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 experienced R&D Laboratory Support Technologist to join our materials characterization team.

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

• Conduct materials characterization of surfaces to assist scientists and engineers in the performance of R&D, and perform qualitative and quantitative analyses for work involving experimental, theoretical, or practical applications of science or technology
• Develop new experimental processes, utilize novel analytical techniques, establish new characterization methods, optimize existing laboratory and characterization techniques, and perform experiments
• Develop, build, modify, repair, or maintain a wide variety of laboratory apparatus and equipment, and interface this equipment for data acquisition
• Develop and maintain material and process specifications to support engineering and scientific processes and works with key suppliers
• Perform data analysis and interpretation, statistical error analysis, materials characterization, and information extraction, and formally detail results for customers
• Supports documentation and publication efforts, including the preparation of information for scientific and
• engineering publications.
• Performs work in a safe and compliant manner, seeks out subject matter expert advice as needed, and maintains the necessary documentation

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.

Salary Range

$60,300 - $116,000

*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.

Qualifications We Require

• Bachelor's degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM)
• Experience in utilizing scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipment with related techniques, such as electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS)
• Experience operating and interfacing with the data acquisition systems of multiple SEM makes and associated systems (e.g. ZEISS, JOEL, Oxford Instruments)
• Active DOE Q-level security clearance

Qualifications We Desire

• Ability to make adjustments when necessary when SEM equipment malfunctions
• An understanding of the scientific method and experimental procedures
• Skill and knowledge in one or more areas of physics, materials science, geochemistry, chemistry,
• computer science, optics, engineering, radiation, microelectronics, or semiconductors
• Experience applying analytical techniques and software programs (e.g. MATLAB, python, AXSIA)
• Knowledge of utilization of materials characterization instrumentation to measure and observe physical phenomena and effects
• Ability to conceptualize and communicate major elements of experimental design and results and to represent to other staff, management, and visitors, the scientific and engineering principles being investigated or developed
• Experience and demonstrated skill in conducting research, investigating anomalies and alternative solutions, and recommending solutions on problems
• Demonstrated publication record in peer-reviewed journals
• Ability to work independently with minimal guidance, as well as collaboratively as part of a team.
• Ability to interact directly with customers and manage a complex work queue of competing priorities
• Ability to write operating procedures, methods of analysis, and laboratory procedures.
• Expertise in materials science, metallurgy, fractography and failure analysis of microelectronics
• Experience working directly with ND customers
• Experience working with and handling classified material

About Our Team

The Materials Characterization & Performance Department supports Sandia by developing and applying a breadth of analytical techniques to assess the structure, composition, and properties of materials. We serve our customers by helping them understand material behavior and performance, develop improved materials for specific components and applications, as well as develop lifetime performance predictions for materials. By applying a breadth of techniques, including spectroscopic and diffraction techniques, light and electron microscopy, metallography, surface analysis, chemical analysis, and contaminant analysis, we provide materials understanding and solutions for: engineering components and structures, failure analysis of all types of materials, and research projects across a wide customer base. We serve the entire corporation in their material analysis needs and frequently other federal agencies and industry. We also act as a gateway to materials characterization capabilities within and outside of Sandia. We take pride in owning, maintaining and utilizing to the fullest extent the best instrumentation available anywhere.

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

Position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q security clearance to start, or equivalent active security clearance with another U.S. government agency (e.g., DOD). Sandia is required by DOE directive 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 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.