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 an enthusiastic, collaborative team member for the Metallography Preparation and Analysis Laboratory (Metlab) for the role of R&D Laboratory Support Technologist! This laboratory supports a variety of Sandia’s missions by preparing a wide range of materials for examination, testing, and research, including optically imaging and subsequently analyzing features of interest. Materials we evaluate include semiconductors, metals, polymers, ceramics, etc. These materials come directly from Sandia’s various mission areas including Nuclear Deterrence and other national security programs. The work in the Metlab directly enables material analyses critical to answering fundamental and applied science questions. As a Technologist in the Metlab, you will make crucial contributions in support of Sandia’s research and development, failure analysis, and forensics related activities.

Success in this role requires technical understanding of fundamental materials science and the ability to think critically in areas related to material failure. Additionally, applicants should have laboratory familiarity and some understanding of lab support responsibilities necessary to maintain operations – these items may include knowledge of Environmental Safety & Health (ES&H) documentation, lab maintenance tasks such as placing purchase orders, and activity scheduling and prioritization. All applicants should have a passion and ability to learn quickly and have genuine curiosity for problem solving.

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

• Cut, mount, grind, polish, and chemically etch samples for optical and electron microscopy characterization
• Conduct initial analyses to better enable material failure, fracture, fatigue, and wear root cause studies
• Collaborate with all lab team members to meet project milestones, prioritize high impact projects, and ensure team success
• Assist with customer communication, including project timeline expectations
• Maintain equipment through coordination of manufacturer service visits
• Assist with lab ownership tasks, such as maintenance of safety documentation, chemical handling, project scheduling, etc.
• Occasional overtime to meet program requirements may be necessary

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work on-site.

Qualifications We Require:

• Bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering, metallurgical engineering, chemical engineering, or chemistry, or the equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience in a research or laboratory setting
• Able to acquire and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance

Qualifications We Desire:

• Ability to learn and perform intricate metallographic techniques
• Strong experience with metallographic preparation of ferrous and non-ferrous materials
• Experience in optical microscopy and photography
• Commitment to customer satisfaction and quality while maintaining a safe working environment
• Experience teaming towards a common goal
• Proven time management, documentation, and communication skills in a team environment
• Ability to demonstrate proficiency with activities requiring high precision manual dexterity and small-scale mechanical skills, i.e. fabrication, assembly, or specialty craftsmanship
• Detail oriented with regards to work on high precision components
• A genuine curiosity for science as well as a love and interest in learning

About Our Team:

The Metallurgy and Materials Joining Department is the principal organization for metallurgical and joining research and engineering support throughout the Laboratories. Expertise covers a broad range of experimental and predictive capabilities that apply fundamental process, physical and mechanical metallurgy principles. Specific technical areas include welding and soldering, special brazing and diffusion bonding, and mechanical behavior. The scientific focus is on materials structures, properties, performance and reliability. Staff supports a variety of national security programs and is highly engaged in providing collaborative, innovative materials science and systems-based engineering solutions.

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 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.

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.

Position Information:

This Limited Term Employee (LTE) position is a temporary position for one year term, which may be renewed at Sandia's discretion up to a maximum of seven years.

Individuals in LTE 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: 693178