Postdoctoral Appointee - Controlling Power Flow to Enable Energy Density , Onsite

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The Radiation and Fusion Target Design department has an opening for a postdoctoral researcher to advance the understanding and modeling of power flow and pulse shaping on the Z facility. A particular emphasis will be on the design of layered MagLIF targets, where differences in material response may create new opportunities to improve target performance through tailored current delivery. The successful candidate will develop and apply physics‑based models, including kinetic plasma simulation and reduced order plasma modeling, to understand how pulse shaping affects both fusion target performance and its coupling to the Z accelerator.

This researcher will collaborate with other members of the pulsed power sciences center to explore this design space and propose novel fusion experiments for the Z machine.

The successful candidate will perform the following duties:

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

• Collaborate as part of an integrated team to plan research into power flow on the Z machine
• Collaborate to develop and assess layered MagLIF target concepts that exploit tailored pulse shapes and material‑dependent response
• Publish your findings and interact with the academic community

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant will be required to work onsite.

• PhD in Physics, Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Astronomy, or a related discipline (PhD must be conferred within five (5) years prior to employment)
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q security clearance

• Experience in the kinetic simulation of plasmas
• Understanding of pulsed power machine operation
• Experience in the use of computational tools to probe high energy density phenomena
• Excellent communication skills demonstrated at technical conferences

Department 1684 works to design and analyze fusion and radiation producing experiments on Sandia's Z facility. Scientists in the department use a variety of tools, including scientific computing, artificial intelligence and theoretical models to advance the frontiers of high energy density plasma experiments. We have a close collaborative relationship with sister organizations tasked with performing Z experiments and developing diagnostics to better understand their characteristics.

This work enables new applications to stockpile science with pulsed power.

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of three (3) calendar days, including the 'posting date'. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

Sandia is required by DOE to conduct a pre‑employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references,…