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:
These benefits vary by job classification.
What Your Job Will Be Like
We are seeking a motivated Postdoctoral Appointee to join the Advanced Electronic and Optoelectronic Materials Team.
On any given day, you may be called on to:
Synthesize electronic and magnetic thin films such as granular metals, chalcogenides, lanthanides, and carbon materials.
Perform structural, chemical, magnetic, thermal, and electronic characterizations.
Publish research results in journal articles and present at professional conferences
Due to the nature of the work the selected candidate must be able to work onsite.
Selected candidate must be able to start before January 2025.
Qualifications We Require
PhD in physics, chemistry, materials science, electrical engineering, or a similar field (PhD conferred within five years prior to employment)
Track record of publications and/or presentations.
Able to acquire and maintain a DOE security clearance
Qualifications We Desire
Experience with high vacuum (HV) or ultra-high vacuum (UHV) systems
Experience with physical vapor deposition techniques, especially sputtering, pulsed laser deposition (PLD), and e-beam evaporation
Experience with thin film characterization techniques including x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), electrical/thermal conductivity, etc.
Experience synthesizing or characterizing 2D materials, thermoelectrics, chalcogenides, granular metals, or lanthanides
About Our Team
The Advanced Electronic and Optoelectronic Materials Department, 1876, is responsible for the research, development, and application of physical and chemical sciences to materials technologies critical to Sandia's missions. Our work is currently along five thrusts: (1) density functional theory (DFT) calculations to study defects in semiconductors, (2) advancing state-of-the-art growth of semiconductor epitaxial material for device applications by Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) and related growth technologies, (3) structural, electronic, and optical characterization of semiconductor and dielectric materials and interfaces, (4) growth, processing, and characterization of nanostructures such as semiconductor quantum dots, quantum wires, and 3D structures including photonic lattices, and (5) film deposition and characterization of metals and dielectrics. We support a large variety of compound semiconductor materials science and device development projects. We have an extensive network of partners inside and outside of Sandia.
The Department closely partners with other organizations, including the Semiconductor Material and Device Sciences Department 1873, the Advanced Thin Films and Processing Department 1875, other departments in Centers 1800 and 5200, and university and industry collaborators throughout the world. The Department makes use of state-of-the-art growth and microfabrication facilities associated with MESA (Sandia's Microsystems Engineering, Science, and Applications complex); scientific facilities at CINT (the joint Sandia / Los Alamos Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies); and staff laboratories with specialized characterization techniques.
Our team is committed to nurturing an environment compatible with a broad group of people and perspectives in accordance with the changing makeup of the workforce. In support of this vision, our center actively recruits applicants from diverse groups of backgrounds and fosters an inclusive community.
Join us and work towards your goals while making a difference!
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 L-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 the 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 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.
