Postdoctoral Experimental Physicist, Short Pulse HEDP

Company Description

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Are you interested in joining some of the brightest talent in the world to strengthen the United States’ security? Come join Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) where our employees apply their expertise to create solutions for BIG ideas that make our world a better place.

We are looking for individuals that demonstrate an understanding of working in partnership with team peers, who engage, advocate, and contribute to building an inclusive culture, and provide expertise to solve challenging problems.

Pay Range

$108,840 Annually

Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. Many factors are taken into consideration when setting starting pay including education, experience, the external labor market, and internal equity.

Job Description

We have an opening for a Postdoctoral Experimental Physicist- Short Pulse HEDP to execute experiments, develop unique diagnostics and diagnostic techniques, and lead frontier research in the area of high-intensity short-pulse laser science and applications and high-energy-density plasmas (HEDP). This work will take place within the National Ignition Facility & Photon Science (NIF&PS) Directorate, home to the world’s most energetic laser. It is an exciting time to join the team that achieved fusion ignition in December 2022, a historic moment in science, opening up new physics regimes and setting the stage for new fusion energy possibilities.

Areas of active research are high-intensity laser interactions with matter, laser-driven secondary sources, plasma optics, future light sources, and the development of high-repetition-rate diagnostics, targetry, modeling, and machine learning. This position is in the HED (high energy density) S&T (science and technology) organization in the Short-Pulse Laser Science & Applications Group in the National Ignition Facility and Photon Science Principal (NIF&PS) Directorate.

In this role you will

• Research, design, and execute laser driven experiments at the NIF-ARC, OMEGA EP, LaserNetUS, and other international high-intensity short-pulse laser facilities.
• Design, field, and coordinate the development of new high-intensity short-pulse laser interaction diagnostics and data-handling methods to enhance high-repetition-rate experimental capability.
• Use and develop machine learning techniques to perform advanced analysis.
• Author and present technical and scientific reports, presentations, publications, and proposals for internal and external audiences including the DOE community and at conferences.
• Collaborate with scientists in a multidisciplinary team environment to accomplish research goals.
• Coordinate team resources and plan experimental campaigns.
• Pursue independent, but complementary, research interests and interact with a broad spectrum of scientists, internally and externally to the Laboratory.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• PhD in short-pulse laser physics, plasma physics, nuclear engineering or physics, or related discipline.
• Experience designing, executing, and analyzing experiments and/or operating facilities in short-pulse high-intensity laser experimental physics.
• Ability to perform as an innovative experimentalist with a broad range of experience in experimental design, techniques, execution, and analysis.
• Experience developing, calibrating, fielding, and analyzing x-ray, optical, or nuclear plasma diagnostics, or ultrafast laser diagnostics.
• Proficient written and verbal communication skills to author technical and scientific reports, publications, invited papers, and proposals, and deliver scientific presentations.
• Effective initiative and interpersonal skills including the ability to work both as part of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary team, as well as the ability to produce independent, original work.
• Ability to think broadly and devise innovative solutions to problems to accomplish objectives.

Qualifications We Desire

• Hands-on experience working at HEDP or laser user facilities.
• Experience with high repetition rate laser systems, experiments, diagnostics, or targetry.
• Experience with data science approaches of machine learning, control augmentation, extreme data algorithms, and/or data-enhanced prediction.

Additional Information

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2020 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Work for a premier innovative national Laboratory
• Comprehensive Benefits Package
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Collaborative, creative, inclusive, and fun team environment

Learn more about our company, selection process, position types and security clearances by visiting our Career site.

Equal Employment Opportunity

LLNL is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer that values and hires a diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status, age, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

LLNS is committed to offering reasonable accommodations during the application and recruiting processes due to a disability. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please submit a request via our online form.

California Privacy Notice

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants privacy rights to all California residents. The law also entitles job applicants, employees, and non-employee workers to be notified of what personal information LLNL collects and for what purpose. The Employee Privacy Notice can be accessed here.

#PT

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.

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2022 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Flexible Benefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)

Security Clearance

None required. However, if your assignment is longer than 179 days cumulatively within a calendar year, you must go through the Personal Identity Verification process. This process includes completing an online background investigation form and receiving approval of the background check. (This process does not apply to foreign nationals.)

Pre-Employment Drug Test

External applicant(s) selected for this position must pass a post-offer, pre-employment drug test. This includes testing for use of marijuana as Federal Law applies to us as a Federal Contractor.

Pre-Placement Medical Exam

A job related pre-placement medical examination may be required.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer that is committed to providing all with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status, age, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

We invite you to review the Equal Employment Opportunity posters which include EEO is the Law and Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision.

Reasonable Accommodation

Our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates applying and interviewing at the Laboratory. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please use our online form to submit a request.

California Privacy Notice

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants privacy rights to all California residents. The law also entitles job applicants, employees, and non-employee workers to be notified of what personal information LLNL collects and for what purpose. The Employee Privacy Notice can be accessed here.