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Materials Physics - Academic Graduate Appointee

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Posted 4 days ago
DoE Q or L
Unspecified
Unspecified
Livermore, CA (On-Site/Office)

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 dedicated to fostering a culture that values individuals, talents, partnerships, ideas, experiences, and different perspectives, recognizing their importance to the continued success of the Laboratory's mission.

Pay Range

$6,833 - $8,335 Monthly

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 Materials Physics Academic Graduate Appointee to help develop systems to induce high dynamic pressures and improve the models used in hydrocode simulations. This position is in the Equation of State - Capability Development and Applications Group in the Physics Division.

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 multidisciplinary teams, designing and interpreting experiments involving dynamic compression of matter to high pressures;
  • Perform hydrocode simulations of the experiments and their applications;
  • Contribute to the development of improved models used in the simulations, including of the equation of state and strength of component materials, shock-induced exothermic reactions, and the transport and deposition of laser energy;
  • Analyze results and prepare technical reports and presentations as appropriate;
  • Perform other duties as assigned.


Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in physics, chemistry, engineering or similar numerate subject.
  • Experience in performing multidimensional hydrocode simulations of impacts, detonation, and laser heating/ablation to be able to work effectively with infrequent supervision.
  • Knowledge of fluid mechanics, continuum mechanics, shock physics, and thermodynamics.
  • Knowledge of materials science and the properties of crystalline materials at elevated pressure, e.g. phase transitions.
  • Practical knowledge of numerical methods for solving the hydrodynamic equations for applications involving shocks and their reflections, sufficient to be able to avoid common pitfalls.
  • Experience participating in experimental science, interacting with experimental teams, and contributing to the preparation of manuscripts and proposals.
  • Computer literacy, including office applications, data processing/programming, and preparation of graphs and technical materials.

Qualifications We Desire
  • Knowledge of hydrodynamics, shock physics, reactive flow, and radiation transport.
  • Knowledge of quantum mechanics and its application to the electronic structure of matter.
  • Knowledge or experience relevant to drives and diagnostics for dynamic loading systems, e.g. HE detonation, radiation transport, high-power pulsed laser systems, x-ray diffraction, laser interferometry, radiography.
  • Knowledge or experience of design engineering, i.e. optimizing a system to achieve a desired performance.
  • Experience of a programming language such as Python.
  • Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship.


Additional Information

#LI-Hybrid

Position Information

This is a one-year Academic Graduate Appointee, open to those who have been awarded a degree at the time of the employment offer.

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.)

National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)

The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Section 3112, generally prohibits citizens of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea without dual US citizenship or legal permanent residence from accessing specific non-public areas of national security or nuclear weapons facilities. The restrictions of NDAA Section 3112 apply to this position. To be qualified for this position, Candidates must be eligible to access the Laboratory in compliance with Section 3112.

Wireless and Medical Devices

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

If you use a medical device, which pairs with a mobile device, you must still follow the rules concerning the mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas. Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities require separate 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.

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.

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 .
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About Us
Since its origins, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has pushed the limits of science, technology, and research in an effort to better understand the world and protect the people in it—but we do so much more than that. To this day, we continue to innovate, collaborate, and explore, backed by the minds of thousands of talented researchers, operations staff, and creative professionals. We are a globally-recognized leader in bioengineering, high-performance computing, environmental research, nuclear science, and more. And none of this research would be possible without our employees across different fields, from skilled labor to engineering. No matter what you do here, you can help change the world. The Lab is located in the heart of the Livermore Valley in the East Bay area of California, close to major metropolitan areas like San Francisco, Oakland, and San José.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Jobs


Clearance Level
DoE Q or L