Senior/Principal R&D Physics Radiation Transport Modeler and Diagnostic Scientist - Z Machine, Onsite

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
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• 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.

The Fusion Experiments group is seeking a highly motivated staff member to join our team as a radiation modeling and diagnostic scientist. This staff member will be responsible for developing radiation transport simulations in support of high energy density (HED) and fusion experiments on the Z-machine, developing solutions for and assessing nuclear activation and prompt radiation shielding requirements, and leading the development of innovative neutron diagnostics to support experiments on the Z-machine and a future, upgraded machine known as ZX.

The Fusion Experiments Group leads the design and analysis of fusion experiments on the Z Machine, the world's largest pulsed power generator. The group is responsible for radiation transport modeling and developing novel neutron and gamma ray diagnostics that enable critical measurements of fusion experiments. This position will also collaborate closely across several organizations within the Pulsed Power Sciences Center to help develop models for facility shielding solutions to manage increased radiation output on Z and a future, upgraded machine (ZX).

On any given day, you may be called to:

• Perform radiation transport modeling to understand the radiation environment in Z and ZX and develop operational and engineering solutions to effectively manage prompt radiation and nuclear activation.
• Perform radiation transport modeling to assess target performance, simulate and validate detector response.
• Propose, develop, and support novel instrumentation and measurement techniques related to neutron and gamma-ray outputs to advance understanding of experiments on the Z facility and the future ZX machine.
• Develop advanced analysis techniques for forward modeling and unfolding of experimental data
• Develop conceptual diagnostic designs for future, high-yield experiments and machines
• Work across teams to troubleshoot deployed instrumentation and ensure high-quality data is captured across all platforms on Z today.
• Present results at national and international conferences
• Publish your work in peer review journal articles
• Travel occasionally (2-3 weeks per year)
  

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant will be required to work onsite. Relocation provided for those that qualify.

Applicants on this posting may be interviewed by multiple organizations at Sandia Laboratories.

$117,500 - $235,700

*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.

• 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 security clearance.

The ideal R&D S&E Physics candidate will in addition possess the following:

• Graduate degree in Physics or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Experience preparing research for dissemination through presentations at national conferences and peer-reviewed publications in top journals.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities of both projects and teams and the ability to work in loosely defined areas with minimal direction while maintaining vision for the overall mission.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.

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

• PhD (STEM) in plasma physics, electrical engineering, nuclear physics or related field
• Expertise in radiation transport computational tools, such as MCNP, to evaluate radiation environments at a facility scale.
• Experience in developing and fielding neutron and gamma-ray diagnostics at large HED facilities.
• Experience with carrying out complex experiments on large HED facilities
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multi-pronged team of experimental and computational scientists as well as engineers and technologists
• Ability to build collaborations across multiple institutions including academia, industry, and the national labs
• Strong publication and presentation record
  

The Fusion Experiments Group (01683) is within the Pulsed Power Sciences Center at Sandia National Laboratories. Our group serves as principal investigators for fusion experiments on the Z-machine and in addition leads the development of novel neutron and gamma-ray diagnostics for those experiments.

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of three (3) calendar days, including the 'posting date'. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

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.

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.