Early Career R&D Computer Science - Neuromorphic Computing, Remote

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

Are you passionate about working in collaboration with a highly interdisciplinary team of engineers, neuroscientists, computer scientists, and mathematicians? Our team is seeking support in developing, implementing, optimizing, and characterizing neuromorphic computing applications for national security challenges. Experience with neuromorphic architectures is a necessity. A strong background in theory (e.g., mathematics, theoretical neuroscience, computer science) is strongly preferred.

On any given day, you may be called on to:

• Develop and extend neural-inspired artificial intelligence algorithms.
• Program and test algorithms on neuromorphic and AI accelerator hardware.
• Apply existing state-of-the-art methods and algorithms to domain data.
• Profile and analyze performance characteristics across computing paradigms.
• Support R&D in neuromorphic computing, artificial intelligence, and spiking neural networks for a variety of applications.
• 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.

$102,400 - $199,700

• Salary range is estimated, and actual salary will be determined after consideration of the selected candidate's experience and qualifications, and application of any approved geographic salary differential.

• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, or an equivalent combination of directly relevant education and engineering or scientific experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform independent research and development.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance
  

The ideal R&D S&E Computer Science candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

• Graduate degree in Computer Science or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Demonstrated software development skills and familiarity with modern software development practices and tools (e.g., Agile).
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams, and a passion to improve and expand technical skills.

Also, for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience:

• PhD in computer science, mathematics, theoretical neuroscience, physics, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or a relevant field.
• Experience in developing and optimizing algorithms to neuromorphic architectures (such as Loihi 2, SpiNNaker 2 and Cerebras).
• Evidence of research experience, as demonstrated through publications, technical reports, or other relevant scholarly or professional contributions.
• Experience with theoretical or practical aspects of either neuromorphic algorithms or artificial intelligence.
• Interest in developing neural-inspired and cutting-edge artificial intelligence algorithms (e.g., spiking neural networks, LLMs) or in the deployment and application of such algorithms.
• Familiarity with neuromorphic architectures and algorithms.
• Experience in profiling and benchmarking architecture performance.
• Experience in a common programing language such as Python and C/C++.
• Active DOE Q clearance

The department of Cognitive & Emerging Computing (Org. 01421) pursues foundational research and development of:

• emerging general-purpose energy-efficient and beyond-Moore computing paradigms;
• cognitive, brain-inspired and neuromorphic computing, human-machine interface technologies;
• advanced heterogenous architectures based on integrated commodity components, special purpose accelerators, neural architectures and algorithms.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This Limited Term Employee (LTE) position is a temporary position for one year term, which may be renewed at Sandia's discretion up to a maximum of seven years.

Individuals in LTE 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.