Senior HED Plasma Physicist — Z-Pinch & X-Ray Science

What Your Job Will Be Like

The Radiation Experiments Department has an opening for a physicist emphasizing experimentation and data analysis to lead the study of z‑pinch physics and the radiative properties of matter at the Z Facility. The focus of this research effort is to advance theoretical understanding of high energy density (HED) plasmas and develop experimental platforms to provide bright x‑ray environments for radiation effects studies, to achieve high levels of fusion in the laboratory, and to investigate the fundamental behavior of HED plasmas.

X‑ray spectroscopy is one of the primary tools used to measure the evolution of the plasmas in these platforms.

• Lead the design and analysis of experimental campaigns at Z.
• Interpret measurements including spectroscopy, imaging, and power/energy to advance the understanding of z‑pinch platforms.
• Collaborate on diagnostic improvements to enhance the experiments at Z.
• Build and sustain collaborations with the international HED physics community.
• Represent the research and development in the organization through publications in science journals and presentations at conferences.

• Plan, conceive, and conduct research and development for Sandia's customers and sponsors.
• Collaborate as part of an integrated team to plan research, in addition to working independently to analyze data and develop new research methodologies.
• Direct systematic study toward a fuller knowledge or understanding of the fundamental aspects of phenomena and of observable facts and discover new approaches to achieve goals.
• Create new understandings and capabilities by using the scientific method's hypothesis, test, and evaluation techniques; critical review; or similar engineering research and development methods.
• Publish your findings and interact with the academic community.
• Initiate, design, develop, execute, and evaluate new processes, products, or systems through basic and applied research.
• Use engineering principles to research, design, or develop structures, instruments, machines, experiments, processes, systems, theories, or technologies; to construct or operate the same with full cognizance of their design; or to forecast their behavior under specific operating conditions.
• Undertake development and possible technology transfer of solutions, products, principles or technology.
• Undertake creative work, making systematic use of investigation or experimentation, to discover or revise knowledge of reality, and use this knowledge to devise new applications.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.

$117,500 - $235,700

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 DOE Q security clearance.

• 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.

• PhD in Physics, Applied Physics, Nuclear Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Astronomy, or a related STEM discipline.
• A technical competency in development, fielding, or analysis of x‑ray diagnostics for high‑energy‑density plasmas, such as spectroscopy, demonstrated through publications in…