Postdoctoral Appointee - Experimental Solid Mechanics, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Telecommuting where applicable

Relocation assistance

Work-life balance amenities

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories seeks a Postdoctoral Appointee for the Experimental Impact Mechanics Laboratory (EIML) in Albuquerque, NM. The role focuses on high-rate/impact testing of materials with advanced diagnostics.

You will collaborate with engineers across multiple labs and contribute to model development, dynamic failure analysis, and experimental methods. You will design, conduct, and analyze experiments, producing reports and publications.

Qualifications

• PhD in Mechanical, Civil, Aerospace Engineering or a related field with emphasis in solid mechanics.
• Solid background and experience in experimental mechanics.
• Experience working independently and in teams with multi-tasking capabilities.
• Good communication evidenced by publications and external presentations.

Responsibilities

• Perform experimental mechanics research with emphasis on high-rate testing using Hopkinson/Kolsky techniques.
• Collaborate with EIML and other labs (Structural Mechanics, Mechanical Shock, computational solid mechanics).
• Support research in mechanical characterization, rate-dependent modeling, dynamic failure, and advanced diagnostic methods.
• Design, execute, and analyze experiments.
• Produce technical reports, peer‑reviewed papers, and conference presentations.

Skills

PhD in Mechanical/Civil/Aerospace with

Experimental mechanics

Independent & team work

Scientific communication (publications

Job description

Job ID: 699605

Location: Albuquerque, NM

Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Regular/Temporary: Temporary

Bidder Eligibility

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:

• 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

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Appointee for the Experimental Impact Mechanics Laboratory (EIML).

On any given day, you will be asked to:

• Perform experimental mechanics research with an emphasis on high-rate/impact testing of materials and structures, with, but not limited to, split Hopkinson bar (or Kolsky bar) techniques implemented with advanced diagnostic techniques
• Work with research engineers in EIML and collaborate with research engineers in other groups including Structural Mechanics Lab, Mechanical Shock Lab, and computational solid mechanics group
• Support research activities in the following areas: mechanical characterization of materials in normal and abnormal environments, rate-dependent material model development, dynamic failure and fracture, shock mitigation, and advanced experimental methods/diagnostic technique development
• Perform experimental design, execution, and analysis
• Produce technical reports, peer-reviewed journal articles, and conference presentations

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant will be required to work onsite.

Qualifications We Require

• PhD in Mechanical, Civil, Aerospace Engineering or a related field with an emphasis in solid mechanics
• Solid background and experience in experimental mechanics
• Experience working both independently and as part of a team and multi-task skills
• Good 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 L clearance

Qualifications We Desire

• Experience on mechanical testing, including MTS, Drop table, split Hopkinson bar, etc.
• Experience with advanced optical methods including digital image correlation (DIC), high-speed imaging, or other optical metrology
• Knowledge and experience with impact mechanics, engineering mechanics, or material sciences
• Commitment to operational safety, security and quality

About Our Team

The Experimental Solid Mechanics Department 1528 is part of the Engineering Sciences Center at Sandia National Laboratories.Our center is the steward of engineering mechanics for Sandia and we are dedicated to solving our customer's most pressing and important national security problems.Our department specializes in experimental technologies related to structural mechanics and mechanics of materials.With our state of the art experimental technologies, technical expertise, and analytical capabilities in sister departments, we provide integrated customer solutions in the following areas: mechanical characterization of materials, components, and structures in normal or abnormal environments, development and application of state-of-the-art experimental and diagnostic techniques for scientific and mission impacts, and integration of analytical, computational, and experimental efforts for engineering solutions to national security problems.Our mission is to use research-development-application (R-D-A) spectrum for physical discovery, model development and validation, and qualification and acceptance for nuclear weapons, defense, energy, and other applications.

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 L-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 the 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.