Postdoctoral Appointee - AI/ML for Solid Mechanics, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories; New Mexico; On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico seeks a Postdoctoral Appointee to advance AI/ML methods for solid mechanics. The role focuses on computational mechanics, scientific ML, and material modeling pipelines, with onsite work required.

The successful candidate will develop physics-informed ML architectures, publish findings, and collaborate across the Materials and Failure Modeling Department. PhD within five years and DOE Q clearance eligibility are required.

Qualifications

• PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mechanics, Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering, or related field.
• Background in solid mechanics: strength of materials, continuum mechanics, and/or mechanics of materials.
• Experience with C, C++, Julia, MATLAB, Python, and/or Rust.
• Experience in scientific ML with architectures like physics-informed neural networks, graph neural networks, or operator learning.
• Publication record in peer-reviewed journals and external presentations.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to computational solid mechanics research, development, and analysis in scientific ML.
• Apply solid mechanics and advanced mathematics to support research and tool development leveraging computational mechanics and ML.
• Utilize optimization methods, including genetic algorithms, to discover new material laws.
• Use state-of-the-art FE codes and computational resources to design and qualify engineering materials and systems.
• Build and test material modeling pipelines via pretrained large language models.
• Develop a robust research portfolio through peer-reviewed publications and conferences.
• Submit complete CVs during the application process.

Skills

Scientific ML

Physics-informed neural networks

Graph neural networks

Operator learning

Publications

DOE Q clearance

Education

PhD in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Tools

C

C++

Julia

MATLAB

Python

Rust

Job description

Postdoctoral Appointee - AI/ML for Solid Mechanics, Onsite

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.

Employees, excluding student interns, must remain in their current position for one year from their hire date before bidding on a new job. However, the hiring manager may obtain approval to consider a candidate before the one-year requirement is met via the review process. This approval must be secured prior to being interviewed for a posted position. The application of this requirement will not supersede collective bargaining agreements. Please refer to the collective bargaining labor agreements for eligibility requirements for represented bidders.

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 areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

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.

What Your Job Will Be Like:

The Materials and Failure Modeling Department is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Appointee to join our team and contribute to ongoing computational solid mechanics research, development, and analysis in the areas of scientific machine learning.

On any given day, you will have the opportunity to:

• Apply the principles of solid mechanics and advanced mathematics to support the research and development of capabilities and tools leveraging computational solid mechanics and machine learning for fine featured engineering components.

Utilize advanced optimization methods, such as genetic algorithms, for discovering new material laws.

Use state-of-the-art finite element codes and world class computational resources to support the design, development, and qualification of complex engineering materials and systems.

Build and test agentic material modeling pipelines via pretrained large language models (LLMs).

Develop a robust research portfolio through peer-reviewed journal publications, conference presentations, and participation in professional societies.

Applicants are requested to submit complete Curricula Vitae during the application process.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected candidate must be able to work onsite.

Qualifications We Require:

PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mechanics, Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering, or related field

Background in the foundations of solid mechanics, including strength of materials, continuum mechanics, and/or mechanics of materials

Experience with a programming language such as C, C++, Julia, MATLAB, Python, and/or Rust

Experience conducting research in scientific machine learning and implementing architectures, such as physics informed neural networks, graph neural networks and/or operator learning methods

Communication skills as evidenced by a history of publication of results in peer-reviewed journals and external presentations at appropriate scientific conferences

Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance

Qualifications We Desire:

Experience performing mechanical finite element calculations

Experience implementing material models in commercial finite element analysis codes

Experience with agentic AI workflows using open and/or closed-source LLMs

Knowledge of and/or experience with experimental methods for material characterization

Experience with genetic algorithms (GAs) and specialized GA libraries

About Our Team:

The Materials and Failure Modeling Department performs material mechanics R&D, develops advanced engineering models, and deploys state-of-the‑out computational capabilities to enable physically credible prediction of material behavior and failure in support of Sandia's mission. Core capabilities developed and maintained by the department include adaptive material and failure models, robust computational material libraries covering events from aging to shock physics, effective model calibration methodologies, and quantification of margin and uncertainty of material models.

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.

• Affordable housing, reasonable cost of living
• Minimal traffic congestion compared to larger cities
• At Sandia, recruiters manually review resumes on each job posting instead of using a resume screening software program
• By following the best practices outlined, this ensures that recruiters can accurately determine your qualifications for the position