What Your Job Will Be Like

This is an exciting opportunity to join a highly productive and collaborative team at Sandia National Laboratories.

We are seeking an R&D Laboratory Support Technologist to join our polymer materials characterization and mechanical testing team. The successful candidate will primarily work with staff members and other technologists to use a broad range of techniques to characterize key properties of organic materials (encapsulants, adhesives, gels, underfills, conformal coatings, composites, etc.).

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

• Perform materials characterization, including thermal analysis (differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermomechanical analysis (TMA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA)) and rheological testing
• Conduct mechanical testing using universal testing machines to execute both (1) standard measurements, such as modulus and strength of materials and structures, and (2) novel test designs to resolve specific questions about materials or complex structures
• Design and execute structural response tests to compare materials and processing techniques, and/or validate material models
• Perform basic organic chemistry, simple polymer synthesis, and formulation optimization
• Adapt, design, modify, repair, maintain, and calibrate instrumentation; augment existing instrumentation or develop new apparatus and accessories as mission needs require
• Perform basic laboratory and equipment maintenance, follow safety protocols, and support general laboratory stewardship such as ES&H and security responsibilities, maintaining work-control documentation, managing property, coordinating instrument calibration and repair, and occasionally coordinating building-related activities with Facilities personnel
• Initiate and lead small research projects or work packages; plan experiments and deliver results with minimal supervision
• Contribute to multiple concurrent research programs and cross project collaborations; coordinate technical activities with internal and external stakeholders
• Handle and manage chemicals and engineered materials safely in accordance with hazardous materials procedures and ES&H requirements (e.g., fume hood use and proper labeling/storage)
• Work in a dynamic small team environment and manage time according to work demands

The polymer materials characterization and mechanical testing team performs leading-edge materials research while also providing materials engineering support to a broad client base, including nuclear weapons programs, satellite payloads, and other Sandia engineering programs. The team also partners closely with technical staff from the Engineering Sciences Center, fostering strong synergy between materials science and modeling to address engineering problems. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to assume leadership responsibilities for client engagement, reporting results (written and oral), and participation in program meetings.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite. Relocation assistance will be provided for those that qualify.

Salary Range

$74,700 - $144,400

*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 science, engineering, or engineering technology discipline, such as chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field
• Ability to work onsite (candidate must be able to perform work at the laboratory facility as a condition of employment)
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q security clearance

Qualifications We Desire

• A strong background in the types of materials characterization and mechanical testing described in the job responsibilities
• 5+ years of relevant experience in a research laboratory
• Knowledge of polymer science, polymer physics, and polymer chemistry
• Preference will be given to candidates who have demonstrated the ability to rapidly learn new skills and to work in a fast-paced team environment
• A demonstrated commitment to producing high-quality results using sound laboratory techniques and focused attention to detail
• Ability to maintain a detailed laboratory notebook
• Effective interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, and flexibility to participate in teams, and the ability to work independently with high reliability and attention to detail; and the ability to explain important aspects of technical work to coworkers and clients
• Demonstrated commitment to laboratory safety and safe work practices
• Motivated, responsible, and organized; able to work independently under the guidance of a principal investigator (PI) or senior staff member, as appropriate
• Creative problem solving and effective time management skills
• Active DOE L or Q security clearance

About Our Team

The Organic Materials Science Department researches and develops new and advanced materials and processing strategies to meet a wide range of specialized applications in nuclear weapons, national security, and industrial settings. Our department is dedicated to scientific discovery, creativity, innovation, and practical solutions for our diverse clients.

The department specializes in aging science and predictive performance of polymers; synthetic organic chemistry and polymer chemistry; thermal, mechanical, chemical, and physical characterization of organic materials; and advanced manufacturing of polymers. We perform reliability studies for polymers with an emphasis on understanding degradation mechanisms, structure-property relationships, and performance margins. We support characterization and structural response testing of microelectronic packaging, including epoxy-based polymer systems. These studies include a complete spectrum of chemical, structural, thermal, rheological, and mechanical characterization of polymeric materials that must perform over lifetimes on the order of 30 to 40 years.

Current R&D areas include:

• Developing novel encapsulant materials
• Developing tailored foams for impact mitigation and shock-mitigating polymer systems
• Creating new thermoset chemistries for additive manufacturing
• Developing innovative NMR techniques to understand transport phenomena in polymers
• Measuring and optimizing electrical performance of polymer dielectrics
• Elucidating the interdependency of chemical change and polymer physics over long timeframes
• Creating reversible and degradable chemistries
• Understanding polymer interfacial properties and adhesion
• Measuring and predicting radiation effects on polymers
• Monitoring reactive thermoset cure kinetics
• Quantifying permeation behavior and spatially dependent degradation processes

Posting Duration

This 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.