Research Prime

R&D Computational Physics and Modeling (Early/Mid-Career)

Organisation Name: Sandia National Laboratory
Organisation Type:
City:
State:
Country: United States

Job Description:

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.

Salary Range:

$86300 - $166800

*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.

What Your Job Will Be Like:

We are seeking a dedicated R&D Computational Physics and Modeling staff member to join our dynamic team. We serve as a Laboratory-wide R&D resource for computational simulation of nuclear detonation signature development propagation and detection. We model a broad range of conventional and nuclear weapon effects for national security customers and concentrate on optical ionizing radiation and radio-frequency phenomena for the remote sensing mission of the United States Nuclear Detonation Detection System (USNDS). Join us to develop creative solutions to unique national security challenges!

On any given day you may be required to:

  • Solve complex multi-physics problems primarily in the areas of hydrodynamics and radiation transport.
  • Develop improve and maintain in-house computational simulation tools that serve the national interest.
  • Use code verification and validation techniques to improve in-house codes and tools.
  • Analyze laboratory and field data and compare against simulation outputs.
  • Understand and apply knowledge of atmospheric transport air chemistry and non-local thermodynamic equilibrium physics to mission-relevant problems.
  • Produce high-quality presentations and reports.

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

Qualifications We Require:

  • Master's degree or higher in Physics Nuclear Physics Nuclear Engineering Optical Sciences Optical Engineering Physical Chemistry Mathematics or a relevant field.
  • Experience in: hydrodynamics fluid dynamics radiative transport or atmospheric simulation codes
  • Experience in analysis of complex coupled physics processes including: radiation hydrodynamics turbulence computational fluid dynamics and plasma physics.
  • Experience in high level scientific code object structured and oriented programming (FORTRAN C++ Python) and algorithm development.
  • Some travel is required.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance. The position will likely require higher-level clearance which may require a polygraph test.

Qualifications We Desire:

  • Knowledge or past experience with radiative shock physics material opacities thermal/radiative-transport.
  • Experience in modeling and simulation data exploitation signal or image processing and statistical analysis.
  • Understanding of combustion physics and equilibrium/non-equilibrium chemistry.
  • Experience in simulation using the radiation transport codes MNCP and/or GEANT4.
  • Experience in simulation using UChicagos FLASH code UMichigans SWMF BATSRUS or CRASH codes.
  • Experience building and maintaining large code architectures.
  • Experience with version control software like git.
  • Demonstrated understanding of the physics involved in energetic nuclear reactions and the resulting radiation generated.
  • Experience with radiation detection and familiarity with different types of radiation detectors (eg x-ray neutron gamma rf).
  • Experience in parallel programming and debugging in high performance computing environments
  • Experience with uncertainty quantification methodologies
  • A strong desire to learn new things.
  • Familiarity with magneto-hydrodynamics quantum chemistry/spectroscopy or non-LTE (Local Thermal Equilibrium) particle kinetics.
  • Understanding of system engineering and architectures.
  • Interest or experience in mentoring student interns.
  • Ability to perform independent research.
  • Excellent communications skills with experience in giving presentations constructively interacting with coworkers and preparing peer reviewed publications.
  • Experience and ability to interact with staff and users at a nuclear science facility.
  • Ability to work effectively in a team in various roles (leader and group member).
  • Active DOE/DOD clearance.

About Our Team:

The remote sensing and phenomenology department advances analysis and algorithms for remote sensing support of the United States Nuclear Detonation Detection System (USNDS) Nuclear Effects for Survivability and Consequence Management and Nuclear Forensics . Missions such as treaty verification non-proliferation and nuclear force management with respect to nuclear detonation detection are supported through our modeling and software products using optical particle and radio-frequency phenomenologies. The organization serves as a laboratories R&D resource for nuclear signatures modeling simulation and analysis expertise.

About Sandia:

Sandia National Laboratories is the nations 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.

Job ID: 686440


Posting Date: Nov 03, 2022
Closing Date:
Organisation Website/Careers Page: https://rr.jobsyn.org/2302F641792340638C1D33ED93752684


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