Postdoctoral Appointee - Thin Films Material Science - Onsite

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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:

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Do you enjoy developing and characterizing novel thin films and coatings to advance our understanding of materials and their intriguing behaviors? If so, you would be perfect to join our thin films team. Our team specializes in research and development of thin films and coatings for a variety of electrical and mechanical applications and environments. We are seeking a Postdoctoral Appointee to support the research of metal thin film deposition and the investigation of thin film process‑structure‑property relationships.

• Plan and perform experiments involving sputter deposition, collect and analyze data with the goal of investigating how process parameters affect film stress, microstructure and mechanical performance.
• Interact and collaborate with other inter‑disciplinary research groups within Sandia National Laboratories to develop new combinatorial approaches to deposition and high‑throughput film characterization techniques.
• Publish journal articles and present work at local and national conferences.

Due to the nature of the work the selected applicant must be able to work onsite in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Relocation will be provided for those that qualify.

• Possess, or close to completing, a PhD, conferred within 5 years prior to employment, in Materials Science and Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with process research and development.
• Experience with vapor deposition processes (sputtering or evaporative deposition) and thin film characterization techniques.
• History of publication of results in peer‑reviewed journals and presentations at scientific and/or technical conferences.
• Ability to acquire and maintain a DOE L security clearance.

• Experience with magnetron sputter deposition methods including pulsed DC methods.
• Experience with operating high vacuum pumping systems.
• Experience with characterizing thin film microstructure and properties.
• Excellent ability to translate technical work to a broad audience, as evidenced by peer reviewed publications and invited/contributed talks.
• Ability to work well in a team environment, including strong verbal communication skills and ability to work with others.

The Advanced Thin Films & Processing department (01875) conducts collaborative leading‑edge experimental R&D that enables the collaborative development of creative solutions involving thin film deposition and analysis for supporting Sandia's broad and evolving National Security and Energy Missions. Our research activities have broad impact; and typically generate peer‑reviewed, high‑profile journal publications and presentations at professional scientific meetings. Our Department's R&D advances the application of thin film materials with engineered mechanical, tribological, electrical and optical properties that impact Sandia's National Security Missions.

We partner with mission collaborators to help develop low volume production of materials for various applications and engage in leadership roles in…