Scalable Multiphysics Postdoc

Los Alamos National Security LLC; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PPO or high-deductible medical insurance

Dental and vision insurance

401(k) with 6% matching plus 3.5% annually

Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)

Job summary

Los Alamos National Security LLC is seeking a postdoc candidate to develop and maintain large-scale, massively parallel multi-physics codes for national security applications. The ideal candidate will have a PhD in a relevant field and strong programming skills in Fortran, C/C++, or Python.

This role involves working collaboratively with computational scientists, implementing scalable performance methods, and contributing to impactful research outputs.

Qualifications

• Ability to obtain a DOE Q Clearance, typically requires U.S. citizenship.
• Experience in neutral particle transport and nuclear reactions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain large-scale, parallel multi-physics codes for national security applications.
• Work in a team environment with computational scientists and publish results.

Skills

Proficiency in Fortran, C/C++, or Python

Solid background in numerical methods

Strong oral and written communication skills

Education

PhD in Physics, Astrophysics, Applied Mathematics, Engineering, or related field

Job description

What You Will Do

The Eulerian Codes Group (XCP-2) in the X-Computational Physics (XCP) Division is seeking talented and motivated postdoc candidates to develop and maintain large‑scale, massively parallel multi‑physics codes used in national security applications. The appointment focuses on developing and implementing new methods for scalable performance on modern computer architectures. The successful candidate will work in a team environment with computational scientists, theoreticians, and experimentalists, become familiar with production software carpentry practices, and publish results.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

• A PhD in Physics, Astrophysics, Applied Mathematics, Engineering, or a related field.
• Solid background in numerical methods.
• Proficiency in Fortran, C/C++, or Python.
• Strong record of publications.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to obtain a DOE Q Clearance, which typically requires U.S. citizenship.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience in neutral particle transport and nuclear reactions (nuclear engineering).
• Experience in modeling highly‑coupled physics experiments for compressible flows.
• Solid background in numerical methods for solving systems of partial differential equations in fluid dynamics or related fields.
• Experience with massively parallel numerical development and simulation.
• Experience with deploying numerical algorithms to future computing architectures.
• Experience with code development relevant to computational physics.

Education

A Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, Computational Science, or a closely related field completed within the past five years or soon to be completed.

Work Environment

Work location: onsite at Los Alamos, NM (discretion of management).

Contact: David Culp ([e-mail])

Clearance

Position will be cleared to Q level. Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter.

New-Employment Drug Test

The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new‑employment drug test. The policy includes random drug testing. A positive test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre‑offer.

Equal Opportunity

Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal‑opportunity employer. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to protected categories such as race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The Laboratory is committed to making the workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations upon request.

Benefits

• PPO or high‑deductible medical insurance with a large nationwide network.
• Dental and vision insurance.
• Basic life and disability insurance.
• Paid childbirth and parental leave.
• Award‑winning 401(k) with 6% matching plus 3.5% annually.
• Learning opportunities and tuition assistance.
• Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays).
• Onsite gyms and wellness programs.
• Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50‑mile radius).