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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.

COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate

Sandia demonstrates its commitment to public safety in the national interest by requiring that all new hires attest to their vaccination status before commencing employment. The requirement also applies to those who are telecommuting and working virtually.

Any concerns about the ability to meet this requirement should be directed to HR Solutions at (505) 284-4700.

What Your Job Will Be Like

We are seeking an R&D Optical Engineer specializing in laser/optics technology to join a dynamic team conducting advanced optical diagnostic research at the Z Pulsed Power Facility, the world’s largest pulsed power accelerator. Are you passionate about fielding state-of-the-art optical diagnostics for a diverse variety of scientific missions? Do you dream of helping execute frontier scientific studies in support of the U.S. Department of Energy’s national security mission? If so, you will want to consider applying for this opportunity!

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

• Join a diverse team of scientists, engineers, and technologists to develop advanced optical diagnostics utilized across several scientific programs and/or laboratory facilities.
• Be the team member responsible for leading the design, operation, fielding, troubleshooting, and maintenance of the Streak Visible Spectroscopy (SVS) diagnostic suite deployed at several experimental facilities, including daily at the Z Pulsed Power Facility.
• Apply wavelength and intensity calibrations, and related experimental methodology, to perform initial data reduction of visible spectroscopy measurements to ensure diagnostic quality for program customers.
• Lead activities associated with improvements to optical diagnostic capabilities, configuration management, diagnostic sustainment, infrastructure modifications, data management, and work planning and controls documentation .

Qualifications We Require

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant science or engineering discipline (e.g., Physics, Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering) plus five years’ experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• At least three years history in a laboratory environment with direct experience in one or more of the following topical areas: (1) design, alignment, maintenance, and/or operation of laboratory laser systems, (2) assembly, alignment, and/or operation of experimental optical equipment such as spectrometers and/or monochromators (3) maintenance and/or operation of fast-streak and/or fast-gated cameras in scientific environments, (4) operation of fast electronic equipment such as oscilloscopes, digitizers, and/or impulse generators
• Experience with data acquisition and scientific analysis software such as LabVIEW and/or MATLAB
• Experience demonstrating high standards of operational and technical rigor in support of high consequence experiments and activities
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoE Q clearance

Qualifications We Desire

• Experience with operating in a large team environment and/or experimental facility
• Experience with fielding electronic and/or optical diagnostics in environments with high electromagnetic interference (EMI)
• Experience analyzing experimental measurements involving visible spectroscopy and/or laser interferometry techniques
• Experience troubleshooting optical and/or electronic equipment in support of time-sensitive activities
• Experience demonstrating good data management principles in support of scientific programs with a diverse user community
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Willingness to maintain a flexible work schedule to meet critical experimental schedules in a fast-paced and technically challenging work environment

About Our Team

The Advanced Capabilities for Pulsed Power Department develops the world’s most advanced pulsed power accelerator technology. We apply science and technology to develop superpower accelerators that deliver multi-terawatt electromagnetic pulses to physics experiments. Various types of loads are fielded by the scientific community in several research areas including inertial confinement fusion, materials science, weapons physics, nuclear survivability, and laboratory astrophysics. We conduct high energy density physics and accelerator physics experiments at Sandia’s Z Pulsed Power Facility, the world’s largest pulsed power accelerator. We develop and support a variety of plasma modeling codes, experimental concepts, and diagnostics. We are responsible for the development and operation of advanced optical diagnostic technologies, such as Streak Visible Spectroscopy (SVS) and Z Line VISAR (ZLV), which are fielded on a very large fraction of experiments conducted at the Z Pulsed Power Facility. We anticipate significant growth in opportunities for new optical diagnostic capabilities fielded at the Z Facility over the next three to five years.

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.

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 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.