What Your Job Will Be Like

Are you looking to be a member of a team working on innovative projects that have positive impact on society? The Computer Science Research Institute (CSRI) is seeking postdoctoral researchers across a wide range of computational and data sciences.  You will have an opportunity to work with mentors and teammates who are nationally and even internationally renowned leaders in their fields. We seek applicants who can complement and/or expand on our current research strengths in computational mathematics, computational science, data and information sciences, high performance computing, scientific software development, multi-physics and materials modeling, uncertainty quantification, discrete algorithms, machine learning, quantum-computing algorithms, neuromorphic computing, and decision support.

We are looking for candidates who enjoy continued learning, working on research teams, and helping to develop new ideas. We also have flexible research funding for select postdocs to pursue their own ideas, either continuing areas from their thesis research or to take the time to grow expertise in a new research area, under mentorship of CSRI staff.

The Computer Science Research Institute is committed to nurturing a culture compatible with a broad group of people and perspectives in accordance with the changing makeup of the workforce.  In support of this vision, the center actively recruits applicants from diverse backgrounds and fosters an inclusive community.

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

• Conduct innovative research in computing, broadly defined, individually or as part of a research team
• Work towards publishing new developments in high-profile peer-reviewed scientific journals or refereed conference proceedings; contribute to development of open-source software for high performance computing environments
• Interact with a diverse set of colleagues from both your own field, applications specialists, and others
   

Work with export-controlled information which requires US Person status

Candidates applying on this requisition may be interviewed and/or hired by one of several organizations at Sandia National Laboratories (New Mexico and/or California)

About Our Team

The CSRI spans Sandia’s Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA, locations. CSRI R&D employees create technology and solutions for many of our nation's most demanding national security challenges. The portfolio spans the spectrum from fundamental research to state-of-the-art applications. Our work includes computer system architecture (both hardware and software); enabling technology for modeling physical and engineering systems; and research in discrete mathematics, data analytics, cognitive modeling, and decision support materials. The Albuquerque, New Mexico location offers a variety of nearby cultural and outdoor activities.  Excellent compensation and benefits are available: the organization Family Friendly New Mexico recently named Sandia a 2020 Family Friendly Business at the platinum level, its highest designation! The Livermore, CA location is in proximity to the innumerable cultural opportunities of the Bay Area. Sandia’s dynamic and flexible work environment and surrounding areas support family friendly activities.

Position Information

This postdoctoral position is a temporary position for up to one year, which may be renewed at Sandia's discretion up to five additional years. The PhD must have been conferred within five years prior to employment.

Individuals in postdoctoral positions may bid on regular Sandia positions as internal candidates, and in some cases may be converted to regular career positions during their term if warranted by ongoing operational needs, continuing availability of funds, and satisfactory job performance.

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 schedules, 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.

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.

Qualifications We Require

• PhD (earned, or nearing completion of) in computational science, computer science, applied mathematics, statistics, data science, or a related engineering or science discipline
• Experience in relevant research domains, e.g., in computational science, applied mathematics, statistics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, numerical methods, solution of partial differential equations, graph algorithms, Bayesian inference, reduced order modeling, uncertainty quantification, validation and verification, feature extraction, linear/multilinear methods, nonlinear optimization, discrete optimization, data analysis & visualization, system software, or computer architectures
• Experience in code development
• Demonstrated ability to conduct innovative research, as evidenced by a publication record in relevant domains
• Interest in teaming to solving challenging interdisciplinary R&D problems relevant to DOE missions

Due to U.S. export-control laws, only U.S. Persons (U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, asylees, or refugees) are eligible for consideration.

Qualifications We Desire

• Strong written and oral communication skills
• A commitment to fostering an inclusive culture, as demonstrated in your application materials
• Demonstrated ability to team in an interdisciplinary R&D environment
• Significant experience in code development, potentially including software design using object-oriented programming, high-performance computing, distributed or parallel computing, and/or coding for new computer architectures
• A background in solving practical problems in science and engineering that involve encounters with real world data
• Demonstrated research community leadership through activities such as participation in student or professional organizations, service on committees, workshop and/or conference organization, and editorial roles
• Able to obtain and maintain a DOE security clearance

Security Clearance

This position does not currently require a Department of Energy (DOE) security clearance.

Sandia will conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Furthermore, employees in New Mexico need to pass a U.S. Air Force background screen for access to Kirtland Air Force Base. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause access to be denied or terminated, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.

If hired without a clearance and it subsequently becomes necessary to obtain and maintain one for the position, or you bid on positions that require a clearance, a pre-processing background review may be conducted prior to a required federal background investigation. Applicants for a DOE security clearance need to be U.S. citizens. 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.

Members of the workforce (MOWs) hired at Sandia who require uncleared access for greater than 179 days during their employment, are required to go through the Uncleared Personal Identity Verification (UPIV) process. Access includes physical and/or cyber (logical) access, as well as remote access to any NNSA information technology (IT) systems. UPIV requirements are not applicable to individuals who require a DOE personnel security clearance for the performance of their SNL employment or to foreign nationals. The UPIV process will include the completion of a USAccess Enrollment, SF-85 (Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions) and OF-306 (Declaration of for Federal Employment). An unfavorable UPIV determination will result in immediate retrieval of the SNL issued badge, removal of cyber (logical) access and/or removal from SNL subcontract.  All MOWs may appeal the unfavorable UPIV determination to DOE/NNSA immediately. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the MOW may try to go through the UPIV process one year after the decision date.