Director - Materials, Physical & Chemical Sciences (Center 1800)

Sandia National Laboratories; New Mexico; On-site; USD 236,000 - 401,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation

Medical benefits

Competitive 401k

Relocation assistance

Flexible/telecommuting options

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque seeks a Director to lead the Materials, Physical & Chemical Sciences Center. You will shape strategy, manage a 500+ staff, and guide R&D across materials, aging, and fabrication to support Sandia's national security missions.

This leadership role emphasizes collaboration with DOE partners, development of AI-enabled workflows, and delivering high-impact programs within a $200M annual portfolio, with a clear focus on safety, compliance, and workforce

Qualifications

• PhD in engineering or science field relevant to the Center.
• Minimum of 15 years post‑degree complex R&D experience in leading research groups.
• Minimum of 10 years leading complex scientific or engineering organizations.
• Documented record of technical and R&D accomplishments.

Responsibilities

• Assume line and program management responsibilities for Center 1800, including direct reports.
• Ensure cost-effective, high‑quality, timely research outputs; uphold ES&H requirements.
• Recruit and retain talent; develop policies and infrastructure investments.
• Shape vision for emerging technologies; develop short and long‑range R&D plans.
• Lead portfolio development across multiple business segments; meet sponsor needs.
• Collaborate across Laboratories to achieve mission goals and sustain capabilities.
• Build relationships with customers, HQ NNSA officials, and stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Communication

Education

PhD in engineering or sciences relevant to the Center

Job description

Director - Materials, Physical & Chemical Sciences (Center 1800)

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
• 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:

Reporting to the Associate Lab Director for Advanced Science & Technology, this position is responsible for all aspects of leading and managing the Materials, Physical & Chemical Sciences Center ("Center"). The Albuquerque‑based Center delivers both foundational and applied research in materials science, along with utilizing this knowledge and expertise impacting all of Sandia's programs. This includes capabilities in developing advanced materials, materials synthesis and processing, materials characterization, and understanding of materials' reliability, aging, and failure mechanisms for all classes of materials needed to enable the breadth of Sandia's National Security mission. The organization stewards process technologies such as welding and joining, tribology, thermal spray, and advanced manufacturing. The Center has responsibility for foundational development for electronic, quantum, and optical materials with strong institutional partnerships with other Physical Sciences centers across the Labs. The Center 1800 partners with Los Alamos National Laboratory in leading the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT), which is one of the five Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science Nanoscience Research Centers. Center 1800 is a key partner with the Sandia Nuclear Deterrence (ND) program supporting new materials development, and insertion with deep expertise in materials aging and lifetimes. The Center director is responsible for leading Sandia's materials sciences and engineering strategy, including stewarding a ~$15M annual Laboratory-Directed Research and Development (LDRD)-based investment. Currently the Center comprises 500+ staff (including students and postdocs) with an annual R&D budget of $200M.

The Director will lead the Laboratories capabilities in foundational and applied materials, physical and chemical sciences R&D to support and enhance the DOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) technology base while delivering on mission objectives. The center is accountable for collaborating with all programs and line organizations to ensure the success of Sandia National Laboratories as an institution. The Center is a key partner with the Sandia ND program supporting new materials development, materials reliability, compatibility and aging, characterization of stockpile materials, prototyping advanced manufacturing and fabrication processes, and providing subject matter expertise across a wide range of material, physical, and chemical phenomena. Key elements of the Center's strategy include development and usage of AI models and technologies; high-fidelity modeling and simulation application development; quantum microelectronics, including scope and leadership in Sandia's recently announced Quantum Futures Center; power electronics; advanced materials development; and advanced manufacturing, including scope and leadership in Sandia's Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation (CAMINO).

Duties and Responsibilities:

Assume line and program management responsibilities of the Materials, Physical and Chemical Sciences Center, including managing direct reports and ensuring effective leadership within Groups and Departments.

Assure the efficient conduct of assigned research, testing, development, and engineering in a cost-effective manner with timely delivery of high-quality, technically excellent products in full compliance with applicable requirements. Assure the safe conduct all activities in a safe and secure manner, adhering to established ES&H requirements to protect employees, the public, and the environment; take necessary actions to "stop" work when unsafe conditions or actions are identified.

Oversee recruitment and retention of the appropriate workforce, develop effective policies and tools, and developing infrastructure investments and maintenance supportive of the mission. Operate, steward, and develop all capabilities of the Center and collaborate as needed to develop and implement plans for sustaining these capabilities.

Actively shape the vision for emerging technologies, consistent with Sandia's strategic priorities. Advise and assist in developing short-range and long-range R&D plans, including establishing goals and objectives for sponsor programs as well as an R&D strategy and outcomes for evolving opportunities and associated sponsors.

Lead capability and portfolio development and implementation across multiple business segments and organizations, partnering with internal and external partners to clearly define and meet their needs.

Effectively team with organizations across the Laboratories to achieve mission goals efficiently and collaboratively, while advocating for the Center's mission.

Establish and maintain transparent and effective relationships with customers, local and HQ NNSA officials, and other stakeholders nationally.

Participate in business excellence initiatives, demonstrate continuous improvement, and establish key performance indicators with regular metric-based reporting.

Salary Range:

$235,800 - $400,900

*Salary range is estimated, and actual salary will be determined after consideration of the selected candidate's experience and qualifications, and application of any approved geographic salary differential.

Qualifications We Require:

PhD degree in engineering or science field relevant to the Center: Chemistry, Materials Science and Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.

Minimum of 15 years post-degree complex R&D experience relevant to the Material, Physical, and Chemical Sciences Center including management of laboratory or experimental work.

Demonstrated success and minimum of 10 years' experience in leading complex scientific, engineering, or technology development organizations relevant to the Center.

Documented record of recognized technical and R&D accomplishments demonstrated through peer-reviewed publications, invited presentations, patents, major technical contributions, and equivalent professional achievements.

Demonstrated experience developing, leading, and executing large research programs involving multiple stakeholders and funding sponsors.

Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q Security Clearance

Qualifications We Desire:

Minimum of 5 years' experience interacting with DOE national laboratories, key customers (e.g., DHS/DOE/NNSA), other government agencies, government representatives, or internal and external customers to negotiate, plan, and deliver on customer requirements.

Extensive relationships within the Nuclear Security Enterprise and with the DOE Office of Science, particularly the Basic Energy Sciences (BES) Program.

Demonstrated knowledge of materials science and engineering, including one or more of the following areas: discovery and design of advanced materials; precision synthesis, fabrication, and advanced manufacturing across scales; advanced materials characterization and diagnostics; predictive materials performance and reliability; foundational materials and chemical science, including theory, modeling, and simulation; and electronic, nano, and quantum sciences.

Experience developing and using AI-enabled autonomous, self-driving experimental facilities for agile, high-throughput, and transformative science return.

Proven experience developing, leading, and managing major research facilities or experimental programs.

Demonstrated success in establishing and executing partnerships with industry, universities, national laboratories, and international collaborators.

Demonstrated leader with business acumen who is an inspiring change agent with the ability to develop and foster a common vision across functional boundaries, shift culture, and drive performance.

Integrative thinker with demonstrated ability to solve complex, multi-faceted problems considering business and strategic consequences.

Demonstrated ability to recruit, develop, mentor, and retain outstanding leadership-class scientific, engineering, and operations staff.

Excellent interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills with the ability to engage effectively with diverse technical and non-technical audiences.

About Our Team:

The Sandia Advanced Science & Technology Division consists of six research capability groups, the bulk of Sandia's complex, moderate hazard and nuclear experimental facilities, ~$900M of programmatic R&D activities, and stewarding a $275M+ annual Laboratory Directed R&D Program on behalf of Sandia. The Division is responsible for advanced research capabilities in computational simulation, environmental testing, high energy density and inertial confinement fusion science, high-performance computing, materials science and engineering, and radiation effects science, whose capabilities are used to provide services and products that directly support all of SNL's missions. The Division translates research into products through capabilities such as advanced manufacturing and component engineering. Our people are leaders in science, technology, and in their professional communities.

Posting Duration:

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.

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 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.

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.