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. COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate: Sandia demonstrates its commitment to public safety in the national interest by requiring that all new hires be fully vaccinated or have an approved medical or religious accommodation before commencing employment. The requirement also applies to those who are telecommuting and working virtually. Any concerns about the ability to meet this requirement should be directed to HR Solutions at (505) 284-4700. What Your Job Will Be Like: Join a diverse team that solves significant issues for our nation's security! Are you interested in learning from and teaming with leading experts in data analysis, machine learning, and computational modeling to solve pressing scientific challenges? If so, you will want to apply to this position. You can be the research and development computational engineer or mathematician we are seeking to join our dynamic team supporting new research that is leveraging existing and developing new data-driven approaches for building credibility in the use of computational simulations in novel environments, which will further Sandia’s nuclear deterrence mission and other core mission areas. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to: + Performing fundamental research and development to provide solutions for next-generation problems + Working closely with teams of code developers, analysts, and experimentalists to understand uncertainties that affect credibility assessment + Developing data-driven approaches to analyze system responses, leveraging: + Mathematics, especially linear algebra and to a lesser extent statistics, to find lower dimensional basis + Machine learning, including deep learning, to learn the relationship between system inputs and outputs to predict system behavior + Computer programming to develop analysis tools that can be deployed to multiple applications + Data science for visualization and analysis of large, high-dimensional datasets + Knowledge of underlying physics, especially structural dynamics and possibly heat transfer, that govern the behavior of the systems of interest + Evaluating computational simulations using commercial or in-house software on high performance computing (hpc) machines + Comparing simulation predictions with experimental data for model validation assessment + Providing support for other areas of interest to department 1544, including: + Experimental data uncertainty analysis/modeling and design of experiments + Inverse problem analysis, test data conditioning, and model calibration + Model bias/discrepancy modeling + Optimization under uncertainty + Random variables/fields + Spatial temporal statistical analysis + Stochastic or spectral uncertainty methods + Surrogate or reduced-order models + Collaborating and interacting closely with engineers and other researchers and analysts across the laboratory at both the California and New Mexico sites. Join our team and achieve your goals while making a difference! The selected applicant can be a virtual worker located in any U.S. State or District of Columbia. Regular or periodic travel to your assigned work location may be required. Qualifications We Require: + PhD in engineering, mathematics, or natural science, plus two years of relevant experience + Software development (i.e., computer programming) experience in popular data analysis programs like Python and MATLAB + Experience in computational modeling and simulation + Demonstrated ability to conduct novel research and publish results + US citizenship is not required for this position Qualifications We Desire: + Desire to embrace and foster diversity and inclusion + Outstanding communication skills + Strong work ethic and self-motivated to accomplish tasks + Expertise in modal decomposition techniques (e.g., Fourier, wavelet, singular value decomposition, etc.) + Familiarity with dynamical systems + Experience in statistical methods + Experience in machine learning + Experience with simulation codes (e.g., finite element, finite difference, finite volume, etc.) for engineering simulation + Interest in performing verification, validation, and/or uncertainty quantification + Demonstrated ability to work with multi-disciplinary teams with diverse technical backgrounds About Our Team: The mission of the V&V, UQ, Credibility Processes (1544) is to provide research, development, and application of mathematical and experimental techniques to assess the credibility of physics-based computational simulations. The multi-disciplinary team, experienced in simulation and experimentation, draws from a wide range of disciplines, including fluid dynamics, electromagnetics, radiation effects, solid and structural mechanics, heat transfer, numerical methods, optimization, statistics, and risk assessment, to support the laboratories mission. Verification determines whether a computational model accurately represents the conceptual-mathematical model of a physical process, and that the computational model is solved correctly. This requires an exacting knowledge of models and their numerical approximations when implemented into codes. Validation determines, quantitatively, the degree of agreement between experimental data and simulation data, including their respective uncertainties. Uncertainty quantification is a key element of validation and it encompasses a broad range of mathematical and statistical analysis methods. The combination of verification, validation, and uncertainty quantification establishes credibility in our computational models, which are then employed in making high-consequence risk-informed decisions. The analysis tools developed in 1544 can be used to (1) focus and prioritize research and development expenditures, (2) mitigate risk through exploration of system design alternatives, (3) optimize products and process in the presence of both uncertain and variable parameters, and (4) support risk-informed decision making based on statistically-quantified data.

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.

Security Clearance:

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. 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. 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. Position Information: 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. Job ID: 684430

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.