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.

COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate

Sandia demonstrates its commitment to public safety in the national interest by requiring that all new hires be fully vaccinated or have an approved medical or religious accommodation before commencing employment. The requirement also applies to those who are telecommuting and working virtually.

Any concerns about the ability to meet this requirement should be directed to HR Solutions at (505) 284-4700.

What Your Job Will Be Like

Do you want to be a member of a high performing team? The Thermal/Fluid Component Sciences Department is seeking a postdoctoral appointee to perform research and development to support and advance an open-source massively-parallel heterogeneous-architecture molecular gas dynamics code (Direct Simulation Monte Carlo)! This work has the potential to impact key unsolved scientific problems at the boundaries between continuum and non-continuum flow as well as real-world problems relating to space missions. 

Key functions of this role include, but are not limited to:

• Participate in basic research that seeks to develop and apply theoretical and computational models to simulate fluid flows at the molecular level under extreme conditions.
• Develop and implement highly scalable computational techniques to simulate chemically reacting flows at the molecular level.
• The ability to contribute to both high-performance computing and physics/engineering.
• Document work in the form of journal publications and technical reports, and present work to internal customers and at scientific conferences.

Join our team and achieve your goals while making a difference!

Qualifications We Require

• PhD must be conferred prior to hiring at Sandia and no longer than 5 years prior to hiring at Sandia.  Acceptable degrees include: Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science or other related engineering, computer, or physical science field
• Experience with DSMC molecular gas dynamics code
• Experience with high-level programming in C++
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship

Qualifications We Desire

• Experience with Python, scripting languages, and grid generation software
• Software development experience, including working with development teams using object-oriented frameworks
• Experience with highly scalable computational techniques for grid adaptation, load balancing, heterogeneous computing
• Thorough knowledge of and applied experience with scientific and engineering methods and with discipline's standards for the ethical conduct of research
• Excellent communication skills and an ability to interact well with fellow technical workers with diverse technical backgrounds
• Interest in research spanning multiple field, including fluid mechanics, physical chemistry, computer science

About Our Team

The Thermal/Fluid Component Sciences Department at Sandia National Laboratories provides a wide range of fluid modeling and analysis, and experimental discovery and validation support in discipline areas such as: incompressible flow, porous flow, reactive flow, multiphase flow, thermal/fluid coupling, suspensions, plasma physics, and rarefied gas dynamics. The department supports activities spanning the entire research-design-analysis spectrum, from creating fundamental physical models, to developing computational algorithms and codes, to applying these models and codes to solve fluid and plasma problems in a wide range of applications.

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: http://www.sandia.gov

*These benefits vary by job classification.

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.

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.