Postdoctoral Appointee - Microelectronic Memory Technologies, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories seeks a Postdoctoral Appointee to conduct innovative research and analysis on radiation effects in microelectronics, focusing on non-volatile memory technologies and devices built at Sandia's facilities. The role involves experiments, simulations, and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team to understand SEE, TID, and dose-rate effects in radiation environments.

You will work with advanced memory technologies, publish findings, and present at conferences.

Qualifications

• PhD in Engineering, Material Sciences, Physics, or closely relevant field.
• Knowledge of device physics in microelectronics or electronics.
• Strong publication record with peer‑reviewed journals and external presentations at scientific conferences.
• Ability to acquire and maintain a DOE Q clearance.

Responsibilities

• Perform experiments or simulations to investigate radiation effects in electronics and other test objects.
• Team with specialists in radiation experiments, design of experiments, and data analysis.
• Summarize findings in internal reports and publish results in journals or present at conferences.
• Communicate insights to internal and external stakeholders and customers.
• Travel for experiments, project meetings and conferences.

Skills

Device physics knowledge

Publication record

DOE clearance eligibility

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Data analysis

Education

PhD in Engineering, Material Sciences, Physics or closely related field

Tools

Python

NumPy

Pandas

Job description

Postdoctoral Appointee – Microelectronic Memory Technologies, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation's premier science and engineering laboratory for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting‑edge work in a broad array of areas.

What Your Job Will Be Like:

We seek a motivated Postdoctoral Appointee to conduct innovative research and analysis on radiation effects in microelectronics. In this position, your work may range from performing experiments, informing design, or running simulations to predict and better understand device performance in radiation environments. This work will focus on advanced and emerging non‑volatile memory technologies including custom devices built at Sandia's MESA fab, external foundries, and advanced‑node commercial technologies.

You will work in a collaborative environment with a complementary team and have access to some of the world's most powerful facilities, tools, and expertise to evaluate device performance in radiation environments including neutrons, x‑rays, gamma, and electromagnetic environments to understand damage mechanisms, single‑event effects (SEE), dose rate effects, and total ionizing dose (TID) effects.

On Any Given Day, You May Be Called On to:

• Perform experiments or simulations to investigate radiation effects in electronics and other test objects.
• Team with other specialists, including those performing radiation experiments at innovative facilities, designing experiments, and analyzing results.
• Summarize findings in internal reports and, as appropriate, publish results in journal articles and present at conferences.
• Clearly communicate new insights or observations to internal and external stakeholders and customers.
• Travel for activities such as performing experiments and attending project meetings and conferences.

Qualifications We Require:

• PhD degree in Engineering, Material Sciences, Physics, or a closely relevant field.
• Knowledge of or experience in device physics in microelectronics or electronics.
• A strong track record of scientific and/or technical achievements through publication, as evidenced by peer‑reviewed journals and external presentations at appropriate scientific conferences.
• Ability to acquire and maintain a DOE Q clearance.

Qualifications We Desire:

• Experience with advanced and emerging non‑volatile memory technologies including but not limited to 3D NAND, FeRAM, ReRAM, and magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) technologies.
• General knowledge in radiation sciences and effects in electronics.
• Experience with radiation testing of microelectronics such as single‑event effects (SEE), total ionizing dose (TID), and/or dose rate effects.
• Experience modeling radiation effects in electronics using semiconductor device or circuit‑level simulation tools.
• Experience with Python (or similar scripting languages); strong data analysis skills and knowledge of standard Python data libraries (e.g., NumPy, pandas/polars).
• Experience working with interdisciplinary teams.

About Our Team:

The Radiation Effects Experimentation and Analysis Department is committed to ensuring the operational capability of the nation's nuclear stockpile in radiation and electromagnetic environments. Our work spans a diverse range of activities, from fundamental radiation effects research to the qualification of electronic components, subsystems, and systems against both natural and man‑made radiation environments, including those produced by nuclear detonations. We accomplish our mission by conducting both basic and applied radiation effects research on materials, electronics, and surrogate test objects, as well as developing critical diagnostics and performing simulations to analyze how electronics and other test objects respond to radiation.

Benefits: Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 and 4/10 compressed workweeks, part‑time work, and telecommuting. Generous vacation, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401(k), learning opportunities, relocation assistance, and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance. These benefits vary by job classification.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, and any other protected class under state or federal law.