Job Description

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 creative and dedicated Postdoctoral Appointee to join the NEFC Sociotechnical Systems Department (8846). We seek a Social Scientist or Sociotechnical Systems Engineer to contribute to critical work tackling the complicated problem of nuclear waste disposal! This position will work as part of an interdisciplinary team of social scientists and systems engineers to identify, develop, and communicate socially acceptable and safe management solutions for spent nuclear fuel and US DOE legacy nuclear wastes. We value candidates with diverse perspectives and experiences. If you are excited about the position, we encourage you to apply.

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

• Support the execution of research and knowledge transfer that operates at the nexus of technology development, energy, and social sciences.
• Develop questionnaires, facilitate focus groups, conduct interviews, perform analysis of qualitative and/or quantitative data sets.
• Coordinate and conduct domestic fieldwork activities including study recruitment, travel arrangements, venue reservations, location scoping, and other site-specific logistics.
• Conduct case study research including literature reviews, web-based and archival research to gather and analyze diverse sources of text-based and multi-media data and evidence.
• Engage with stakeholders and partners at the Department of Energy and other National Laboratories and assist technical staff in engaging with the broad social science community.

The selected applicant can be a remote worker located in any U.S. State or District of Columbia. Regular or periodic travel to your assigned work location may be required.

Qualifications We Require:

• PhD in a Social Science discipline (e.g., Psychology, Sociology, Geography, Political Science, Anthropology, Science and Technology Studies, Communications) or Systems Engineering (Industrial, Human Factors, Socio-technical)
• Experience in designing and conducting social science research using a variety of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods, such as interviews, focus groups, and case studies/exemplars
• Ability to travel domestically for fieldwork
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE L-level security clearance

Qualifications We Desire:

• Demonstrated adherence to highest ethical standards for conducting human subjects research
• Ability to integrate and triangulate multiple sources of information, datasets, and methods
• Experience using qualitative data analysis tools (e.g., NVivo) and applying theoretical and conceptual frameworks
• Emotional intelligence and the ability to engage empathetically with diverse research participants on sensitive topics
• Experience applying quantitative methods to social-scientific data, such as temporal/spatial data analyses, social network analysis, natural language processing, and/or machine learning
• Working knowledge of data scientific programming languages (e.g., R, Python, etc.) and their respective platforms for interactive data reporting (e.g., shiny, plotly, dash, etc.)
• Familiarity with quantitative and qualitative reporting conventions in the social sciences
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to present technical ideas in oral and written form
• Familiarity with or curiosity about the US nuclear waste management history and consent-based siting processes
• Familiarity with or curiosity about Justice 40, environmental justice, and diversity, equity & inclusion (EEEJ/DEI)

About Our Team:

NEFC Sociotechnical Systems Department develops a wide range of solutions to the nuclear energy fuel cycle (NEFC) that operate on the nexus of social sciences and engineering research and development.

• We develop sociotechnical systems solutions to radioactive waste management issues, including consent-based siting for interim storage and repository options.
• We study the consequences of postclosure criticality on the performance of a deep geologic repository
• We develop and manage tools and procedures for quality assurance, workforce development, and knowledge management through the retention and transfer of tacit knowledge from the radioactive waste disposal work force.
• We support holistic analysis and integration of technologies for the commercial deployment of an advanced reactors ecosystem.
• We execute qualitative and quantitative research to enhance Energy Equity and Environmental Justice (EEEJ)

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: 693244

Job Family: 92

Regular/Temporary Position: T

Full/Part-Time Status: F

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.