R&D Materials Scientist - Polymer Aging and Diagnostics, 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
• 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 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.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join our team of scientists performing fundamental research and development in the field of polymer materials aging, reliability, and characterization. Applicants should have a robust understanding of experimental, computational, and theoretical approaches in assessing and predicting the long-term performance of polymers in various environments, as well as experience in a wide range of analytical techniques for material characterization. Experience in automation of instrument operations and data handling knowledge of finite element modelling, additive manufacturing techniques, and experience with respirometry and infrared spectroscopy are highly desired. The applicant is expected to work well both independently and in larger multi-disciplinary teams.

On any given day, you may be called on to:

• Design aging studies of polymeric materials to provide assessments of aging effects on relevant functional properties.
• Perform material identification, property characterization, or condition assessments using a wide variety of experimental tools, e.g. infrared spectroscopy.
• Give guidance on polymer material reliability for critical applications, for example by identifying material limitations, compatibility issues, or specific aging concerns.
• Design and perform computational simulations of transport and reaction behavior of gases and vapors in polymer matrices.
• Determine chemical reaction rates of photochemical or thermal reactions using, e.g., infrared spectroscopy, respirometry, or thermogravimetry.
• Adapt available instruments or design new tools to enhance instrumental capabilities.
• Automate instrument operations, data collection, and/or data analysis to enable higher throughput requiring less human interaction, and process monitoring.
• Prepare and deliver presentations of theoretical, experimental, and/or computational results to disseminate important findings, or to relate data to actionable items for engineers, etc.
• Collaborate within multi-disciplinary teams with experts from many disciplines.
• Perform basic lab and equipment maintenance.
  
  Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.

$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.

The ideal R&D Material Scientist candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

• Graduate degree in Materials Science or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Experience in a research and development environment.
• Experience with materials characterization techniques.
• Experience working on teams consisting of multidisciplinary and multi-disciplinary experimentalists, modelers, and theorists with a common goal.
• Effective interpersonal skills for giving presentations, preparing reports, writing articles, and explaining the important aspects of technical work to customers.

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

• Experience in measuring pressure- and temperature-dependent oxygen consumption rates in polymeric materials (through e.g. respirometry) and how it relates to polymer aging.
• Experience in finite element modelling of mass transport and reaction of small molecules (particularly oxygen and water) in polymer matrices.
• Solid theoretical and experimental understanding of polymer aging phenomena in thermal and radiation environments.
• Experience in automating data collection and data analysis for process monitoring and higher-throughput experimental setups.
• Demonstrated expertise in polymer lifetime prediction, design of accelerated aging experiments, and relevant functional testing.
• Familiarity with using FTIR for chemical identification, and kinetics of photochemistry and thermally driven reactions.
• Strong publication record demonstrating impact in polymer aging science.

The Organic Materials Science Department researches and develops new and advanced materials and processing strategies to meet a wide range of specialized applications in nuclear weapons, national security and industrial applications. Our department is dedicated to scientific discovery, creativity, innovation and practical solutions for our diverse customers. The department specializes in aging science and predictive performance of polymers, synthetic organic and polymer chemistry, thermal, mechanical, chemical, and physical characterization of organic materials, and advanced manufacturing of polymers. We perform reliability studies for polymers with an emphasis on understanding degradation mechanisms, structure-property relationships, and performance margins. Current areas of R&D in the department include: developing novel encapsulant materials, creating new thermoset chemistries for additive manufacturing, developing innovative NMR techniques to understand transport phenomena in polymers, measuring and optimizing electrical performance of polymer dielectrics, elucidating the interdependency of chemical change and polymer physics over long timeframes, creating reversible and degradable chemistries, understanding polymer interfacial properties and adhesion, measuring and predicting radiation effects on polymers, monitoring of reactive thermoset cure kinetics, and quantifying permeation behavior and spatially dependent degradation processes. We perform a complete spectrum of chemical, structural, thermal, rheological, and mechanical characterization of polymeric materials that must perform over 30 - 40 year lifetimes.

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.

This position does not currently require a Department of Energy (DOE) security clearance.

Sandia will conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Furthermore, employees in New Mexico need to pass a U.S. Air Force background screen for access to Kirtland Air Force Base. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause access to be denied or terminated, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment. Under federal law, citizens and agents of the People's Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea, and the Russian Federation are generally prohibited from accessing Sandia National Laboratories. Accordingly, such individuals will not be considered for employment unless they are also a citizen of the United States.

If hired without a clearance and it subsequently becomes necessary to obtain and maintain one for the position, or you bid on positions that require a clearance, a pre-processing background review may be conducted prior to a required federal background investigation. Applicants for a DOE security clearance need to be U.S. citizens. 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.

Members of the workforce (MOWs) hired at Sandia who require uncleared access for greater than 179 days during their employment, are required to go through the Uncleared Personal Identity Verification (UPIV) process. Access includes physical and/or cyber (logical) access, as well as remote access to any NNSA information technology (IT) systems. UPIV requirements are not applicable to individuals who require a DOE personnel security clearance for the performance of their SNL employment or to foreign nationals. The UPIV process will include the completion of a USAccess Enrollment, SF-85 (Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions) and OF-306 (Declaration of for Federal Employment). An unfavorable UPIV determination will result in immediate retrieval of the SNL issued badge, removal of cyber (logical) access and/or removal from SNL subcontract. All MOWs may appeal the unfavorable UPIV determination to DOE/NNSA immediately. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the MOW may try to go through the UPIV process one year after the decision date.

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.