What Your Job Will Be LikeWe are seeking an Integrated Photonic Scientist/Engineer with an emphasis in silicon photonics technologies to join the Photonic and Phononic Microsystems Department at Sandia, leading and supporting development and evaluation of novel photonic technologies for Sandia's national security missions including communications, sensing, and advanced computing such as quantum and neuromorphic computing.
On any given day, you may be called on to:
- Perform research and analysis in innovative photonic devices and microsystems, including simulation, design, fabrication, and experimental characterization of photonic devices and systems
- Develop and execute test and evaluation plans including objectives and metrics, procedures, modeling efforts, and lab experiments
- Identify technology and performance gaps from device and system perspectives for different national security related applications.
- Lead and support R&D tasks, directing post-docs, students, and other staff members to achieve milestones and deliverables.
- Generate presentations and detailed reports on project results to management and sponsors.
- Engage and interact closely with internal and external research partners, industry and government customers and sponsor (across multiple institutions).
- As applicable, generate new intellectual property through patent filing and report new findings in top-tier journals and conferences.
Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.
Salary Range$117,500 - $235,700
*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 a relevant discipline and five (5) years of directly relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of directly relevant education and engineering or scientific experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform independent research and development.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance.
Qualifications We DesireThe ideal R&D Electrical Engineer candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:
- Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
- Ability to work independently and collaborate well in a multidisciplinary team of designers and test engineers.
- Outstanding verbal and written skills, including the ability to develop and present briefings that are clear and compelling.
Also, for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience:
- PhD degree in a relevant discipline and at least six (6) years of directly relevant post-PhD experience in a research laboratory environment, which may include a post doctoral appointment (university or national lab), and/or research staff role in an industry or national laboratories setting
- Strong history of innovation, developing new concepts and solutions, novice devices, and applications of technology
- Experience in successful research program development (identifying technology gaps, customer engagement, developing value proposition, proposal writing, and securing funding) and project execution (developing project plans, leading an R&D team, delivering results according to plan).
- Proven ability to perform original research, demonstrated through a record of invention, original publications in top-tier journals, and conference papers and presentations.
- Expertise in a variety of passive and active integrated silicon photonic devices such as splitters, couplers, tapers, ring resonators, pulse shaper, electro-optic modulators, optical combs, photo detectors, etc.
- Experience in mask design using scripting and commercial software (ex. GDSFactory, KLayout) for photonic devices
- Knowledge of microfabrication process and device fabrication challenges
- Knowledge of semiconductor physics, optical materials (such as SiN, Si, SiO2:Ge, lithium niobate, barium titanate, etc.), nonlinear optics, nano-optomechanics, heterogeneous integration, and/or related topics
- Familiarity with Quantum photonic experiments, such as time correlated single photon measurements (g2 and Hong-Ou-Mandel experiments) at cryogenic temperatures
- Knowledgeable in linear optical quantum computing, including measurement based or fusion based quantum computing. Understanding of frequency-encoded qubit systems is a plus.
- Expertise in one of more photonic applications such as, quantum computing, sensing, and networking, RF signal process, neuromorphic computing, and data communications with a combination of device and system perspectives.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team environment while managing multiple tasks concurrently, alongside project leadership and management skills that encompass reporting, budgeting, directing and mentoring team members, and ensuring milestones and deliverables are met, complemented by strong presentation, writing, and communication abilities.
- Active DOE or DOD clearance; active SCI clearance.
About Our TeamThe Photonic and Phononic Microsystems Department develops and matures state of the art photonic and phononic technologies for a variety of national security purposes. Our team of interdisciplinary researchers innovates, develops, and applies novel technologies including silicon photonics, nanophotonics, optomechanics, optical metamaterials, plasmonics, optical detectors, guided wave optics, phononic and thermoelectric technologies, spanning fundamental research to path-finding engineering solutions. In the last 10 years, the Photonic and Phononic Microsystems Department has generated numerous world-firsts, high-impact publications/journal covers and received 70+ patents, multiple R&D 100 awards, and significant DARPA/DOD/DOE funding award.
For more information, check out our website at Sandia's National Security Photonics Center ( https://www.sandia.gov/mesa/nspc/)
Posting DurationThis posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of three (3) calendar days, including the 'posting date'. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.
