Post Masters Research Associate - Mechanical Engineer

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory • Richland, WA

8h • 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 (EMSL), a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus. The Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate (EBSD) leads critical research in four areas: Atmospheric, Climate & Earth Sciences, Biological Sciences, Environmental Molecular Sciences, and Global Change. Our vision is to develop a predictive understanding of biological and Earth systems in transition. We aim to understand energy and material flows within the integrated Earth system; to understand, predict, and control the response of biosystems to environmental and/or genomic changes; and to Model the Earth system from the subsurface to the atmosphere. The Environmental Molecular Sciences Division is comprised of 18 interdisciplinary research teams focused on deciphering molecular-level interactions driving biological and environmental processes across temporal and spatial scales. Through computational analysis and modeling, these findings contribute to predictive understanding of how systems respond to environmental perturbations thus enabling solutions to the nation’s energy, environmental, and human health challenges. The division also manages the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus that accelerates the research of scientists around the world by providing access to world-class expertise, instrumentation, and computational resources.

Requirements

• Master’s degree within the past 24 months or within the next 8 months from an accredited college or university.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field
• Familiar with commercially available 3D printers
• Demonstrated skills with a clean room, microfluidics, and microfabrication
• Demonstrated skills in Solidworks, AutoCAD, or similar CAD software
• Strong written and oral communication skills

Responsibilities

• Assist in design, maintenance, and building of unique scientific instruments.
• Work in the clean room to design, fabricate, evaluate and model microfluidics and microfabrication devices in support of Biogeochemical Transformations and Biomolecular Pathways Integrated Research Platforms.
• Work in the Instrument Development Laboratory utilizing 3D Printers and other tools to solve problems and restore productivity for the scientists, researchers, and users of EMSL.
• Collaborate with IDL team members, scientists, and researchers to build and/or enhance instrumentation throughout EMSL and PNNL according to specifications and requirements.
• Independently interacts with peers at the group level.
• Accurately estimates time to complete individual tasks or procedures and completes on time.
• The candidate will join the IDL team working to support EMSL.
• The position involves working in a dynamic, multi-disciplinary environment with electrical engineers, material scientists, chemists, world-class scientists, and researchers specializing in numerous fields such as proteomics, atmospheric sciences, materials science, surface chemistry, structural biology, and geochemistry.
• The engineer may be required to lead tasks, and complete assignments on schedule.
• Demonstrates consistency and quality work.
• Contribute to team processes and assigned support activities.
• Require flexibility and prioritization of multiple projects.
• Verify final products.
• Designs, analyzes, manufactures, and maintains mechanical systems.
• Research, plans, designs, and develops mechanical products and systems.
• Maintain and instruct use of clean room equipment.
• Research and evaluate new technologies and methods for clean room and 3d printing.
• Some project travel may occur.

Benefits

• health insurance
• flexible work schedules
• medical insurance
• dental insurance
• vision insurance
• robust telehealth care options
• several mental health benefits
• free wellness coaching
• health savings account
• flexible spending accounts
• basic life insurance
• disability insurance
• employee assistance program
• business travel insurance
• tuition assistance
• relocation
• backup childcare
• legal benefits
• supplemental parental bonding leave
• surrogacy and adoption assistance
• fertility support
• company-funded pension plan
• 401 (k) savings plan with company match
• 120 vacation hours per year
• ten paid holidays per year

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level