Postdoctoral Appointee

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 vacations, 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:
These benefits vary by job classification.

What Your Job Will Be Like

We are seeking a creative, motivated Postdoctoral Appointee with a passion for applying innovations in nano- and micro-technology to the miniaturization and integration of future optical, piezomagnetic, ferromagnetic, and ferroelectric devices/systems for emerging national security applications. You will assume a key role within a distributed team to perform R&D with the goal of improving system performance through new understanding and integration in a broad range of technologies that include solid-state electronic devices, miniaturized optical and magnetic devices, high-speed interconnect and integration, and devices that exploit new nanoscale materials and physics. The successful candidate will apply and build their skills and experience to make valuable contributions in one or more areas that range from fundamental materials science and devices, through circuit and components, and up to sub-system architecture.

On any given day you may be called on to:

Plan and perform experimental research involving novel materials and device technologies and the application and improvement of existing and emerging technologies to meet specific performance needs and targets
Work within teams to design, prototype, and evaluate optical and magnetic microsystems that integrate different technologies to achieve performance beyond that available with single technology solutions
Publish original research in top-tier journals and conference proceedings
Formally and informally communicate results and findings to co-workers and stakeholders through discussions, presentations, and written reports
Identify, develop, and pursue new technology opportunities in areas that support Sandia mission activities

The Postdoctoral Appointee works onsite in New Mexico. The salary is set for this position at $95,500 annually.

Qualifications We Require

PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science or closely related field
Experience in design and characterization of RF/microwave, surface plasmon, and/or magnetic devices
Experience with software programming and numerical modeling for data analysis and instrument control in languages such as MATLAB
Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level clearance
Qualifications We Desire

Experience with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) or Piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM)
Experience constructing optical systems: metasurfaces, ultrafast optics, and Pound-Drever- Hall, or Hansch-Couillaud locking
Experience with nano- or micro-scale device technologies and physics
Experience with simulation tools such as Comsol for plasmonics and nonlinear optics problems
Experience with magnetic tunnel junction, ferromagnetic, ferroelectric devices including device behavior, mask layout, fabrication, testing, and documentation
Strong academic performance as evidenced by minimum cumulative GPA(s) of 3.2/4.0 for each relevant undergraduate degree and 3.5/4.0 for each relevant graduate degree
Record of publication and innovation evidenced by peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings, or issued patents
Demonstrated execution of R&D activities, including project planning, execution, and reporting
Experience with analog/RF/microwave circuit design techniques such as impedance matching, active circuit design, and device modeling using tools such as ADS, Genesys, or PSPICE
Experience with electromagnetic design techniques using simulation software tools such as HFSS, Momentum, or Sonnet
Experience with laboratory test and measurement of analog and RF components using tools such as high-speed oscilloscopes, network analyzers, parameter analyzers, and on-wafer probe stations
Familiarity with heterogeneous integration and microscale packaging techniques as well as approaches for microsystem rapid prototyping and integration
Familiarity with device physics such as semiconductors, piezoelectricity, electrostatics, ferroelectricity, superconductivity, and other effects
Familiarity with approaches and architectures for RF system analysis, including electronic signal processing, link budgets, and frequency planning
Familiarity with optoelectronics and interfacing between the optical and electrical domains
Ability to work across disciplines and solve problems in a highly collaborative environment
Ability to discover, understand, and articulate customer needs
Adaptability and flexibility to address rapidly advancing technologies and evolving customer needs
About Our Team

The Biological and Chemical Sensors Department at Sandia National Laboratories specializes in miniature sensors and sensor-based system for a variety of sensing applications including chemical, biological, and explosives. These sensors and systems can be built into wearable, handheld, UAV, or fixed/installed formats. We have a strong emphasis on nano, micro, and mesoscale fabrication in our R&D including the capability to integrate custom electronics developed in Sandia's MESA facility. We also have state-of-the-art microbiology capabilities to aid in biological sensor development. Our technologies are designed to be non-invasive or minimally invasive, and easy to use in the field or at the point of care.

Posting Duration

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) 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.