Postdoctoral Appointee - Experimental Thermal and Fluid Sciences, Onsite

About the Role

Sandia's Experimental Thermal and Fluid Sciences Department is seeking a Postdoctoral Appointee to conduct basic and applied research on thermal and fluid phenomena related to national security. Research topics include multiphase flow and droplet physics, thermal transport across a range of physical scales, material response in extreme thermal environments, and light-matter interactions. This research may involve Sandia's plasma torch, multiphase shock tube, laser heat facilities, optical diagnostic laboratories, and wind tunnel facilities.

You will be mentored by staff engineers and will work closely with test engineers and technologists to conduct this research. A successful postdoctoral appointee will develop and test independent hypotheses within a focused topic area and synthesize results for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Responsibilities

• Develop experiments and apply diagnostic techniques to explore multiphase, chemically-reacting, thermal, hypersonic, and other complex environments.
• Develop data-driven models from experimental results to answer scientific questions, and collaborate with engineers to compare experimental data with modern computational models.
• Publish research in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
• Present research to team members and the broader scientific community.

Requirements

• You have earned, or are pursuing, a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering field, and will have completed all Ph.D. requirements before starting at Sandia.
• Excellent scientific writing and presentation skills, demonstrated through a record of peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.
• Ability to acquire and maintain a DOE L security clearance. US Citizenship is required.
• Due to the nature of the work, the selected candidate must be able to work onsite.

Qualifications We Desire

• Experience with Bayesian data inference or other machine learning techniques applied to experimental data to construct or calibrate physical models.
• Basic experience with thermal and fluid simulation tools to support experiment design and data comparison.
• Experience working in thermal test environments (e.g., plasma torches, arc-jets, thermal vacuum chambers, radiant heaters), multiphase fluid laboratory environments, or aero test environments (e.g., shock tubes, wind tunnels).
• Experience applying nonintrusive optical diagnostics, including but not limited to digital in-line holography (DIH), optical particle tracking, infrared thermography, thermoreflectance (FDTR/TDTR), optical emission spectroscopy (OES), laser Rayleigh scattering, laser absorption spectroscopy (LAS), and planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF).

Benefits

• Challenging work with impact contributing to security, peace, and freedom worldwide.
• Extraordinary co-workers and some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities.
• 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.

These benefits vary by job classification.

About Our Team

The Experimental Thermal and Fluid Sciences Department conducts applied research supporting nuclear deterrence and national security missions. We operate specialized environmental facilities, including plasma and acetylene torches, automated laser-heating platforms, electrical heaters, ovens, flames, and jet facilities. We also collaborate with the Experimental Aerosciences Department to perform challenging measurements in their aerodynamic ground-test facilities. Across these varied environments, we develop and apply advanced diagnostics such as high-speed quantitative imaging, absorption and emission spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Rayleigh scattering, and particle image velocimetry to generate the unique datasets needed for modern engineering workflows, physical discovery, and model validation.

Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE L-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship.