Postdoctoral Appointee - Experimental Mechanics, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories

Livermore, USA

Job posting number: #7356259 (Ref:Sa698109)

Posted: June 8, 2026

Job Description

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.

What Your Job Will Be Like:

We are seeking a POSTDOCTORAL APPOINTEE

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

  • Conduct material characterization testing and research and development in experimental mechanics, and work within a laboratory culture committed to safety.
  • Work in a cooperative lab environment within the department and interact with several research and applications groups at Sandia as well as limited external customers.
  • 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.

Qualifications We Require:

  • PhD in Engineering Mechanics, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Applied Physics, or closely related discipline.
  • Educational or professional background in experimental solid mechanics
  • Experience using servohydraulic or electromechanical test frames
  • Experience with integration of laboratory safety techniques and considerations into experimental work.

Qualifications We Desire:

  • Evidence of relevant and exceptional research achievements as demonstrated in the form of technical publications, presentations, software tools, and/or knowledge of applications
  • Ability to plan and carry out complex experiments
  • Experience with digital image correlation and/or digital volume correlation techniques
  • Experience with thermal/mechanical effects in solids and structures, high temperature characterization, coupled effects, and time/rate dependent behavior
  • Ability to develop new experimental methods, specimen designs and assemble complex test and diagnostic apparatus
  • Experience with a testing a broad range of materials (polymers, metals, composites, ceramics)

About Our Team:

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, applying thermal and optical imaging methods, and testing subsystems to support model validations. Materials of interest cover a broad range of metals, composites, foams, polymers, and ceramics. Specific areas of interest include coupled thermal/mechanical effects in metals, brittle and ductile failure, time and rate dependent behavior, high temperature material behavior, environmental effects, and DIC/DVC techniques.

Posting Duration:

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.

Security Clearance:

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 security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Applicants offered employment with Sandia are subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.

EEO:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.

NNSA Requirements for MedPEDs:

If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.

If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.

Position Information:

This postdoctoral position is a temporary position for up to one year, which may be renewed at Sandia's discretion up to five additional years. The PhD must have been conferred within five years prior to employment.

Individuals in postdoctoral positions may bid on regular Sandia positions as internal candidates, and in some cases may be converted to regular career positions during their term if warranted by ongoing operational needs, continuing availability of funds, and satisfactory job performance.

Job ID: 698109

Job Family: 92

Regular/Temporary Position: T

Full/Part-Time Status: F



All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.


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Job posting number:#7356259 (Ref:Sa698109)
Application Deadline:Open Until Filled
Employer Location:Sandia National Laboratories
Albuquerque,New Mexico
United States
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