Postdoctoral Appointee - Hypersonic Aerosciences, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories; New Mexico; On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Affordable housing

Minimal traffic congestion

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico, invites applications for a Postdoctoral Appointee in Hypersonic Aerosciences to conduct basic and applied research on multiphase shock interactions and hypersonic flow phenomena.

You will work in facilities such as the Trisonic Wind Tunnel, Hypersonic Wind Tunnel, and Hypersonic Shock Tunnel, mentored by staff researchers, and will publish results in peer‑reviewed journals while presenting to the team. Onsite work is required.

Qualifications

• PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field; must complete before starting at Sandia.
• Excellent scientific writing and presentation skills evidenced by peer‑reviewed publications and conference talks.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE L security clearance; US citizenship required.
• Desirable experience with compressible fluid mechanics and optical diagnostics.

Responsibilities

• Develop experiments and diagnostic techniques to explore hypersonic flow and related phenomena.
• Develop data‑driven models comparing experimental results with computational models.
• Publish research in peer‑reviewed journals and present findings to teams and the broader community.

Skills

Scientific writing

Publications

Presentation skills

DOE security clearance

Education

PhD in Aerospace/Mechanical Eng

Job description

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Postdoctoral Appointee - Hypersonic Aerosciences, 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 Aerosciences Department is seeking a Postdoctoral Appointee to conduct basic and applied research on multiphase shock interactions and hypersonic flow phenomena related to national security. Work will primarily be completed in one of four facilities, the Trisonic Wind Tunnel (Mach 0.5-3.0), Hypersonic Wind Tunnel (Mach 5, 8, 14) and Hypersonic Shock Tunnel (Mach 8, high enthalpy), and the Multiphase Shock Tube. You will be mentored by staff researchers and will work closely with test engineers and technologists to conduct 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 hypersonic flow, gas opacity, high-enthalpy shock effects, and/or reactive flow shock-boundary layer interactions.

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 compressible fluid mechanics.

Experience applying nonintrusive optical diagnostics including but not limited to high-speed schlieren, focused laser differential interferometry (FLDI), ultra-fast laser-based spectroscopy, particle image velocimetry (PIV), laser absorption spectroscopy (LAS), etc.

Surface sensor measurements such as high-frequency pressure, shear stress, heat flux, infrared thermography, and DAQ systems.

Data analysis techniques such as signal processing, image analysis, and data assimilation techniques.

Thorough knowledge and applied experience with scientific and engineering methods and with standards for ethical conduct of research.

An ability to interact well with fellow technical workers with diverse technical backgrounds.

Previous experience demonstrating an ability to work safely and efficiently in a fast-paced research laboratory.

About Our Team:

The Experimental Aerosciences Department of Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico, offers challenging and important work relating to national security in R&D and technology applications in aerodynamics, aerothermodynamics, compressible fluid mechanics, and flight dynamics. Our primary mission supports U.S. Department of Energy Defense Programs, and aerosciences projects funded through the U.S. Department of Defense, DARPA, NASA and industry. Our projects span the Mach number range from subsonic through hypersonic and involve systems ranging from aircraft-released ordnance to reentry systems and rocket systems. Technical activities include experimental and analytical efforts plus support of flight test activities, both pre-flight/post-flight analyses and field test operations. The Experimental Aerosciences Department maintains a strong balance of research and development activities and works synergistically with other organizations at Sandia to meet current and future customer needs.

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