Postdoctoral Appointee - Modeling Batteries and Battery Systems, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 83,500 - 113,000; Full time

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher to model batteries and battery systems. You will develop first-principle, reduced-order, and data-driven models of cell performance and degradation.

Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary group, work on open-source tools, document findings, and present at meetings and conferences. Onsite work is required; the position is a temporary postdoc up to one year with potential renewal.

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Electrochemical/Energy Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, or closely related field.
• Experience with computational modeling, reduced-order modeling, or data analytics.
• Experience with code development and scripting.
• Strong written and verbal communication; publications/presentations in scientific venues.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Develop models for Li and non-lithium battery systems.
• Develop first-principle, reduced-order, and data-driven models.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary group and interact with researchers at Sandia and universities.
• Present on research progress at group meetings, peer review events, and conferences.
• Contribute to open-source software tools for battery modeling.

Skills

Computational modeling

Reduced-order modeling

Data analytics

Code development / scripting

Communication skills

DOE clearance

Education

PhD in relevant field

Tools

Python

C++

Linux

Job description

Job ID 698274

Location Albuquerque, NM

Full/Part Time Full-Time

Regular/Temporary Temporary

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 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 a Postdoctoral Researcher (job title: Postdoctoral Appointee) with an interest in modeling batteries and battery systems. As part of the Power Electronics and Energy Conversion Systems Department, you will develop and implement models for Li and non-lithium battery systems.

The successful candidate will develop first-principle, reduced-order, and data-driven models of cell and battery performance and degradation using a combination of finite-element forward models, surrogate models, and hybrid machine learning techniques. The researcher will work with a multi-disciplinary group and interact with researchers at Sandia and Universities working on battery development, modeling, and characterization.

On any given day you may be called on to:

• Develop models for batteries and energy storage systems.
• Contribute to the development of open-source software tools for battery modeling.
• Document research findings for internal and external publication.
• Present on research progress at group meetings, peer review events, and technical conferences.

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

Qualifications We Require

• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Electrochemical/Energy Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, or other relevant field, such as a closely related engineering or natural science field.
• Experience with computational modeling, reduced-order modeling, or data analytics.
• Experience with code development and/or scripting.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, as evidenced by publication(s) in peer-reviewed journals and/or presentation(s) at scientific conferences.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance.

Qualifications We Desire

• Experience with batteries, other energy storage technologies, or grid-scale storage applications.
• Experience with machine learning or artificial intelligence, particularly physics-informed/physics-constrained machine learning or multi-fidelity surrogate modeling.
• Python and/or C++ code development experience.
• Expertise with the Linux operating system.
• Experience with zinc batteries.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently with minimal direction while engaging with peers in a group environment.

About Our Team

The Power Electronics and Energy Conversion Systems Department is focused on the development and integration of power conversion devices and systems into our future electric grid. The department has numerous projects with the Energy Storage Technology and Systems Department, which focuses on the development of advanced energy storage technologies, safety and reliability of energy storage systems, and the development of methods and tools to evaluate the performance of storage systems.

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.