Postdoctoral Appointee - Z Pulsed Power Research

Sandia National Laboratories; New Mexico; On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories is seeking postdoctoral researchers in pulsed power, experimental physics, and electrical engineering to support cutting-edge research on pulsed power systems and components. The role involves designing and analyzing high voltage breakdown experiments, developing diagnostics, and collaborating with universities and industry.

You will work onsite in a multidisciplinary team, contributing to Marx switch upgrades, insulator improvements, and high-energy density

Qualifications

• PhD in electrical engineering, physics, or related STEM field conferred within 5 years of start date.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute experiments related to pulsed power and switch performance.
• Develop new electrical and optical diagnostics or improvements of existing diagnostic systems and analyze collected data.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to enhance experimental capability of pulsed power facilities.
• Apply the scientific method to develop, test, and refine hypotheses in pulsed power research.
• Publish findings and engage with the academic community.

Skills

Verbal & written comms

Independent work

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Education

PhD in EE/Physics/related STEM

Tools

MATLAB

Python

PSpice

LTSpice

Ansys

Comsol

CST

Job description

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:

The Pulsed Power Science and Technology group is seeking postdoctoral researchers with expertise in pulsed power, experimental physics, and electrical engineering to support cutting‑edge research on pulsed power systems and components. The successful candidate will contribute to one or more projects focused on understanding high voltage breakdown in water and gases, improving vacuum insulator performance, developing compact laser‑triggered gas switches, and designing and evaluating advanced, higher reliability spark gap switches for Marx generators.

Your research will involve designing, conducting, and analyzing experiments to probe physical phenomena underlying pulsed power component operation and failure modes, along with implementing practical solutions that apply this research to advanced pulsed power systems. You will collaborate closely with internal teams and external partners, including universities and industry, to push the boundaries of pulsed power technology.

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

Design and execute experiments related to electrical breakdown and switch performance.

Develop new electrical and optical diagnostics or improvements of existing diagnostic systems and analyze collected data to understand underlying physical mechanisms.

Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to increase experimental capability of pulsed power facilities.

Employ the scientific method to develop, test, and refine hypotheses; perform critical review; or apply similar engineering research and development methods.

Publish your findings and interact with the academic community.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant will be required to work onsite.

Applicants on this requisition may be interviewed by multiple organizations at Sandia National Laboratories.

Qualifications We Require:

PhD in electrical engineering, physics, or related STEM field conferred within 5 years of start date

Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance

Qualifications We Desire:

Outstanding verbal and written skills, demonstrated through presentation at technical conferences and publications in refereed journals.

Experience with design, operation, and maintenance of pulsed power experimental apparatuses.

Experience with design and data analysis of diagnostics used in pulsed power, high voltage, and/or high energy density plasma experiments.

Proficiency in a variety of computational tools and programs, including data analysis in MATLAB, Python, or similar; circuit simulations using PSpice, LTSpice, or similar; and electromagnetic field simulations using Ansys, Comsol, CST, or similar.

Ability to work independently and collaborate well in a multidisciplinary team of designers and test engineers.

About Our Team:

The Pulsed Power Science and Technology group (1650), is dedicated to advancing the capabilities of the Z‑machine and future high‑energy density machines. We lead development of a wide range of pulsed power technologies encompassing all critical systems including energy storage, pulsed compression, high voltage insulation, power flow in vacuum, and diagnostic development. We aim to rapidly advance the state of the art in pulsed power, addressing the ZX Initiative and preparing for the design of next‑generation machines. Key initiatives in support of ZX led by 1650 in the next four years include Marx upgrades, Marx switch upgrades, Laser Triggered Gas Switch upgrades, insulator stack upgrades, and demonstration of the integrated performance of these subsystems in a full scale ZX test line on the Z facility. We are also advancing the science of current delivery in high power systems through initiatives such as ex‑situ and in‑situ electrode cleaning treatments. We steward a wide variety of plasma diagnostics on Z and are developing new diagnostics such as Thomson Scattering. We operate medium scale pulsed power facilities (Mykonos, Vulcan, and Thor) enabling rapid learning over a wide range of fundamental and applied research. We also lead assembly and testing of the injector for the cutting‑edge Scorpius flash x‑ray radiography system as part of the Enhanced Capabilities for Sub‑Critical Experiments (ECSE) project. We partner with industry, venture funded IFE companies, and universities.

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.

• Affordable housing, reasonable cost of living
• Minimal traffic congestion compared to larger cities
• At Sandia, recruiters manually review resumes on each job posting instead of using a resume screening software program
• By following the best practices outlined, this ensures that recruiters can accurately determine your qualifications for the position