NPC & Systems Intergration - Postdoctoral Appointee
What Your Job Will Be Like
Are you passionate about your work and dream of utilizing state-of-the-art facilities to explore solutions? Do you want to join a dynamic team that solves significant issues for our nation's security? If so, this could be the opportunity for you!
We are seeking a Postdoctoral Appointee with an emphasis in supporting Sandia's Navigation, Pointing, and Controls (NPC) organization and related technologies.
On any given day, you may be called on to:
- Development of dynamics analytics for trajectory reconstruction of reentry vehicles
- Analysis of plasma and magnetic effects on reentry vehicles
- Design of Guidance, Navigation and Controls (GN&C) testers using Zuken E3 and Solidworks.
- Utilizing auto-code generators of Simulink to C-code for GN&C systems
- Support a distributed dynamics and control vehicle problem, including Mod/Sim, ACS, embedded software, navigation and CMG’s.
- Algorithm development in estimation, navigation, control systems, dynamics, optimization, Kalman filtering and signal processing theory
- Implement vehicle kinematic models for application in simulation and against flight test data
- Analyze flight systems and reentry vehicle performance in simulation and from flight test data
- Perform comprehensive linear and nonlinear estimation synthesis and analysis
- Document designs and analyses with written reports, presentations, and engineering drawings
- Development of correlation algorithms for image registration systems
Qualifications We Require
- Ph.D in one of the following: Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics or related field, conferred within five years prior to employment
- Your background includes experience with one or more of the following relevant application and mission domains: dynamics, control theory, estimation, navigation, optimization, Kalman filtering, guidance algorithms or signal processing theory
- Ability to obtain and maintain a DoE Q clearance
Qualifications We Desire
Ideally, your background would also include:
- Experience in defense, aerospace and/or weapon systems
- Working knowledge/experience in state estimation, Kalman/particle filtering, sensor fusion, trajectory shaping, path planning, miss distance performance optimization, kinematic and aerodynamic reentry vehicle flight system analysis
- Experience in developing linearized models from nonlinear flight dynamics
- Experience in reentry vehicle flight dynamics analysis
- Experience in digital and modern control systems, dynamics, and signal processing
- Experience in designing Monte Carlo, covariance, hardware-in-the-loop, and 6DOF simulation environments
- Experience working effectively in a collaborative and interdisciplinary team environment
- Critical thinking, synthesis and problem-solving skills
- Ability to prioritize, lead, and complete projects within appropriate scope and timeframe
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.
About Our Team
The Navigation, Pointing, and Controls (NPC) group at Sandia supports a diverse set of customers and technologies. The department specializes in inertial navigation using inertial measurement units (IMUs) and Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, ultra-accurate position and velocity measurements for synthetic aperture radars (SAR), gimbal pointing with micro-radian accuracy for airborne and space remote sensing, modeling and simulation of space and earth based navigation and tracking systems, and a variety of controls problems. The department includes personnel with expertise in navigation, guidance, estimation, Kalman filters, controls, embedded systems, inertial devices, and many others. Some of the work areas include: hypersonic vehicle GNC algorithm development, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle GNC algorithm development, GPS-denied navigation, physics-based mission analysis of full system vehicle engagements, missile flight trajectory and attitude reconstruction, satellite constellation performance analysis, and HWIL/SWIL simulators.
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 schedules, 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.
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.