Material Technology & Energy Scientist

Job Description

The Material Technology and Energy Division at Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) is seeking skilled scientists and engineers to support research, development, and deployment of advanced materials and energy technologies that enable national security, environmental management, and clean energy missions across the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) complex. The division leads innovation in materials characterization, corrosion science, manufacturing technologies, energy storage systems, hydrogen and tritium materials behavior, and applied materials development.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research, experiments, modeling, or engineering design related to materials characterization, materials performance, corrosion, energy systems, or applied materials science.
• Develop and evaluate advanced materials, coatings, manufacturing processes, or energy technologies aligned with SRNL's mission in national security, clean energy, and environmental stewardship.
• Perform laboratory studies, computational analyses, mechanical testing, thermal evaluations, or chemical/materials assessments to support technology development and qualification.
• Collect, interpret, and document technical data in reports, presentations, and publications for internal teams, external collaborators, and DOE sponsors.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including materials scientists, chemists, engineers, modelers, and operations personnel.
• Support scale-up, prototyping, and field demonstration of emerging materials technologies or energy systems.
• Ensure all work is executed safely and in accordance with SRNL, DOE, and regulatory requirements.
  Participate in proposal development, strategic planning, and sponsor engagement to grow SRNL's materials and energy research portfolio.
• Maintain current knowledge of emerging materials technologies, new analytical tools, manufacturing innovations, and energy system advancements relevant to division missions.

Work Environment

Work may occur in laboratories, materials testing facilities, pilot-scale environments, computational analysis settings, or office locations. The division spans experimental, analytical, and applied engineering domains. SRNL supports comprehensive training, professional development, and career growth for early-, mid-, and senior-career researchers and engineers.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline (e.g., materials science, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, metallurgy, physics, chemistry, energy engineering).
• Demonstrated ability to conduct materials research, laboratory experimentation, computational analysis, or applied engineering work.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and data interpretation skills.
• Effective written and verbal communication abilities.
• Ability to work effectively within diverse, multidisciplinary teams.
• Commitment to SRNL's strong safety culture and rigorous operational standards.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE security clearance for which U.S. citizenship is legally required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in materials characterization (e.g., microscopy, spectroscopy, mechanical testing), corrosion science, additive manufacturing, hydrogen materials interactions, or energy system development.
• Familiarity with modeling and simulation tools, data analytics, finite element analysis, or materials informatics.
• Experience in DOE laboratory environments, national security programs, or highly regulated technical facilities.
• Record of technical publications, patents, or significant contributions to R&D projects.
• Experience with project leadership, proposal writing, or technical integration across disciplines.

About Us

"We put science to work!"

Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) is a multi-program laboratory applying state of the art science and practical, high-value, cost-effective solutions to complex technical problems to protect the nation. Located at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Savannah River Site (SRS) in Aiken SC, the laboratory develops and deploys innovative technologies to address some of the nation's environmental, energy, and…