Postdoctoral Appointee - Metal Additive Manufacturing and Process Monitoring, Onsite

About Sandia

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:

• Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
• Extraordinary co-workers
• Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world
• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities
• Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten-hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)
• Generous vacation, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://www.sandia.gov

* These benefits vary by job classification.

At the forefront of manufacturing innovation, the Advanced Metals Processing team drives transformative solutions to complex materials challenges that support Sandia's national security mission. As part of Sandia's metal advanced manufacturing initiative, you will develop next-generation manufacturing processes that redefine the state-of-the-art in metal fabrication.

We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher to develop innovative on-machine monitoring and inspection tools to support novel metal AM processes. In this role you will design new diagnostic tools and lead their integration onto AM platforms. You will use your scientific insights to process large datasets and correlate multimodal sensor data with physics-based models of the AM process. These data science workflows will help accelerate the adoption of metal AM for critical programs within the Nuclear Security Enterprise.

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

• Integrate a new diagnostic tool with an existing AM machine
• Develop correlations between machine diagnostic outputs and material properties
• Analyze multimodal datasets to identify potential defects in AM parts in real time
• Collaborate in diverse teams with other Sandia scientists and external partners to identify how metal AM can help solve complex manufacturing problems
• Share results through writing manuscripts for peer review, attending conferences, or presenting to Sandia stakeholders

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

• PhD in materials science, mechanical engineering or related field
• Experience with additive manufacturing technologies
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance

The ideal Postdoctoral Appointee - Metal Additive Manufacturing and Process Monitoring candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will also possess one or more of the following:

• Expertise with laser- and powder- based metal AM techniques
• Proficiency with AM software workflows and process monitoring tools
• Experience with data science methods for on-the-fly analysis and AI/ML data processing
• Familiarity with the design and implementation of new diagnostic techniques
• Experience with high-precision laser and optical systems
• Record of technical excellence demonstrated by publications and conference presentations
• The ability to conduct creative independent research
• Experience with AI, machine learning, or data science
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Sandia National Laboratories Organization 1812 encompasses both the Advanced Metal Processing Department and the Rapid Development Machine Shop. The Rapid Development Machine Shop specializes in advanced machining techniques, offering engineering expertise as well as agile prototyping and small-lot production capabilities. The Advanced Metal Processing Department focuses on cutting-edge R&D in metal additive manufacturing, laser machining, and laser surface modification. Our metal additive manufacturing capabilities include alloy development, qualification and acceptance, geometric design and optimization, as well as process innovation.

Current additive manufacturing platforms employ laser powder bed fusion, laser-powder directed energy deposition (DED), and wire-arc DED to produce components from a wide range of conventional and specialty alloys. Our staff is engaged in providing…