Senior/Principal Materials Scientist - Metal Advanced Manufacturing, Onsite

Senior/Principal Materials Scientist - Metal Advanced Manufacturing, Onsite

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 vacation, 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:

*These benefits vary by job classification.

What Your Job Will Be Like:

At the forefront of innovation, the Advanced Metals Processing team drives transformative solutions to complex materials challenges that directly support Sandia's mission and the Nuclear Security Enterprise. As part of Sandia's Metal Advanced Manufacturing initiative, we develop next‑generation manufacturing processes that redefine the state‑of‑the‑art in metal fabrication.

We are seeking a motivated and forward‑thinking R&D Material Scientist with expertise in metal additive manufacturing to join our dynamic team. In this role, you will lead process development and component qualification efforts using advanced technologies such as laser powder bed fusion, directed energy deposition, and wire arc additive manufacturing. You will collaborate closely with subject matter experts and contribute to a diverse portfolio of R&D and ND projects that push the boundaries of metal manufacturing.

This is an exciting opportunity to apply your skills in a fast‑paced, innovative environment where your work will have a tangible impact on national security and advanced manufacturing capabilities.

On any given day, you may be called on to:

Drive materials selection and develop manufacturing processes for advanced metallic hardware.

Design and execute test plans to evaluate mechanical and physical properties of metal alloys.

Partner with technicians and interdisciplinary teams to design, optimize, and execute experiments for process development.

Lead customer engagements and pursue funding opportunities to advance additive manufacturing projects.

Present research findings at technical conferences and communicate results to diverse internal and external stakeholders.

Provide expert guidance on equipment, capabilities, and emerging technologies.

Manage the safe and efficient operation of our metal additive manufacturing lab, ensuring all equipment meets operational and safety standards.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite 100% of the time.

Salary Range:

$117,500 - $235,700

*Salary range is estimated, and actual salary will be determined after consideration of the selected candidate's experience and qualifications, and application of any approved geographic salary differential.

Qualifications We Require:

A Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and five (5) years of directly relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of directly relevant education and engineering or scientific experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform independent research and development.

Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance

Qualifications We Desire:

The ideal R&D S&E Materials Science candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

Graduate degree in Materials Science or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).

Experience in a research and development environment.

Experience with materials characterization techniques.

Experience working on teams consisting of multidisciplinary and multi-disciplinary experimentalists, modelers, and theorists with a common goal.

Effective interpersonal skills for giving presentations, preparing reports, writing articles, and explaining the important aspects of technical work to customers.

Also, for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience:

Hands‑on experience with metal additive manufacturing processes and associated tools.

PhD in materials science, metallurgical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related STEM field.

Expertise in failure analysis and fractography using advanced techniques such as SEM/EDS, FTIR, and DSC.

Proven experience in part and process qualification, including production of metal additive manufacturing parts.

Proficiency with statistical process control (SPC) methods.

Hands‑on knowledge of post‑processing equipment for AM parts (e.g., wire EDM, surface grinders, metrology tools).

Familiarity with GCode, CNC machining, and tool path generation.

Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, with a passion for driving innovation in advanced technologies.

Excellent communication skills, capable of clearly conveying complex technical concepts.

Experience mentoring and developing team members to foster success.

Commitment to quality, safety, teamwork, and collaborative problem‑solving.

About Our Team:

The Advanced Metal Processing Department and Rapid Development Machine Shop provides scientific and engineering expertise in the areas of advanced manufacturing, metal additive manufacturing and laser machining/surface modification. Advanced manufacturing includes the design and fabrication of components by conventional subtractive machining, additive manufacturing, electrical discharge machining (EDM), laser machining, laser etching/annealing, vacuum induction melting, and optical probe measurements. Metal additive manufacturing expertise includes alloy development, qualification/acceptance, and design. Current technologies utilized include laser powder bed, metal fused deposition (FDM), and powder and wire directed energy deposition (DED). Our staff supports a variety of programs and is highly engaged in providing collaborative, innovative materials science and systems‑based engineering solutions.The analytic capabilities available: High Speed Microscopy, High Speed Thermal Imaging, Thermal Desorption, Thermal Diffusivity, Particle Size Analysis, Avalanche Angle Measurement, Thermal Imaging, plus others.

Posting Duration:

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of three (3) 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 Q‑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 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.

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