Postdoctoral Appointee - Integrated Photonics & Semiconductor Optoelectronics

Posting Duration:

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.

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.

What Your Job Will Be Like:

Sandians work on the most challenging and complex scientific problems that affect our nation’s national security, contribute to broader economic development, and push the frontiers of science. To make leading edge breakthroughs, we are seeking a creative and motivated Postdoctoral Appointee with unique skills and a real passion for synthesizing innovative photonic devices and microsystems. You will assume a key role within a robust and cohesive team of applied physicists, electrical and optical engineers, and material scientists to perform R&D that will enable next-generation optical sensors and communication systems. You will have opportunities to contribute across a full spectrum of relevant technology areas, working from device concept and simulation through fabrication and test.

On any given day, you may be asked to:

• Perform experimental research incorporating novel semiconductor-based emitters and detectors, optical levitation and trapping devices, nanophotonic/plasmonic modulators, optical sensors, optomechanics, optical MEMS, and infrared imaging arrays
• Conceive, model, simulate, and design new photonic devices such as lasers, photonic circuits and photon detectors
• Develop and implement cleanroom process for fabricating photonic devices and microsystems
• Develop and demonstrate microsystems that integrate micro-optics, optoelectronics, and electronics
• Publish original research in premier journals and conference proceedings
• Support development of proposals for new programs with co-workers or create your own new research ideas
• Deliver results and reporting findings to co-workers and customers

Qualifications We Require:

• You have a PhD, conferred within five (5) years prior to employment, in Electrical Engineering, Optical Sciences, Physics, Materials Science or closely related field
• You possess a record of publication and innovation, as evidenced by any of the following: Peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings, technical books, or issued patents
• Familiarity with cleanroom fabrication of photonic devices with techniques such as wet and dry etching, metal and dielectric materials deposition, and lithographic patterning methods
• Your background includes at least two (2) years of experience in experimental characterization of optical devices, optical systems, compound semiconductor optoelectronics, nanophotonics, plasmonics, sensor arrays or relevant materials
• Your skillset includes at least one (1) year of experience with solid-state physics, electromagnetics, quantum mechanics, classical optics, optoelectronic device engineering, optical MEMS, compound semiconductor materials and/or related fields
• You can obtain and maintain a DOE L clearance

Qualifications We Desire:

• Experience with optical laboratory-based testing using lasers, detectors, modulators, fibers, planar waveguides, and relevant test equipment
• Experience developing new cleanroom fabrication processes and/or optimization of existing processes to meet electrical or photonic device metrics
• Experience with mask design for microfabrication of electrical or photonic devices
• Experience with compound semiconductor optoelectronics
• Experience with optical simulation software such as COMSOL, Lumerical or custom algorithms.
• Familiarity with photonic integrated circuits, either silicon-based or III-V -based
• Familiarity with heterogeneous integration and microscale packaging techniques
• Familiarity with opto-mechanical design, drawing, and machining
• Familiarity with photon detector array technology, especially in the infrared
• Familiarity crafting and characterizing RF microelectronic circuits and devices
• An established record of project execution for R&D activities, including project scheduling, reporting, and delivering results
• Proficiency with software programming and instrument control in languages such as Python, C#, LabVIEW, and MATLAB
• Ability to work across fields, and to seek problems in a highly collaborative environment
• Ability to discover, understand, and articulate customer needs
• Strong self-motivation to work effectively as an independent contributor
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills as needed to work successfully in a team environment
• Strong academic performance as evidenced by GPA
• Current and active DOE L clearance

About Our Team:

The III-V Optoelectronics Department develops compound semiconductor, photonics, and microsystems for national security applications including high-performance computing, communications, renewable energy, sensing and imaging. As part of Sandia’s Microsystems Engineering, Science, and Applications (MESA) Center, we research, design, fabricate, prototype, test and deliver novel lasers, photonic integrated circuits, photonic microsystems, and sensors. We focus on R&D of high-performance technology platforms and customized microsystems.

We use state-of-the-art materials and fabrication capabilities within Sandia’s MESA cleanroom complex to serve a broad mix of internal and external clients. Core capabilities include:

• Optical, optoelectronic and electronic modeling and simulation
• Epitaxial design, materials growth (MOCVD/MBE) and materials characterization
• Design, microfabrication and testing of III-V photonic devices and infrared detectors
• Heterogeneous microsystem integration and prototyping
• High-speed and harsh-environment optoelectronics, including device reliability assessments

Visit our website for more information: www.sandia.gov/mesa/nspc/

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 vacations, 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.

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 L-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 the 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.

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: 687181