Postdoctoral Appointee Materials Modeling for Quantum Devices, Hybrid

Sandia National Laboratories; New Mexico; Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Affordable housing

Minimal traffic congestion

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico seeks Postdoctoral Appointees to advance materials modeling, machine learning, and quantum simulation for defects with ideal properties for quantum devices. The role involves high-throughput first-principles calculations and integrating results into graph neural networks.

Candidates will collaborate with a broad team and must have a PhD in a relevant field. Flexible work arrangements, relocation assistance, and excellent benefits apply.

Qualifications

• PhD conferred within five years prior to employment.
• Record of research in peer-reviewed journals and/or high-impact deliverables.
• Experience in solid-state physics or materials modeling is preferred.
• Proficiency in scientific programming.
• Ability to work in multidisciplinary, large-team environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply materials modeling, ML, and quantum simulation to predict optical defects.
• Collaborate with teams using diverse theoretical and experimental techniques.
• Assess discrepancies between predicted properties and experiments using higher-accuracy methods.
• Contribute to quantum protocols and resource estimation for future quantum computers.

Skills

Scientific programming

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Quantum information concepts

Education

PhD in Physics, Materials Science, Chemistry, CS, EE, Math

Job description

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Postdoctoral Appointee Materials Modeling for Quantum Devices, Hybrid

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 Postdoctoral Appointees to develop and apply materials modeling, machine learning, and/or quantum simulation techniques to understand and predict optical defects with ideal properties for quantum systems. This work will involve one or more of the following activities: high-throughput first-principles calculations for structures with charged defects and inputting these simulations into graph neural network algorithms to accelerate predictions; scrutinizing the origin of discrepancies between predicted defect properties and experimental measurements using higher-accuracy computational methods; and/or developing quantum protocols and estimating resource requirements for simulating defect systems on future fault-tolerant quantum computers. This position will require regular collaboration with a team using many different theoretical and experimental techniques. Candidates should have experience in solid-state physics/materials modeling, machine learning in materials-relevant contexts, or quantum simulation applications. Experience with at least one of the following topics is encouraged but not required: Density Functional Theory, Molecular Dynamics, Machine Learning for Materials, Quantum Embedding Theory, Quantum Simulation Algorithms.

Candidates with varying backgrounds and interests in QIS are encouraged to apply. The Center for Computing Research is committed to maintaining a culture compatible with a broad group of people and perspectives in accordance with the changing makeup of the workforce. In support of this vision, the center actively recruits applicants from diverse backgrounds and fosters an inclusive community.

The selected applicant can work a combination of onsite and offsite work. The selected applicant must live within a reasonable distance for commuting to the assigned work location when necessary.

Qualifications We Require:

A PhD in Physics, Materials Science, Chemistry, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, or a related science or engineering field. PhD must be conferred within five years prior to employment.

Record of research as demonstrated by publications in peer-reviewed journals and/or competitive conference proceedings, or high-impact program deliverables.

Qualifications We Desire:

Graduate-level experience with at least one of the following topics: Density Functional Theory, Molecular Dynamics, Machine Learning, Quantum Embedding Theory, Quantum Simulation Algorithms.

Proficiency in scientific computer programming.

Familiarity with multidisciplinary, large-team environments and ability to translate complex concepts to colleagues.

About Our Team:

You will be a member of one of the Quantum Information Science and Technology departments, where we pursue foundational research and development of quantum information processors that will provide exponential speed-ups for selected computational problems. Our work is central to a much larger quantum program at Sandia and we collaborate closely with hundreds of research scientists, postdocs, interns, and others across academia, national labs, and industry.

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:

This position does not currently require a Department of Energy (DOE) security clearance.

Sandia will conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Furthermore, employees in New Mexico need to pass a U.S. Air Force background screen for access to Kirtland Air Force Base. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause access to be denied or terminated, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment. Under federal law, citizens and agents of the People's Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea, and the Russian Federation are generally prohibited from accessing Sandia National Laboratories. Accordingly, such individuals will not be considered for employment unless they are also a citizen of the United States.

If hired without a clearance and it subsequently becomes necessary to obtain and maintain one for the position, or you bid on positions that require a clearance, a pre-processing background review may be conducted prior to a required federal background investigation. Applicants for a DOE security clearance need to be U.S. citizens. 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.

Members of the workforce (MOWs) hired at Sandia who require uncleared access for greater than 179 days during their employment, are required to go through the Uncleared Personal Identity Verification (UPIV) process. Access includes physical and/or cyber (logical) access, as well as remote access to any NNSA information technology (IT) systems. UPIV requirements are not applicable to individuals who require a DOE personnel security clearance for the performance of their SNL employment or to foreign nationals. The UPIV process will include the completion of a USAccess Enrollment, SF-85 (Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions) and OF-306 (Declaration of for Federal Employment). An unfavorable UPIV determination will result in immediate retrieval of the SNL issued badge, removal of cyber (logical) access and/or removal from SNL subcontract. All MOWs may appeal the unfavorable UPIV determination to DOE/NNSA immediately. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the MOW may try to go through the UPIV process one year after the decision date.

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