Postdoctoral Appointee - Shock Physics, Onsite

What Your Job Will Be Like

We are seeking a POSTDOCTORAL APPOINTEE.

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

• Support novel experimental design for shock compression studies of heterogeneous materials, including mechanical mixtures, granular and porous media, and earthen/geological materials.
• Fabricate and characterize target assemblies at SNL-CA.
• Analyze traditional diagnostics (PDV, PVDF, PZT, etc.) and integrate results to computational models.
• Build and execute Linux-based workflows to execute hydrocode calculations.
• Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams, adapting to each user facility's procedures, requirements, and constraints.
• Coordinate and execute experiments at internal and external user facilities.
• Perform data analysis, including radiographic analysis and high-speed imaging interpretation.
• Calibrate material models by correlating experimental observations with computational models.
• Document and present findings to internal and external stakeholders, including scientific conferences and multi-organization meetings.

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

PhD in Materials Science, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or closely related discipline.

Deep understanding of shock compression science and dynamic material response, with experience in areas such as:

• Experimental shock physics (e.g. gas-gun, explosive, pulsed-power platforms)
• Computational shock physics (e.g. hydrocodes, FEA, plasticity, etc.)

• Documented record of designing and executing complex shock-compression experiments to probe at least one of the following behaviors.
• Experience processing and interpreting image diagnostics, such as flash X-ray, proton radiography, high-speed optical/video.
• Highly collaborative work style, with demonstrated ability to coordinate with external facility staff.
• Hands‑on fabrication and metrology of shock physics target assemblies (alignment, tolerances).
• Familiarity with advanced diagnostics (VISAR/PDV, DIC, pyrometry, in-situ strain gauges).
• Experience fielding experiments at user facilities under formal work-control and readiness processes.
• Proficiency in developing data-reduction pipelines and quantitative image analysis (uncertainty quantification, segmentation).
• Track record of integrating experimental data with simulations for model validation and parameter calibration.
• Strong publication record and effective scientific communication skills.

The Mechanics of Materials Department performs experimental and analytical studies to characterize and predict the thermal‑mechanical behavior of materials, from atoms to continuum, specializing in fracture and failure. Our experimental work covers the spectrum of discovery to characterization to model validation. Motivated by observations, we develop mathematical models to simulate material responses under various loading and environmental conditions. The fidelity of our models and simulations varies from atomic to continuum scales.

We develop numerical methodologies so that our material models can be implemented in high‑performance computing simulations. Our experimental capabilities include characterizing materials over a wide range of temperatures and strain rates, developing micro‑ and nanoscale strain and displacement diagnostics, and testing subsystems to support model validations.

You will join the shock physics group within Mechanics of Materials, where we investigate the dynamic response of materials subjected to extreme environments. Our scope spans granular and porous media, composites and mixtures, concretes, earthen materials, and other complex systems. We combine experimental design, high‑fidelity diagnostics, and modeling to advance fundamental understanding and predictive capability in shock physics and dynamic material behavior.

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…