Senior/Principal AMO Quantum R&D Physicist, Onsite

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.

• Plan, conceive, and conduct research and development for Sandia customers and sponsors using AMO (Atomic, Molecular, and/or Optical) platforms for quantum sensor development, quantum computing research, and/or micro- and nano-fabricated devices.
• Design, engineer, and demonstrate sensors that utilize the quantum physics of atomic, molecular, and/or optical (AMO) phenomena.
• Team with other subject matter experts across Sandia to enable cross-cutting, impactful discoveries in atomic/optical physics or other disciplines that are relevant to Sandias mission areas.
• Interact with customers, inform roadmaps and strategies, and develop new programs in quantum sensing and quantum computing.
• Develop the theoretical modeling and simulation capability to understand the performance of these sensors.
• Seek funding to enable R&D and transfer of solutions, products, ideas, or technology.

$114,000 - $227,500

*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.

• 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 Q-level security clearance.

The ideal R&D S&E Physics candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

• Graduate degree in Physics or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Experience preparing research for dissemination through presentations at national conferences and peer-reviewed publications in top journals.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities of both projects and teams and the ability to work in loosely defined areas with minimal direction while maintaining vision for the overall mission.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams

Also, for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience:

• PhD in Physics or a relevant STEM field
• Experimental experience with at minimum three of the following topics:
  • neutral atom and ion cooling/trapping
  • quantum sensors
  • quantum sensors using entangled atoms or ions
  • neutral atom or trapped ion quantum computing
  • entangling controls of cold atom and trapped ion systems
  • photonic devices integrated in AMO experiments
  • low noise particle detectors and readout/control electronics
  • ultra stable, ultra-low noise laser systems
  • building and characterizing ultra-high vacuum systems
  • Atomic-physics theory and modeling capabilities
  • Quantum information science theory and modeling capabilities
  • Proven record of research, proposal development, publications, and interdisciplinary collaboration
  • Experience with developing experimental control systems, including designing custom electronics and software, e.g., MATLAB, LabView, Python, etc.
• Two or more years of experience leading a research project or thrust within a project
• Familiarity with non-proliferation mission needs
• A track record of successful execution of challenging, original research-and-development projects, including project planning, updates to the committee or sponsor, and delivering results on time
• Demonstrated ability to write winning research proposals as sole investigator or as principal investigator with a team of collaborators.
• Demonstrated teamwork skills for working in a multi-disciplinary team environment
• Experience with artificial-intelligence methods applied to experimental design, execution, and data analysis.

The AO Sensing and EC Engineering Department (5228) leverages a diverse capability set to provide science and technology products to enhance Sandia's national security missions. The department includes a broad set of expertise including atomic physics, micro-optics, and electrochemistry and electroforming. As part of the Microsystems Engineering Sciences and Applications (MESA) facility, we provide solutions including atomic physics based sensors; atom and ion trapping devices and systems; integration of micro-optical and components and photonic integrated circuits (PICs); and novel electrochemical materials processes. In addition to work for internal Sandia organizations, we have an established record of successful engagement with external customers.

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.

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.

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.

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.