Physicist 3

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory•Richland, WA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments that we refer to as Directorates within the Lab, focused on a specific area of scientific research or other function, with its own leadership team and dedicated budget. Our Science & Technology directorates include National Security, Earth and Biological Sciences, Physical and Computational Sciences, and Energy and Environment. In addition, we have an Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus. The National Security Directorate (NSD) drives science-based, mission-focused solutions to take on complex, real-world threats to our nation and the world. The Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Technologies Division, within the National Security Directorate, works across fundamental science, research and development, and operations to counter emerging national security threats. We focus on discovering signatures and understanding threats by creating materials, methods, and technologies to detect and analyze them. Our researchers deliver the solutions necessary for addressing complex mission challenges, such as explosives detection, biological threat detection, chemical and nuclear forensics, and special nuclear materials.

Requirements

BS/BA and 5+ years of relevant work experience -OR- MS/MA and 3+ years of relevant work experience -OR- PhD with 1+ year of relevant experience

Nice To Haves

Ph.D. in Nuclear Science/Engineering, Physics, or a closely related field.
Strong technical depth and demonstrated ability to work independently while collaborating effectively on interdisciplinary teams addressing national/international mission needs.
Demonstrated experience with strip detectors and semiconductor radiation detector systems, including design, fabrication support, testing, characterization, and operation of double-sided strip detectors (DSSDs) or similar segmented detector architectures.
Experience in radiation spectroscopy and detector systems (alpha/beta/gamma), including gamma-ray spectroscopy and imaging with high-purity germanium (HPGe), cadmium zinc telluride (CZT), or equivalent solid-state detector technologies.
Proficiency in software development (2+ years) using Python, C/C++, or similar; experience with development environments and version control (e.g., Git).
Knowledge of counting statistics; information theory experience preferred.
Exposure to machine learning and/or applied data analytics in academic or industry research.
Experience authoring technical documentation (technical reports, publications, procedures) demonstrating scientific insight and impact.
Experience working with sensitive data and associated handling expectations.
Strong oral and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

Perform hands-on R&D in radiation detection technologies; measure, analyze, and characterize radiation signatures supporting interdiction, nonproliferation, treaty verification, safeguards, and nuclear incident response.
Plan and execute laboratory and field tests/experiments (including setup, test plans, and required documentation).
Analyze radiation detection datasets; conduct technical assessment, performance evaluation, and failure/equipment analysis; participate in peer reviews.
Develop, review, and provide SME input on operating procedures, documentation, and best practices for radiation detection systems and missions (including ConOps, T&E approaches, and guidance).
Provide technical input on the design, hardware integration, troubleshooting, and maintenance of radiation detection systems (including strip-detector-based systems).
Conduct modeling and simulation using physics-based tools; interpret and communicate simulation outputs to assess signatures/fields from radioactive materials.
Contribute to emerging standards, regulations, and stakeholder requirements related to radiation detection and radioactive materials.
Prepare and deliver project outputs (e.g., data packages, reports, briefings, and hardware samples as needed).
Mentor students and early-career staff and contribute effectively within collaborative, multi-disciplinary teams.