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. What Your Job Will Be Like: We are seeking a Postdoctoral Appointee to conduct reliability physics research coupled with analysis of failure modes in power semiconductor devices. This work aims to reveal a deeper understanding of how extreme environments and accelerated aging factors impact the reliability of wide-bandgap (WBG) high-power devices. This position will also provide opportunities to become involved in other WBG-based research projects that will expand your knowledge and skill base. Are you interested in opportunities to augment the existing knowledge of WBG material systems including gallium nitride and silicon carbide? If so, you will want to consider this opportunity, which will have you design accelerated aging experiments to induce novel failure modes in power devices and perform rigorous analysis to reveal electronic degradation mechanisms. Your efforts will directly impact our understanding of devices that will have uses in future electric grid and electric vehicle applications. On any given day, you may be called on to:• Work with technical staff to devise and execute accelerated stress testing experiments of semiconductor power devices.• Conduct electrical testing of WBG-based high-power devices and suggest physical analysis strategies to better understand electrical behaviors.• Elucidate the defect physics of these devices through research and analysis.• Publish research results in journal articles and present at technical conferences. Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite. Qualifications We Require: • PhD conferred within five years prior to employment in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related field• Experience in semiconductor device physics and electrical characterization• Experience with data analysis and control software (e.g. MATLAB, Origin, LabVIEW)• A proven record of research success, demonstrated by journal publications and conference presentations• Ability to acquire and maintain a DOE L-level security clearance Qualifications We Desire: • Excellent organizational skills and the ability to work in a diverse, multi-disciplinary team environment• Experience with semiconductors including conventional (e.g. Si, GaAs), wide-bandgap (e.g. SiC and GaN), and ultra-wide-bandgap (e.g. Ga2O3, AlN, diamond) materials• Experience using a Keysight B1505a Power Device Analyzer• Experience with deep-level transient spectroscopy tools and related techniques• Experience with physical semiconductor characterization techniques such as SEM, TEM, and spectroscopies using these and related instruments About Our Team: The Semiconductor Material and Device Sciences Department 1873 is engaged in compound semiconductor physics and device research, with parallel, complementary efforts in fundamental science and novel device technologies, within 1800, the Center for Material, Physical, and Chemical sciences. One of several current focus areas is III-Nitride based materials and devices for power electronics and other applications, which have enormous short- and long-term potential for Sandia’s national security missions. Other ongoing efforts include radiation effects and defect spectroscopy, blue and UV optoelectronics, optical metamaterials and associated devices, and novel device concepts generally.The department's research utilizes staff expertise in experimental and theoretical semiconductor physics, state-of-the-art micro- and nano-fabrication, and advanced materials and device characterization and modeling. It partners closely with other organizations, including the Advanced Electronic and Optoelectronic Materials Department 1876, other departments in Centers 1300, 5200, 8800, and university and industry collaborators throughout the world. The department makes use of state-of-the-art growth and fabrication facilities associated with MESA (Sandia's Microsystems Engineering, Science, and Applications complex); scientific facilities at CINT (the joint Sandia / Los Alamos Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies); and staff laboratories with specialized characterization equipment. 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.
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. 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. 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: 693075