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 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 important for continued success of the Laboratory's mission.

Pay Range

$113,760 Annually

Job Description

We have an opening for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join our team performing boundary plasma physics research in the exciting field of the Magnetic Fusion Energy Science. As a Postdoctoral Researcher, you will develop novel numerical tools for magnetically confined fusion devices (e.g., mirror, tokamak and stellarator), and apply these tools to facilitate reactor design and optimization as well as fusion plasma exhaust study. This position is in the Fusion Energy Sciences Program, situated within 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

• Develop a numerical framework and build boundary models for several magnetic configurations spanning from the core region to the first-wall.
• Verify and validate developed models with other codes and experiments.
• Perform sensitivity analysis studies exploring divertor/first-wall optimization as well as local/global boundary plasma performance optimization.
• Integrate validated boundary models into whole-device/whole-facility modeling (WDM/WFM) frameworks.
• Study boundary plasma exhaust in both external and turbulence-induced stochastic fields with the goal to understand the impact of stochastic fields.
• Collaborate with scientists in a multidisciplinary team environment to accomplish research goals.
• Pursue independent research aligned with the group's interests and interact with exceptional scientists both internal and external to the Laboratory.
• Publish research results in peer-reviewed scientific or technical journals and present results at external conferences, seminars and/or technical meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• PhD in Physics or a closely related discipline.
• Knowledge of high-temperature plasma physics and magnetically confined fusion devices such as magnetic mirror, tokamak and stellarator.
• Knowledge on boundary plasma and sheath physics, turbulence and transport theory, as well as neutral and impurity models.
• Experience in developing and/or performing numerical simulations of magnetized plasma systems to answer research questions.
• Experience in writing software for data analysis in a commonly used scientific programming language such as Python, Julia, IDL, or MATLAB.
• Ability to perform independent research projects with results disseminated in scientific conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.
• Proficient verbal and written communication skills to present and articulate technical information clearly.
• Initiative and interpersonal skills with desire and ability to work in a collaborative, multidisciplinary team environment.

Qualifications We Desire

• Experience in theoretical, computational, and/or experimental fusion plasma physics research.
• Deep knowledge of fluid, gyro-Landau fluid, gyro-kinetic and/or kinetic descriptions/models of magnetized plasmas.
• Experience in the development of high-performance simulation codes in C++ or Fortran.
• Knowledge of modern scientific computing, including but not limited to spatial and temporal discretization, explicit and implicit schemes, preconditioning, multi-grid methods, distributed computing, GPU acceleration, etc.

Additional Information

#LI-Hybrid

Position Information

This is a Postdoctoral appointment with the possibility of extension to a maximum of three years, open to those who have been awarded a PhD at time of hire date.

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

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

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.)

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.

How to identify fake job advertisements

Please be aware of recruitment scams where people or entities are misusing the name of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to post fake job advertisements. LLNL never extends an offer without a personal interview and will never charge a fee for joining our company. All current job openings are displayed on the Career Page under "Find Your Job" of our website. If you have encountered a job posting or have been approached with a job offer that you suspect may be fraudulent, we strongly recommend you do not respond.

To learn more about recruitment scams: https://www.llnl.gov/sites/www/files/2023-05/LLNL-Job-Fraud-Statement-Updated-4.26.23.pdf

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.

We invite you to review the Equal Employment Opportunity posters which include EEO is the Law and Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision .

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.

CaliforniaPrivacy Notice

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants privacy rights to all California residents. The law also entitlesjob 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 .