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Postdoctoral Appointee - Thin Films Material Science - Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories
401(k), relocation assistance
United States, New Mexico, Albuquerque
1515 Eubank Boulevard Southeast (Show on map)
Sep 03, 2025

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 vacation, 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.

What Your Job Will Be Like:

Do you enjoy developing and characterizing novel thin films and coatings to advance our understanding of materials and their intriguing behaviors? If so, you would be perfect to join our thin films team. Our team specializes in research and development of thin films and coatings for a variety of electrical and mechanical applications and environments. We are seeking a Postdoctoral Appointee to support the research of metal thin film deposition and the investigation of thin film process-structure-property relationships.

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



  • Plan and perform experiments involving sputter deposition, collect and analyze data with the goal of investigating how process parameters affect film stress, microstructure and mechanical performance.

  • Interact and collaborate with other inter-disciplinary research groups within Sandia National Laboratories to develop new combinatorial approaches to deposition and high-throughput film characterization techniques

  • Publish journal articles and present work at local and national conferences



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

Qualifications We Require:



  • Possess, or close to completing, a PhD, conferred within 5 years prior to employment, in Materials Science and Engineering, or a related field

  • Experience with process research and development

  • Experience with vapor deposition processes (sputtering or evaporative deposition) and thin film characterization techniques

  • History of publication of results in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at scientific and/or technical conferences

  • Ability to acquire and maintain a DOE L security clearance



Qualifications We Desire:



  • Experience with magnetron sputter deposition methods including pulsed DC methods

  • Experience with operating high vacuum pumping systems

  • Experience with characterizing thin film microstructure and properties

  • Excellent ability to translate technical work to a broad audience, as evidenced by peer reviewed publications and invited/contributed talks

  • Ability to work well in a team environment, including strong verbal communication skills and ability to work with others



About Our Team:

The Advanced Thin Films & Processing department (01875) conducts collaborative leading-edge experimental R&D that enables the collaborative development of creative solutions involving thin film deposition and analysis for supporting Sandia's broad and evolving National Security and Energy Missions. Our research activities have broad impact; and typically generate peer-reviewed, high-profile journal publications and presentations at professional scientific meetings. Our Department's R&D advances the application of thin film materials with engineered mechanical, tribological, electrical and optical properties that impact Sandia's National Security Missions. We partner with mission collaborators to help develop low volume production of materials for various applications and engage in leadership roles in the NNSA/DOE complex.

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.

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 L-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 the 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.

NNSA Requirements for MedPEDs:

If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.

If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.

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.

Job ID: 695952

Job Family: 92

Regular/Temporary Position: T

Full/Part-Time Status: F

Applied = 0

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