Experimental Physicist

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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 committed to a diverse and equitable workforce with an inclusive culture that values and celebrates the diversity of our people, talents, ideas, experiences, and perspectives. This is essential to innovation and creativity for continued success of the Laboratory's mission.

Pay

$168,780 - $214,032 Annually

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee's position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.

We have an opening for an Experimental Physicist to study independently dynamic material strength and material x-ray survivability. The role involves designing and leading experiments on the National Ignition Facility (NIF), as well as other high power laser facilities, including NIF Direct Laser Impulse (DLI), to support understanding of the physics governing high strain-rate x-ray-induced impulsive loading. In addition, this role will support dynamic material strength experimental design, execution, and data interpretation for HED facility experiments to inform our understanding of strength phenomena under high pressure and high strain rate conditions. This position resides in the Applications of HED Materials Group within the HED Science (HEDS) Section of the Physics division under the Physical & Life Sciences (PLS) directorate.

Depending on your assignment, this position may offer a hybrid schedule, blending in-person and virtual presence. You may have the flexibility to work from home one or more days per week.

You will

• Work as a member of an interdisciplinary team to study the mechanical effects associated with rapid energy deposition of photons.
• Study and model how radiation-induced effects may affect various materials and complex mechanical structures.
• Plan, design, model, field, calibrate, conduct, and analyze experiments at NIF and various other HED or DLI facilities.
• Perform large-scale hydrodynamic simulations of x-ray and laser-induced impulsive loading in order to design experiments and improve material models through data comparisons
• Propose and lead experimental campaigns at NIF and other HED or DLI facilities to perform mechanical testing of materials in support of diagnosing material constitutive response
• Design and conduct high pressure strength experiments at NIF or Omega and analyze data to infer flow stress under extreme conditions.
• Document and publish research results in peer-reviewed scientific or technical journals, present results and conferences, workshops, and seminars, and write periodic progress reports that capture and communicate research results
• Maintain an awareness of technical literature in assigned areas
• Engage with complementary research efforts and interact with broad spectrum of scientists internal and external to the Laboratory
• Perform other duties as assigned

• This position requires an active Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance or active Top-Secret clearance issued by another U.S. government agency at the time of hire.
• Ph.D. in Physics, Shock Physics, Materials Science, or related field or discipline, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Significant experience and knowledge in independently designing, executing, and analyzing complex high strain rate material dynamics experiments
• Significant experience designing and executing experiments at high power laser facilities, such as NIF or OMEGA
• Experience working independently, as well as in a team, with minimal direction.
• Advanced verbal and written communication skills necessary to work in a multidisciplinary team environment, author technical and scientific reports and publications and deliver scientific presentations.
• Familiarity with high performance computing and hydrodynamics simulations to model dynamic material response

Qualifications We Desire

• Experience with constructing and implementing diagnostics to study material deformation in table-top scale experiments as well as in a large facilities such as NIF
• Experience with data analysis tools and algorithms in Python, Matlab, or similar language
• Experience with 1D and 2D radiation hydrodynamic codes

#LI-Hybrid

Position Information

This is a Career Indefinite position, open to Lab employees and external candidates.

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2024 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• FlexibleBenefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accountability (IDEA) - visithttps://www.llnl.gov/diversity
• Our core beliefs - visithttps://www.llnl.gov/diversity/our-values
• Employee engagement - visithttps://www.llnl.gov/diversity/employee-engagement

Security Clearance

This position requires an active Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance or active Top Secret clearance issued by another U.S. government agency at time of hire.

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.

Wireless and Medical Devices

Per the Department of Energy (DOE), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory must meet certain restrictions with the useand/or possession ofmobile devices in Limited Areas. Depending on your job duties, you may be required to work in a Limited Area whereyou are not permitted to have a personal and/or laboratory mobile devicein your possession. This includes, but not limited to cell phones, tablets, fitness devices, wireless headphones, and other Bluetooth/wireless enabled devices.

Ifyou useamedical device, whichpairs with a mobile device,you must still follow the rules concerningthe mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas. Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities requireseparate approval. Hearing aids without wireless capabilities or wireless that has been disabled are allowed in Limited Areas, Secure Space and Transit/Buffer Space within buildings.

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