Senior/ Principal Engineer, CMOS Sensors, Ultrafast Imaging Instrumentation- Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories is the nations 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.

We are seeking a research engineer or scientist to lead the development, testing, and application of high-speed digital x-ray framing cameras utilizing Sandia's family of UXI hybrid-CMOS senors. UXI sensors are designed and fabricated in partnership with Sandias microelectronics organization and Sanida's in-house CMOS foundry. UXI sensors are the highest speed digital x-ray framing cameras available for High-Energy-Density Plasma (HEDP) and Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) research. The position will be responsible for defining and conducting research and development to: 1) extend camera reliability and robustness to our harsh EMI, radiation, and thermal environments; 2) adapt camera systems for use in new time-resolving x-ray diagnostics on the Z Machine; 3) improve user interface and reduce effort required to field multiple cameras on Z experiments; and 4) measure the performance and imaging characteristics of camera systems. The position will involve close collaboration across several organizations at Sandia, private startup companies, and partner Laboratories within the Department of Energy and National Nuclear Security Administration. The research requires a combination of hands-on work in our specialized support, fabrication and characterization labs along with electronics design and simulation using modern computer tools. This position offers a unique opportunity to blend traditional engineering practices with innovation problem solving, allowing you to make a significant impact on out projects, rapidly bring your designs to life, and contribute to cutting-edge advancements in the field.

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

• Utilize a range of advanced software tools to design and simulate electronic systems
• Test, and troubleshoot custom camera boards and systems
• Collaborate with HEDP/ICF scientists and ASIC engineers on application and improvements of camera systems and hybrid-CMOS sensors
• Present at national and international conferences and document your research in peer reviewed journals.

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

$114,000 - $227,500

*Salary range is estimated, and actual salary will be determined after consideration of the selected candidate's experience and qualifications, and application of any approved geographic salary differential.

• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and five (5) years of directly relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of directly relevant education and engineering or scientific experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform independent research and development.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance.

The ideal Electrical Engineer candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

• Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Ability to work independently and collaborate well in a multidisciplinary team of designers and test engineers.
• Outstanding verbal and written skills, including the ability to develop and present briefings that are clear and compelling.

Also, for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience:

• Advanced degree or equivalent experience in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related discipline
• Knowledge and proficiency in Electromagnetics and Circuit theory and application to electronics
• Experience in circuit design, printed circuit board (PCB) design, circuit simulation, electromagnetism simulation, and firmware development
• Experience with ECAD software such as Altium, Eagle, KiCAD, or similar
• Experience with FPGA code development (VHDL/Verilog/etc.)
• Knowledge and experience in RF test and measurement techniques
• Experience in failure analysis and test/debug equipment and methodologies

The Laser Operations & Engineering Department is responsible for developing and applying laser-produced x-ray sources and detectors to support high-energy-density science experiments performed on Sandias Z pulsed-power facility. The department is composed of a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and technologists that work together in a collaborative environment to support scientists from around the world that work on Z to pursue research in the areas of inertial confinement fusion, condensed matter physics, atomic physics, shock physics, radiation transport, and planetary science. Department staff develop and operate a suite of high-power lasers including the multi-kilojoule nanosecond-class Z-Beamlet and picosecond-class Z-Petawatt lasers, some of the largest and most powerful lasers in the world. Department staff also develop high-speed solid-state x-ray cameras and sensors using custom ASICs and photodiodes arrays. Other unique experimental capabilities include x-ray calibration sources and detectors, thin-film optical coating system for meter-scale optics, and target chambers and diagnostics for performing research on high-power laser-plasma interaction. This team is part of the Radiation, Electrical and High Energy Density Science (REHEDS) Research Foundation at Sandia.

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) 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, 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.

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.

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.