Postdoctoral Appointee - Experimental Thermal and Fluid Sciences, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories; New Mexico; On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Relocation assistance

Generous vacation and benefits

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories seeks a Postdoctoral Appointee to conduct basic and applied research on thermal and fluid phenomena related to national security. You will work in the Experimental Thermal and Fluid Sciences Department on multiphase flow, thermal transport, and light‑matter interactions using advanced facilities.

You will develop experiments, test hypotheses, and publish results in peer‑reviewed journals while collaborating with staff engineers and test technologists.

Qualifications

• You have earned, or are pursuing, a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering field, and will have completed all Ph.D. requirements before starting at Sandia.
• Excellent scientific writing and presentation skills, demonstrated through a record of peer‑reviewed publications and conference presentations.
• Ability to acquire and maintain a DOE L security clearance. US Citizenship is required.
• Experience with Bayesian data inference or other machine learning techniques applied to experimental data to construct or calibrate physical models.
• Basic experience with thermal and fluid simulation tools to support experiment design and data comparison.
• Experience applying nonintrusive optical diagnostics, including but not limited to DIH, OES, Rayleigh scattering, and PLIF.

Responsibilities

• Develop experiments and apply diagnostic techniques to explore multiphase, chemically‑reacting, thermal, hypersonic, and other complex environments.
• Develop data‑driven models from experimental results to answer scientific questions, and collaborate with engineers to compare experimental data with modern computational models.
• Publish research in peer‑reviewed scientific journals.
• Present research to team members and the broader scientific community.

Skills

Scientific writing

Presentation skills

Data-driven modeling

Education

PhD in Aerospace Engineering or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

DIH (digital in-line holography)

OES (optical emission spectroscopy)

Rayleigh scattering

PLIF (planar laser-induced fluorescence)

Job description

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Postdoctoral Appointee - Experimental Thermal and Fluid Sciences, Onsite

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:

Sandia's Experimental Thermal and Fluid Sciences Department is seeking a Postdoctoral Appointee to conduct basic and applied research on thermal and fluid phenomena related to national security. Research topics include multiphase flow and droplet physics, thermal transport across a range of physical scales, material response in extreme thermal environments, and light‑matter interactions. This research may involve Sandia's plasma torch, multiphase shock tube, laser heat facilities, optical diagnostic laboratories, and wind tunnel facilities. You will be mentored by staff engineers and will work closely with test engineers and technologists to conduct this research. A successful postdoctoral appointee will develop and test independent hypotheses within a focused topic area and synthesize results for publication in peer‑reviewed journals.

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

Develop experiments and apply diagnostic techniques to explore multiphase, chemically‑reacting, thermal, hypersonic, and other complex environments.

Develop data‑driven models from experimental results to answer scientific questions, and collaborate with engineers to compare experimental data with modern computational models.

Publish research in peer‑reviewed scientific journals.

Present research to team members and the broader scientific community.

Are you ready for your next challenge? Join our team and achieve your goals while advancing national security.

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

Qualifications We Require:

You have earned, or are pursuing, a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering field, and will have completed all Ph.D. requirements before starting at Sandia.

Excellent scientific writing and presentation skills, demonstrated through a record of peer‑reviewed publications and conference presentations.

Ability to acquire and maintain a DOE L security clearance. US Citizenship is required.

Qualifications We Desire:

Experience with Bayesian data inference or other machine learning techniques applied to experimental data to construct or calibrate physical models.

Basic experience with thermal and fluid simulation tools to support experiment design and data comparison.

Experience working in thermal test environments (e.g., plasma torches, arc‑jets, thermal vacuum chambers, radiant heaters), multiphase fluid laboratory environments, or aero test environments (e.g., shock tubes, wind tunnels).

Experience applying nonintrusive optical diagnostics, including but not limited to digital in‑line holography (DIH), optical particle tracking, infrared thermography, thermoreflectance (FDTR/TDTR), optical emission spectroscopy (OES), laser Rayleigh scattering, laser absorption spectroscopy (LAS), and planar laser‑induced fluorescence (PLIF).

About Our Team:

The Experimental Thermal and Fluid Sciences Department conducts applied research supporting nuclear deterrence and national security missions. We operate specialized environmental facilities, including plasma and acetylene torches, automated laser‑heating platforms, electrical heaters, ovens, flames, and jet facilities. We also collaborate with the Experimental Aerosciences Department to perform challenging measurements in their aerodynamic ground‑test facilities. Across these varied environments, we develop and apply advanced diagnostics such as high‑speed quantitative imaging, absorption and emission spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Rayleigh scattering, and particle image velocimetry to generate the unique datasets needed for modern engineering workflows, physical discovery, and model validation.

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.

• 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