Job Information
Los Alamos National Laboratory Computational Physics and Credibility Scientist (Scientist 2/3) in Los Alamos, New Mexico
What You Will Do
This position will be filled at either the Scientist 2/ Scientist 3 level, depending on the skills of the selected candidate. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level.
Are you ready to begin a career in verification, validation, uncertainty quantification (VVUQ) and machine learning? If so, we encourage you to learn more about our student openings in the Computational Physics: Verification & Analysis group (XCP-8) at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). We are looking for several highly motivated post-baccalaureate and post-masters candidates in the areas of verification, validation, and uncertainty quantification (VVUQ) and machine learning (ML) for computational physics. As a valued member of our team, your work will contribute to the laboratory's mission to solve national security challenges. You will be involved in multiphysics computational modeling and verification, validation, and uncertainty quantification of computational physics models.
Scientist 2 $101,700 - $168,200
In this role you will research and apply VVUQ techniques to a variety of computational problems including turbulence modelling, shock propagation, material strength and HE detonation across a variety of computational physics codes. A background in a relevant field of physics is preferred (e.g. fluid dynamics, solid mechanics, material strength, material failure, turbulence and/or materials properties). You will have the opportunity to publish results in peer-reviewed journals and present at well-known conferences.
Scientist 3 $122,300 - $206,300
In addition to what was outlined at the Scientist 2 level, Scientist 3 candidates will have the opportunity to lead multidisciplinary teams, train and mentor staff new to VVUQ, and influence LANL VVUQ strategy in mission relevant directions.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
Computational Physics and Analysis
You will need experience with numerical modeling, running computational physics simulations, development of physics models, and/or understanding of relevant physics and mathematics. You should also have demonstrated an ability to distill results from computational simulations using analysis and post-processing tools.
Research Expertise
You will need to be experienced in one or more of the following areas: simulation, verification, validation, uncertainty quantification, or a closely related focus area. You will also need to have demonstrated experience modeling shock propagation, instability growth, HE detonation and/or material strength.
Programming
For this role you will need to be familiar with running simulations on high performance computing clusters and strong programming skills in at least one of: Fortran, C++ and/or Python. Alternately experience programming in Matlab or R may be substituted.
Teamwork and Communication
You will need a to show that you are a team player and can work in scientific team environments. You should also be able to ably communicate scientific research to peers. Examples include conference presentations, research in team environments, and/or journals publications.
Journals/Conferences
You will need a to show that you have the ability to publish research in peer-reviewed journals or conference proceedings, communicate research to an interdisciplinary audience and work on an interdisciplinary team.
Additional Job Requirements for Scientist 3:
Multidisciplinary Teams
For this role, you will need to demonstrate your experience working and leading multidisciplinary computational physics teams, including interacting with experimentalists and computational physics code users and developers. Candidates should also have experience communicating VVUQ results to management and decision-makers.
Mentoring
You will need experience mentoring and training students and new staff in computational physics, VVUQ, ML, and professional development.
Education/Experience at Scientist 2 level: Position requires a bachelor's degree in a STEM field from an accredited college or university and 4 years of related experience or equivalent experience directly related to the occupation..
Education/Experience at Scientist 3 level: Position requires a master's degree in a STEM field from an accredited college or university and 6 years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.
Desired Qualifications:
Experience running simulations on institutional-level High-Performance Computing platforms using either slurm or moab submissions.
Experience using and/or developing LANL's Advanced Simulation and Computing Program computational physics codes.
Experience developing and applying verification, validation, uncertainty quantification, or machine learning techniques to computational physics simulations.
Familiarity with and demonstrated interest in NNSA's mission and a national lab research environment.
Familiarity with simulation visualization, post-processing, and communication.
The ability to obtain a Q-Clearance, which usually requires US Citizenship.
Work Environment:
Work Location: The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.
Position commitment: Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position in order to be eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the time required, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. The position commitment for this position is 1 year.
Note to Applicants:
To be considered for the position, applicants should submit a CV/resume and a detailed cover letter addressing how their experience relates to each of the required and desired skills as applicable. For specific inquiries regarding the position, please contact Dr. Brandon Wilson (bwilson@lanl.gov).
Where You Will Work
XCP-8 is an interdisciplinary group which specializes in VVUQ of complex numerical codes coupled by diverse physics models (fluid dynamics, hydrodynamics, solid mechanics, material strength and damage, equation of state, reactive flow, high-energy-density physics, instabilities and turbulence, and radiation transport). Research in XCP-8 is cross-cutting and interacts closely with code and physics model developers, experimentalists, and simulation end-users across a broad set of physics. XCP-8 offers an exciting, flexible, scientifically challenging work environment with many opportunities to collaborate with the broader LANL scientific community.
https://int.lanl.gov/org/ddw/aldx/computational-physics/verification-analysis.shtml
Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:
§ PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network
§ Dental and vision insurance
§ Free basic life and disability insurance
§ Paid childbirth and parental leave
§ Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
§ Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
§ Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)
§ Onsite gyms and wellness programs
§ Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)
Additional Details
Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2 (https://directives.nnsa.doe.gov/supplemental-directive/sd-0206-0002) . Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.
Clearance: Q (Position will be cleared to this level). Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government, and must meet eligibility requirements* for access to classified matter. This position requires a Q clearance. and obtaining such clearance requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Dependent upon the position, additional authorization to access classified information may be required, which may or may not be available to dual citizens. Receipt of a Q clearance and additional access authorization ultimately is a decision of the Federal Government and not of Triad.
*Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order 472.2 (https://www.directives.doe.gov/directives-documents/400-series/0472.2-BOrder-chg1-pgchg) for additional information.
426.2: This position is subject to DOE Order 426.2, Personnel Selection, Training, and Qualification Requirements for DOE Nuclear Facilities, which establishes entry-level requirements to ensure candidates selected for specific positions can successfully perform the requirements of the job.
New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.
Regular position: Term status Laboratory employees applying for regular-status positions are converted to regular status.
Internal Applicants: Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy Policy P701 (https://int.lanl.gov/policy/documents/P701.pdf) for applicant eligibility requirements.
Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or preference, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to applyhelp@lanl.gov or call 1-505-665-4444 option 1.