Description

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

The Pulsed Power Energy Storage and Switching department (1656) is seeking experienced physicists or research engineers to join a dynamic team conducting R&D on pulsed power technologies and systems! Our team will push the boundaries of pulsed power science to execute the ZX initiative, a planned doubling of the stored energy and delivered power on the world-leading Z pulsed power facility. Are you passionate about advancing the understanding of the science of plasma discharges and insulation at extreme high voltages and using your skills to improve pulsed power technologies? Do you dream of leading development of the technical foundation for next-generation pulsed power systems that support the U.S. Department of Energy's national-security mission? If so, you will want to consider applying for this opportunity.

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

• Design upgraded and/or next-generation pulsed power drivers for national security and high energy density physics.
• Provide technical leadership to dynamic team of scientists, engineers, and technologists in designing, building, and testing pulsed power facilities.
• Lead and collaborate on experiments on Z and other pulsed power machines.
• Develop new components, new technologies, and new systems.
• Field advanced diagnostics and analyze data to assess pulsed power performance, failure modes, and mitigation strategies.
• Implement mathematical models in analytic calculations or numerical simulations.
• Publish results in premier peer-reviewed physics and engineering journals.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.

Salary Range

$114,000 - $227,500

*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

• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and five (5) years of directly relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of directly relevant education and engineering or scientific experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform independent research and development.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance

Qualifications We Desire

The ideal R&D Electrical Engineer candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

• Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Ability to work independently and collaborate well in a multidisciplinary team of designers and test engineers.
• Outstanding verbal and written skills, including the ability to develop and present briefings that are clear and compelling.

Also, for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience:

• Experience with design, operation, and maintenance of pulsed power experimental apparatuses.
• Experience leading research projects and teams.
• Strong proficiency in a variety of computational tools and programs, including data analysis in MATLAB, Python, or similar; circuit simulation using PSpice, LTspice, or similar; and electromagnetic field simulations using Ansys, Comsol, CST, or similar.
• Experience with electrical, mechanical, pressure, vacuum, and diagnostic systems.
• Experience with the technology maturation, design, engineering, costing, or scheduling aspects of pulsed power facilities.
• Publications including first-author peer-reviewed journal articles in engineering, physics, or a related field.
• Experience developing and applying safety principles in laboratory activities.

About Our Team

Department 1656, part of 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 the development of advanced pulsed power energy storage and switching technologies. Our focus includes pioneering research in advanced Marx technology, new capacitor assessments, and innovative gas switch advancements. By collaborating closely with sister departments in 1650, 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 pulsed power machines. We led design of the injector for the cutting-edge Scorpius flash x-ray radiography system and continue overseeing assembly and commissioning; the injector final assembly and commissioning will occur at the North Las Vegas facility before being installed underground at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS).

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

Position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q security clearance to start, or equivalent active security clearance with another U.S. government agency (e.g., DOD). Sandia is required by DOE directive 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 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 Med PED and your 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.