Technical Professional - Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Characterization; Temporary

Requisition Id15941

We are seeking a Technical Professional in the area of advanced manufacturing with expertise in materials formulation, materials processing/manufacturing, design for manufacturing, toolpath generation, machine tool operation, and data analysis. As part of this role, you will be tasked to lead the management of project timelines, troubleshoot equipment for routine maintenance, execute project tasks, and report out research findings. You should be comfortable working across interdisciplinary teams of people with multiple areas of expertise and designing experiments to answer specific research questions.

You will need to have familiarity with different types of materials including polymers, metals, and others and will need to characterize the quality of products. You should be self-driven and have a vested interest in keeping equipment running and managing/prioritizing projects to meet deliverables. You will be expected to simultaneously execute multiple projects, contribute to the development of new initiatives in their area, and interact with ORNL staff, industry, and academic partners.

This position is in the Sustainable Manufacturing Technologies Group in the Manufacturing Science Division (MSD) of the Energy Science and Technology Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

Our research team carries out high quality R&D focused on the polymer composite and advanced manufacturing for applications in aerospace, automotive, and marine/shipbuilding industries, as well as trending areas of international composite research in material science, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, and automation. As part of our research team, you will serve to characterize a variety of materials, including polymers, composites, metals, and others.

You must have experience developing procedures for equipment usage, serving as the main user for that equipment, and keeping equipment running with regular maintenance and repairs. You will support research in a variety of areas and support staff in publishing original peer‑reviewed research articles. This is a temporary position for one year, with an option for extension.

• Running analytical characterization techniques such as TGA, DSC, FTIR, DMA, twin‑screw extruders, and electron and optical microscopy
• Utilize CAD/CAM software for iterative design and toolpath development for hybrid/convergent manufacturing systems
• Perform operations for advanced manufacturing techniques such as powder blown directed energy deposition, wire arc additive manufacturing, and CNC machining
• Prioritizing multiple research projects at once to meet strategic goals and deliverables
• Designing experiments to characterize new, innovative materials for a variety of properties
• Help to support team goals and work with other team members through regular communication and collaboration
• Ensure compliance with environment, safety, health and quality program requirements
• Maintain strong dedication to the implementation and perpetuation of values and ethics

• Deliver ORNL's mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

• A B.S. in mechanical engineering, industrial and/or systems engineering, materials science and engineering, chemistry, or a related discipline
• Experience serving as an R&D engineer
• Experience with additive and subtractive manufacturing machine tools

• Candidate is preferred to a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial and/or Systems Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Chemistry, or a related discipline.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to communicate in English to an international scientific audience
• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative and frequently interacting teams of researchers
• Ability to function well in a fast‑paced research environment, set priorities to…