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.

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.

$101,400 - $201,400

• 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.

Are you passionate about science and desire being at a pioneering experimental facility to explore sophisticated problems? Join our creative team and tackle issues for our nation’s security! We are seeking a dedicated R&D Materials Scientist to conduct innovative experimental thin film growth, processing, and characterization studies for novel electronic, thermal, energy, and national security applications. You'll collaborate with accomplished scientists and use industry-leading equipment and facilities to gain compelling experiences for an exciting career in the Nanoscale Sciences Department.

The successful candidate will engage in challenging and evolving experimental materials research activities that impact scientific knowledge for commercial and National Security applications. Current programs include: granular-metals for high-speed switching devices to protect the Electric Grid; nanoporous-carbon films for chemical sensing and energy storage; carbon nanotube arrays for high-power microwaves and thermal interface materials; carbon nanotube fibers for electrical and thermal transport; and metal-hydride high-temperature superconductors. Opportunities for new research proposals exist every year and you will be expected to assist in the creation of new concepts as both a principal investigator and valued team member.

The existing experimental labs include a variety of unique thin film deposition systems (RF sputtering, pulsed-laser deposition, and chemical vapor deposition), as well as both conventional tube furnaces, surface laser annealing, and ion beam milling systems to post-process materials into new and desirable structures, phases, etc. Characterization capabilities include optical and scanning electron microscopes, and simple apparatus for electrical and thermal measurements. Planned new capabilities include a FIB for surface modifications and laser system for transport measurements.

On any given day, you may:

• Fabricate and process thin film materials using a variety of techniques including RF sputter deposition, pulsed-laser deposition, chemical vapor deposition, high-temperature tube furnaces with controlled gas flows, laser surface annealing, ion beam milling, etc.
• Optimize structural and compositional properties as a function of controlled growth and post-processing to fundamentally understand the relationships between materials structures and properties of interest, such as electrical and thermal transport, energy storage, chemical sensing, magnetism, etc.
• Coordinate, perform, and/or analyze materials characterizations (e.g. SEM, TEM, EDX, XRD, XPS, XRF, Raman, etc.)
• Engage in other materials-related projects that will likely arise over time in areas that may include advanced semiconductors, nanoscale concepts for magnetism and chemical sensing, etc.
• Demonstrate leadership and self-motivation within multidisciplinary collaborative teams
• Publish findings in leading professional journals and present at scientific conferences

• PhD in materials science, physics, applied physics, chemistry, or a related engineering field, and a Bachelor in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM)
• Experience in thin film materials growth and characterization
• Proven Record of original work to include publications in refereed journals and professional conference presentations
• Able to acquire and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance

• Experience in film growth methods such as RF sputtering, pulsed-laser deposition, and chemical vapor deposition
• Experience with various post-deposition processes such as thermal annealing, ion beam milling, and focused ion beam (FIB) surface modifications
• Experience making electronic and/or thermal transport measurements
• Experience making and/or interpreting structural measurements such as SEM, TEM, XPS, EDX, XRD, AFM, Raman, etc.
• Ability to develop and maintain collaboration with leaders in the scientific community within and outside of Sandia National Laboratories
• Curiosity about the world and a strong interest in connecting one’s research to the larger context of science, society, and national security
• A record of academic achievement as proven by high GPAs for relevant undergraduate and graduate degrees
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills that build effective scientific collaborations with a diverse population of researchers
• Proven problem solving and effective time management skills
• An active DOE-granted security clearance

The Nanoscale Sciences Department conducts collaborative research to advance the understanding of materials at the nanoscale and enable the collaborative development of creative solutions for Sandia's broad and evolving National Security and Energy Missions. Our research activities have broad impact; and typically generate peer-reviewed, high-profile journal publications and presentations at professional scientific meetings. Our main research focus on the discovery, understanding, and exploitation of properties and structures unique to the micro- and nanoscale, broadly directed along three thrusts:

Our team is committed to nurturing a culture compatible with a broad group of people and perspectives in accordance with the changing makeup of the workforce.
Join us and work towards your goals while making a difference!

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*

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.

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.