Quantitative Model Validation Analyst Jobs in New Mexico

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 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: http://www.sandia.gov
*These benefits vary by job classification.
What Your Job Will Be Like
We are seeking a motivated Postdoctoral Appointee to conduct research related to PV performance modeling, data analysis, and analytics. The successful candidate will develop and evaluate models and analytical methods for understanding and improving PV system performance. Research may include terrestrial and space PV applications, performance modeling, analysis of measured PV and environmental data, model validation and benchmarking, uncertainty analysis, performance metrics, and operational analytics. If you are a self-motivated and dedicated problem solver, this position may be a great fit.
The successful candidate will be integrated into an existing team of researchers both within and external to Sandia to help forward the science of PV performance modeling and analytics.
On any given day, you may be called on to:

• Further develop existing performance models to include additional physics and/or address new environments.
• Develop, test, and verify new analytical methods for assessing PV performance.
• Perform model calibration and verification.
• Contribute to open-source tools.
• Process and analyze field and experimental PV performance and meteorological data.
• Participate in department and project meetings.
• Attend and present at PV related conferences and workshops.
• Publish research findings in scientific journals and government and/or industry reports.

This position is located in Albuquerque, NM, and the annual salary for this position is $100,500. Due to the nature of the work, there is a preference for the selected applicant to be able to work onsite. 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 engineering, physical sciences, mathematics, computer science, or other relevant, related technical field.
• Demonstrated research experience in one or more relevant areas, such as PV, energy systems, computational modeling, data science, artificial intelligence, time-series analysis, or O&M analytics.
• Demonstrated programming and scientific computing skills (e.g., experience with Python)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, as evidenced by publication(s) in peer-reviewed journals and/or presentation(s) at scientific conferences.

Qualifications We Desire

• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research, critically evaluate scientific literature, and develop rigorous analytical approaches.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate research through publications, presentations, or other technical outputs.
• Demonstrated ability and motivation to learn new technical areas and work effectively in collaborative research environments.
• Experience with PV performance modeling, including terrestrial or space PV applications, or analysis of PV systems.
• Experience with PV operational data, monitoring, or O&M (operations and maintenance) analytics.
• Experience with model validation, uncertainty analysis, and/or benchmarking.
• Experience analyzing large datasets and developing scientific software, especially in an open-source environment.
• Experience with pvlib-python and other relevant scientific software.

About Our Team
The Photovoltaics and Materials Technology (PMT) department develops and validates materials and technologies that improve the performance, reliability, and safety of photovoltaic systems for energy and national security applications. Sandia focuses on emerging PV technologies and collaborates with dozens of companies and universities to develop and test new module architectures, tracking systems, integrated power electronics, encapsulants, and specialized coatings. This position will support our PV Performance Modeling Collaborative (PVPMC) and PV O&M Analytics Collaborative (PVMAC) projects that works with researchers and industry stakeholders to advance methods, tools, and best practices for evaluating and operating PV systems.
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
This position does not currently require a Department of Energy (DOE) security clearance.
Sandia will conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Furthermore, employees in New Mexico need to pass a U.S. Air Force background screen for access to Kirtland Air Force Base. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause access to be denied or terminated, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment. Under federal law, citizens and agents of the People's Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea, and the Russian Federation are generally prohibited from accessing Sandia National Laboratories. Accordingly, such individuals will not be considered for employment unless they are also a citizen of the United States.
If hired without a clearance and it subsequently becomes necessary to obtain and maintain one for the position, or you bid on positions that require a clearance, a pre-processing background review may be conducted prior to a required federal background investigation. Applicants for a DOE security clearance need to be U.S. citizens. 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.
Members of the workforce (MOWs) hired at Sandia who require uncleared access for greater than 179 days during their employment, are required to go through the Uncleared Personal Identity Verification (UPIV) process. Access includes physical and/or cyber (logical) access, as well as remote access to any NNSA information technology (IT) systems. UPIV requirements are not applicable to individuals who require a DOE personnel security clearance for the performance of their SNL employment or to foreign nationals. The UPIV process will include the completion of a USAccess Enrollment, SF-85 (Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions) and OF-306 (Declaration of for Federal Employment). An unfavorable UPIV determination will result in immediate retrieval of the SNL issued badge, removal of cyber (logical) access and/or removal from SNL subcontract. All MOWs may appeal the unfavorable UPIV determination to DOE/NNSA immediately. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the MOW may try to go through the UPIV process one year after the decision date.
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.