What Your Job Will Be LikeAre you passionate about your work and dream of utilizing state-of-the-art facilities to explore solutions? Do you want to join a dynamic team that solves significant issues for our nation's security?
We are seeking an experienced Ph.D. Metallurgical Engineer or Materials Engineer (job title R&D S&E, Materials Science) with expertise in stainless steel metallurgy, fracture mechanics, and welding metallurgy to ensure the reliability, safety, and longevity of pressure vessels and related high-pressure components. This senior technical role focuses on applying advanced materials science principles to the design, fabrication, qualification, failure analysis, and fitness-for-service assessments of pressure vessels in demanding environments (e.g., hydrogen service). The ideal candidate will serve as a subject matter expert in pressure vessel design, including utilizing existing design standards and welding engineering, and contributing to risk reduction and innovation in materials selection and joining technologies.
This role demands a blend of rigorous academic knowledge and practical industry application ideal for a Ph.D. engineer passionate about preventing catastrophic failures through advanced materials and joining science.
The position requires an ability to travel approximately 10-25% of the time to various sites within the Continental United States (CONUS).
Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite 100% of the time at the Livermore, CA facility.
Applicants on this requisition may be interviewed by multiple organizations at Sandia National Laboratories.
Salary Range$139,900 - $280,600
*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- A 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 U.S. DOE Q-level Security Clearance.
Qualifications We DesireThe ideal R&D S&E Metallurgical/Materials Engineer candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:
- Graduate degree in Materials Science or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
- Experience in a research and development environment.
- Experience with materials characterization techniques.
- Experience working on teams consisting of multidisciplinary and multi-disciplinary experimentalists, modelers, and theorists with a common goal.
- Effective interpersonal skills for giving presentations, preparing reports, writing articles, and explaining the important aspects of technical work to customers.
Also, for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience:
- Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, Mechanical Engineering (with a materials focus), or a closely related field.
- Minimum of 5-10 years of post-Ph.D. industrial or research experience in materials engineering, with a strong emphasis on pressure vessels, high-integrity welded structures, or related high-pressure/critical applications (e.g., oil & gas, petrochemical, nuclear, power, aerospace).
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills; ability to author technical reports, present findings to stakeholders, and influence cross-functional teams.
- Expertise in fracture mechanics, including the practical application of fracture toughness parameters to structural reliability and defect tolerance in pressure-containing components.
- Advanced knowledge of welding metallurgy and welding engineering, including multi-process welding (EBW, GTAW, LBW) and weld defect mitigation for pressure vessel codes.
- Experience with failure analysis techniques (SEM, optical metallography, fractography, hardness mapping) and mechanical testing (tensile, Charpy, CTOD, etc.).
- Experience with interpreting and applying industry or internal standards and specifications for materials (ASTM or AMS material specifications) and components (ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code).
- Active DOE Q-level Security Clearance.
About Our TeamThe Gas Transfer System (GTS) Engineering Department is a group of engineers, material scientists, and technologists who are responsible for the design, development, and qualification of gas transfer systems for national security programs. Our work has three major components: scientific research, advanced component development, and engineering support of existing systems. Responsibilities include high-pressure gas reservoir design, explosive component design, development of welding technologies, and investigating the effect of hydrogen isotopes in various materials. The department operates a high-pressure testing facility and a welding/brazing facility. Our personnel routinely interact with other Sandia engineering and research groups, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, production agencies (located in Kansas City, Savannah River, and Texas), the National Nuclear Security Agency (NNSA), and the Department of War (DOW).
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.
