Fiber Optic Sensor Scientist

Battelle•Pittsburgh, PA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Battelle is seeking a Fiber Optic Sensor Scientist for a full-time opportunity in Pittsburgh, PA. This role supports the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and involves developing gas sensing technologies for infrastructure monitoring, from conceptual design to field demonstration. The scientist will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of industry, academic, and national laboratory partners, using state-of-the-art equipment to contribute to both basic and applied research. Expected outcomes include publications, conference presentations, and intellectual property development.

Requirements

Master's or PhD degree in physics, engineering physics, chemical engineering, materials engineering, or a related field.
Hands-on familiarity with optical fiber preparation techniques, including polishing, cleaving, splicing, dip/spin coating, and tapering.
Experience with characterization equipment such as spectrometers, OTDRs, FBG interrogators, vector network analyzers, arbitrary waveform generators, oscilloscopes, and spectrum analyzers.
Experience with fiber sensor fabrication and testing, ideally in harsh environments.
Experience in device and material characterization techniques such as SEM, Raman spectroscopy, and XRD.
Experience publishing peer-reviewed scientific articles.
Experience working on federally funded research projects.
Must be able to meet the requirements for gaining access to work on the NETL campus.
Applicants must have authorization to work in the United States.
Unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of any employment Visa at this time.

Responsibilities

Lead and contribute to the development of advanced fiber optic sensing technologies for energy infrastructure applications.
Fabricate functional material-coated optical fiber sensors for gas sensing of hydrocarbons and blended gases in natural gas infrastructure such as pipelines and storage wells.
Simulate optical fiber interferometers using finite element analysis software (e.g., COMSOL) to predict and optimize fiber-based sensor performance.
Modify thin films and sensing materials to achieve highly sensitive, selective, low-ppb sensing layers capable of operating in high humidity, high temperature, and other challenging conditions.
Work with functional material scientists to design and develop sensor devices capable of detecting gas, corrosion, and other pipeline environmental factors.
Plan and participate in field test demonstrations of developed sensing technologies.
Document and communicate scientific results through peer-reviewed journal manuscripts and technical reports.
Collaborate with a multidisciplinary group of researchers to accomplish project tasks.
Create and deliver oral and poster presentations of research results at meetings and technical conferences and workshops.