Design Physics Division - Postdoctoral Researcher: Planetary Defense

Design Physics Division - Postdoctoral Researcher:
Planetary Defense

Entry Level | Full-time
Postdoctoral/Fellowship | Livermore, CA | 07/24/2026
Reference #: REF
8620X
Job Code: PDS.
1 Post-Dr Research Staff 1
Organization: Strategic Deterrence
Position Type: Post Doctoral
Security Clearance: Anticipated DOE Q clearance (requires U.S. citizenship and a federal background investigation)
Drug Test: Required for external applicant(s) selected for this position (includes testing for use of marijuana)
Medical Exam: A job-related pre-placement medical examination may be required

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has turned bold ideas into world-changing impact advancing science and technology to strengthen U.S. security and promote global stability.

Our mission spans four critical national security areas nuclear deterrence, threat preparedness, energy security, and multi-domain defense empowering teams to take on the toughest challenges of today and tomorrow. With a culture built on innovation and operational excellence, LLNL is a place where your expertise can make a real impact.

We have an opening for a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Planetary Defense Group
. We invite PhD graduates from STEM fields to apply (including, but not limited to, the various physics disciplines, engineering, experimental science, computational physics, geological science, planetary science, chemistry, or material science).This opportunity is intended for individuals who have finished their PhD and wish to further develop their skills, knowledge, and/or abilities to better position themselves for a future staff position within the Design Physics Division or elsewhere at LLNL.

The Planetary Defense Group at LLNL uses high-fidelity hydrocode simulations to address challenging problems related to the mitigation of hazardous asteroids and the consequences of asteroid impacts on Earth. We operate within a larger planetary defense community with collaborations (both domestic and international) spanning the national laboratory complex, other government agencies, and academic institutions. We primarily focus on dynamic, high-strain-rate events.

Past projects have involved simulating the NASA DART impact on Dimorphos to better understand how impact ejecta affects deflection, constructing a simplified model for the deflection of an asteroid with a nuclear explosive device, developing new hydrocode methods to better model asteroid airbursts, and validating our codes against relevant experiments.

This position is in the Design Physics Division within the Strategic Deterrence (SD) Directorate.

This position may offer a hybrid schedule, which includes the flexibility to work from home one or more days per week, after a probationary period. The specifics of the hybrid schedule, including the exact number of days required in the office and virtual work options, may vary based on the needs of the team and the organization.

You will

• Build detailed multiphysics models using LLNL-based codes and simulation tools.
• Run your models on some of the largest HPC clusters in the world.
• Draw insights from simulations results to inform collaborators and stakeholders.
• Adapt and improve existing tools to advance our modeling capabilities.
• Pursue independent (but complementary) research interests and interact with a broad spectrum of scientists internally and externally to the Laboratory.
• Publish research results in peer-reviewed scientific or technical journals, and present results at external conferences, seminars and/or technical meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security which requires U.S. citizenship.
• PhD in a related physical science, engineering or applied mathematics discipline.
• Experience in high-quality research in a relevant field, demonstrating both detailed understanding and a broad perspective.
• Demonstrated significant accomplishments in experimental science, numerical simulations and modeling, and/or the application of theoretical techniques.
• Experience developing innovative solutions to scientific and technical problems.
• Demonstrated proficient verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment and present and explain technical information.

Qualifications We Desire

• Experience with Python and HPC systems.

Please include a personalized cover letter with your application, highlighting your qualifications and why you're interested in this position.

This is a Postdoctoral appointment with the possibility of extension to a maximum of three years, open to those who have been awarded a PhD at time of hire date.

Pay Range

$135,768 Annually

#LI-Hybrid

Position Information

This is a Postdoctoral appointment with the possibility of extension to a maximum of three years, open to those who have been awarded a PhD at time of hire date.

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