Senior/Principal Laboratory Support Technologist - Thermal Mechanical Characterization, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 75,000 - 144,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9/80 compressed workweeks

4/10 compressed workweeks

Telecommuting where applicable

Relocation assistance

Generous benefits and 401k

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories seeks an R&D Laboratory Support Technologist to join the polymer materials characterization and mechanical testing team in Albuquerque, NM. The role involves using DSC, TMA, TGA, DMA, and universal test machines to characterize materials and designs, with opportunities to lead small projects and coordinate with stakeholders.

The successful candidate will perform organic chemistry, polymer synthesis, and formulation optimization, while calibrating and maintaining

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a science, engineering, or engineering technology discipline.
• Ability to work onsite at the laboratory facility.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q security clearance.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in a research laboratory.
• Knowledge of polymer science, polymer physics, and polymer chemistry.
• Strong laboratory notebook practices and attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Perform materials characterization, including DSC, TMA, TGA, and DMA.
• Conduct mechanical testing using universal testing machines to measure modulus and strength.
• Design and execute structural tests to compare materials and processing techniques.
• Perform basic organic chemistry, polymer synthesis, and formulation optimization.
• Calibrate, repair, and augment instrumentation as needed for mission requirements.
• Support ES&H and safety protocols, maintain documentation, and coordinate calibrations.

Education

Bachelor's degree in science/engineering

Job description

Job ID: 699070

Location: Albuquerque, NM

Full-Time

Regular

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

This is an exciting opportunity to join a highly productive and collaborative team at Sandia National Laboratories.

We are seeking an R&D Laboratory Support Technologist to join our polymer materials characterization and mechanical testing team. The successful candidate will primarily work with staff members and other technologists to use a broad range of techniques to characterize key properties of organic materials (encapsulants, adhesives, gels, underfills, conformal coatings, composites, etc.).

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

• Perform materials characterization, including thermal analysis (differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermomechanical analysis (TMA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA)) and rheological testing
• Conduct mechanical testing using universal testing machines to execute both (1) standard measurements, such as modulus and strength of materials and structures, and (2) novel test designs to resolve specific questions about materials or complex structures
• Design and execute structural response tests to compare materials and processing techniques, and/or validate material models
• Perform basic organic chemistry, simple polymer synthesis, and formulation optimization
• Adapt, design, modify, repair, maintain, and calibrate instrumentation; augment existing instrumentation or develop new apparatus and accessories as mission needs require
• Perform basic laboratory and equipment maintenance, follow safety protocols, and support general laboratory stewardship such as ES&H and security responsibilities, maintaining work‑control documentation, managing property, coordinating instrument calibration and repair, and occasionally coordinating building‑related activities with Facilities personnel
• Initiate and lead small research projects or work packages; plan experiments and deliver results with minimal supervision
• Contribute to multiple concurrent research programs and cross project collaborations; coordinate technical activities with internal and external stakeholders
• Handle and manage chemicals and engineered materials safely in accordance with hazardous materials procedures and ES&H requirements (e.g., fume hood use and proper labeling/storage)
• Work in a dynamic small team environment and manage time according to work demands

The polymer materials characterization and mechanical testing team performs leading‑edge materials research while also providing materials engineering support to a broad client base, including nuclear weapons programs, satellite payloads, and other Sandia engineering programs. The team also partners closely with technical staff from the Engineering Sciences Center, fostering strong synergy between materials science and modeling to address engineering problems. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to assume leadership responsibilities for client engagement, reporting results (written and oral), and participation in program meetings.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite. Relocation assistance will be provided for those that qualify.

Salary Range

$74,700 - $144,400

*Salary range is estimated, and actual salary will be determined after consideration of the selected candidate's experience and qualifications, and application of any approved geographic salary differential.

Qualifications We Require

• Bachelor's degree in a science, engineering, or engineering technology discipline, such as chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field
• Ability to work onsite (candidate must be able to perform work at the laboratory facility as a condition of employment)
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q security clearance

Qualifications We Desire

• A strong background in the types of materials characterization and mechanical testing described in the job responsibilities
• 5+ years of relevant experience in a research laboratory
• Knowledge of polymer science, polymer physics, and polymer chemistry
• Preference will be given to candidates who have demonstrated the ability to rapidly learn new skills and to work in a fast‑paced team environment
• A demonstrated commitment to producing high‑quality results using sound laboratory techniques and focused attention to detail
• Ability to maintain a detailed laboratory notebook
• Effective interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, and flexibility to participate in teams, and the ability to work independently with high reliability and attention to detail; and the ability to explain important aspects of technical work to coworkers and clients
• Demonstrated commitment to laboratory safety and safe work practices
• Motivated, responsible, and organized; able to work independently under the guidance of a principal investigator (PI) or senior staff member, as appropriate
• Creative problem solving and effective time management skills
• Active DOE L or Q security clearance

About Our Team

The Organic Materials Science Department researches and develops new and advanced materials and processing strategies to meet a wide range of specialized applications in nuclear weapons, national security, and industrial settings. Our department is dedicated to scientific discovery, creativity, innovation, and practical solutions for our diverse clients.

The department specializes in aging science and predictive performance of polymers; synthetic organic chemistry and polymer chemistry; thermal, mechanical, chemical, and physical characterization of organic materials; and advanced manufacturing of polymers. We perform reliability studies for polymers with an emphasis on understanding degradation mechanisms, structure‑property relationships, and performance margins. We support characterization and structural response testing of microelectronic packaging, including epoxy‑based polymer systems. These studies include a complete spectrum of chemical, structural, thermal, rheological, and mechanical characterization of polymeric materials that must perform over lifetimes on the order of 30 to 40 years.

Current R&D areas include:

• Developing novel encapsulant materials
• Developing tailored foams for impact mitigation and shock‑mitigating polymer systems
• Creating new thermoset chemistries for additive manufacturing
• Developing innovative NMR techniques to understand transport phenomena in polymers
• Measuring and optimizing electrical performance of polymer dielectrics
• Elucidating the interdependency of chemical change and polymer physics over long timeframes
• Creating reversible and degradable chemistries
• Understanding polymer interfacial properties and adhesion
• Measuring and predicting radiation effects on polymers
• Monitoring reactive thermoset cure kinetics
• Quantifying permeation behavior and spatially dependent degradation processes

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.