Job Description

Bidder Eligibility: 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. Employees must remain in their current position for one year before applying for a new position, with the exception of student interns. Application of this requirement will not supersede collective bargaining agreements. See collective bargaining labor agreements for represented bidder eligibility requirements for represented employees. 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. What Your Job Will Be Like: We are seeking a postdoctoral appointee in the Concentrating Solar Technologies Department to assist our R&D staff with industrial decarbonization efforts involving chemical processes. Expertise in reaction kinetics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and process design is desirable. The project will allow you to learn on the job and gain experience in high-temperature particle measurements and control, data analysis, and large-scale testing. You will learn about contemporary engineering challenges in industrial process heat for cement production. Expect to employ creative design skills in developing testing equipment and experiments. Your work will support efforts to decarbonize a sector responsible for as much CO2 emission as the aviation industry: cement. Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite. This position is eligible for telecommuting for ~20% of full time. The selected applicant can work a combination of onsite and offsite work. The selected applicant must live within a reasonable distance for commuting to the assigned work location when necessary. On any given day you may be called on to: + Independently conduct and deliver your own R&D activities or projects under leadership of senior staff. These activities and projects may include Computational (CAD, data analysis), experimental (measurements, controls, and operating test equipment), and administrative (reporting, project management) tasks, and numerical modeling (MATLAB/python simulation). These activities will often require working in teams that can include partners from other institutions. + Work with Sandia’s technology transfer and licensing professionals to move successful R&D from the Labs to industry + Assist or lead in the development of proposals to seek funding from sponsors and customers for new or ongoing R&D projects in CSP + Disseminate R&D outcomes and the departments capabilities in various forms including journal article publications and by presenting papers at national and international conferences + Potentially represent Sandia and the department in national or international committees relating to conferences, standards, and publications + Understand and adhere to applicable Sandia National laboratories ES&H requirements and guidelines Qualifications We Require: + PhD in Chemical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering or related STEM discipline + Evidence of research expertise in the form of published journal articles or conference papers + Experience in test operation and test design as demonstrated by thesis topic and publication record Qualifications We Desire: + Some familiarity with Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) and alternative energy + Experience with reaction kinetics and reactor design + Coursework in thermodynamics, heat transfer, and/or process design + Proficiency with MATLAB and Python + Proficiency with CAD tools, especially solidworks + Demonstrated experience using MS Office and excellent written and oral communication skills + Any experience using LabView or any other DAQ/control software + Any experience programming in LabVIEW About Our Team: Sandia National Laboratories is a world leader in the development of renewable energy systems. Our Concentrated Solar Technologies Department located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, develops Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) systems in partnership with DOE, industry partners, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to facilitate the successful development and market deployment of utility scale solar electricity, sustainable solar fuels, and industrially relevant solar thermal chemistry. 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 L-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 the 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. Job ID: 692588

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.