Postdoctoral Appointee - Hydrodynamic Energy Systems Laboratory Experiments, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 83,725 - 113,275; Full time

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM seeks a hardworking Postdoctoral Appointee in the Hydrodynamic Energy Systems department to advance wave energy concepts through experiments, modeling, and collaboration with engineers and scientists.

The position focuses on wave energy converter control, co-design, and current energy technologies; duties include simulations, hardware testing, manuscript preparation, and contributing to peer‑reviewed work.

Qualifications

• PhD in Mechanical, Controls, Electrical, Ocean, Civil or related STEM field.
• Experience with MATLAB and/or Simulink.
• Demonstrated troubleshooting ability with real hardware (sensors, power electronics, data-acquisition).
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with other departments on energy conversion technologies.
• Conduct experiments to evaluate new technologies.
• Perform simulations, optimizations, and hardware tests and document results.
• Contribute to manuscripts for publication.

Skills

MATLAB/Simulink

Troubleshooting hardware

DOE Q clearance

Interdisciplinary collaboration

HIL/real-time platforms

Education

PhD inMechanical/Electrical/Controls/Ocean/Civil or related STEM

Tools

NI cDAQ/cRIO

dSPACE

Speedgoat

Job description

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 401(k), learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

What Your Job Will Be Like

We are seeking a hardworking and dedicated Postdoctoral Appointee in the Hydrodynamic Energy Systems department. You will work both independently and with a multidisciplinary team of engineers and scientists working on projects that focus on wave energy converter (WEC) control and WEC co‑design, current energy converter (CEC) technologies, and other projects related to hydrodynamic energy systems.

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

• Collaborate with other departments regarding energy conversion technologies.
• Conduct experiments to evaluate new technologies.
• Perform simulations, optimizations, and/or hardware tests and document results.
• Contribute to manuscripts for publication.

This position is located in Albuquerque, NM, and the annual salary for this position is $98,500. Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.

Qualifications We Require

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Ocean Engineering, Civil Engineering, or other relevant STEM field.
• Experience with MATLAB and/or Simulink.
• Demonstrated troubleshooting ability in debugging real hardware (sensors, power electronics, data‑acquisition issues, etc.) or related experience.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance.

Qualifications We Desire

• Demonstrated experience in hands‑on design, building, ownership, or commissioning of a real‑time hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL), digital‑twin style experiments or related experience.
• Strong MATLAB/Simulink skills for real‑time code generation, data analysis, and model validation or related skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, as evidenced by publication(s) in peer‑reviewed journals and/or presentation(s) at scientific conferences.
• Background that aligns with our multidisciplinary needs in electromechanical Power Takeoff (PTO) units and structural component testing (electrical, mechanical, civil/structural engineering, physics, applied math, or similar).
• Experience running high‑force test rigs (hydraulic actuation, servo drives, high‑frequency data logging). Example experience can also include proficiency with at least one of the common HIL / real‑time platforms (NI cDAQ/cRIO, dSPACE, or Speedgoat) or related platforms.
• Ability to demonstrate or articulate why a test is configured a certain way and how results inform the model or evidence of technology computer simulation modeling for design, virtual testing or related applications in digital engineering.
• Familiarity with hydrodynamic energy systems, offshore systems or related technologies.
• Demonstrated initiative, for example, through independently developed research questions, novel model development, and/or addressing new engineering or scientific challenges.
• Demonstrated interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Evidence of coupling experiments with system-level modeling/validation or evidence in a dissertation, project or publication.

About Our Team

The Hydrodynamic Energy Systems (HES) department develops technologies that harness energy from waves, currents, tides and ocean thermal gradients to generate energy for power and national security applications. We apply capabilities and expertise in mechanical, electrical, civil and controls engineering, as well as robotics, materials and data science, and high‑fidelity modeling to create novel energy conversion devices and to characterize hydrodynamic resources. Our work focuses on advancing hydrodynamic energy technologies to support national energy security objectives.

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.

Position Information

• 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.