numerical models of the complex, coupled thermal and hydrological processes affecting fluid flow, transport, and reactions in the subsurface.
• Develop HPC codes, like PFLOTRAN, and run simulations and develop pre- and post-processing workflows using Python and shell scripts.
• Analyze and interpret complex datasets related to subsurface geologic features and fluid interactions.
• Stay up-to-date with emerging technologies and methodologies in subsurface modeling, including numerical methods for solving nonlinear, coupled systems of PDEs; heterogeneous computing with CPUs and GPUs; machine learning and artificial intelligence; multiphase, multicomponent flow, transport, and reactions in porous media.
• Contribute to peer-reviewed publications, presentations, and technical reports to disseminate findings and advancements.
• Travel to conferences and project meetings.

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. This position is located in Albuquerque, NM, and the annual salary for this position is $98,500.

• PhD in Engineering (including fields such as Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or Petroleum Engineering), Mathematics, Computer Science, Geosciences, Geology, or other relevant field
• Proven ability to conduct research and development, as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing numerical methods into codes or applications
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance

• Knowledge of multiphase flow, transport, thermodynamics, and geochemical reactions
• Experience developing software for high-performance computing (HPC) with compiled languages (C/C++/Fortran) for parallel simulations
• Familiarity with developing software for GPU targets (e.g. openCL/CUDA)
• Proficiency in programming and scripting for scientific analysis and workflow automation using Python or shell scripts
• Experience creating 2D and 3D grid models using tools like LaGriT and VoroCrust
• Demonstrated ability to integrate information and methods from multiple disciplines such as geomechanics, fluid flow modeling, and machine learning
• Experience conducting simulation and analysis in a Linux or Unix environment
• Familiarity with version control (git) and/or Agile code development practices
• Proven ability to succeed through teaming with others, demonstrated by co-authoring technical reports and presentations
• Excellent communication skills and a demonstrated ability to develop technical ideas and results and present them in oral and written form

The Integrated Systems Research, Development, and Deployment Department develops a wide range of software and engineering solutions to ensure the safe deep geologic disposal of commercial spent nuclear fuel and US DOE legacy nuclear wastes. We develop high performance computing, quality-assured software for probabilistic performance assessment of deep geologic disposal systems, including tools for simulation of the coupled processes affecting radionuclide release and transport in the subsurface, sampling-based uncertainty and sensitivity analysis, and automated run-control.

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.

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.