UT-ORII Associate R&D Staff - Nondestructive Testing/Evaluation - Composites Innovation Group

Requisition Id 13968 

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, with an extraordinary 80-year history of solving the nation’s biggest problems. We have a dedicated and creative staff of over 6,200 people! ORNL’s decadal vision for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) is to cultivate an environment and practices that foster diversity in ideas and in the people across the organization, as well as to ensure ORNL is recognized as a workplace of choice. These elements are critical for enabling the execution of ORNL’s broader mission to accelerate scientific discoveries and their translation into energy, environment, and security solutions for the nation. Come join us as we solve the nation's biggest challenges!

PURPOSE: 

We are seeking a researcher who will lead ORNL’s innovation in nondestructive testing and evaluation (NDT/E). You will be expected to leverage ORNL’s signature research strengths in manufacturing, materials formulation, multi-scale modeling and advanced characterization in defining and leading your research. This position will be supported by the University of Tennessee - Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII) and the candidate will be expected to support the institute's education, research, and workforce development mission. You will contribute to research performed at the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF) with access to comprehensive manufacturing capabilities spanning bench scale to industry relevant scale. This position resides in the Composites Innovation Group, Composites Science and Technology Section, Manufacturing Science Division, Energy Science and Technology Directorate (ESTD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).  

OVERVIEW:  

As a member of our research team, your role involves driving advancements in the science and technology that underpin our research and development efforts on the field of advanced NDT/E of composite materials, as well as additive manufacturing. Additionally, you will be actively involved in the creation of in-situ monitoring techniques for advanced composite and high-rate manufacturing processes. Your responsibilities extend to exploring the feasibility of applying scientific principles to the development of novel NDT inventions. This involves innovating and creating sensing and acquisition techniques that not only meet high scientific standards but are also cost-competitive. Furthermore, you are tasked with developing methodologies and strategies to ensure the quality of manufacturing processes and the resulting components. Your work will contribute to maintaining and enhancing the standards of excellence in our research and development endeavors. Expertise in material science, composite manufacturing, additive manufacturing and NDT research is critical for this position. You will be expected to simultaneously develop strategies, shaping new initiatives, leading multiple projects while interacting with ORNL staff, industry and academic partners.

MAJOR DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Develop and manage projects in the area of manufacturing.
• Secure and maintain world class equipment for NDT/E for manufacturing.
• Develop new research and capabilities in NDT/E, metrology, and quality control and inspection of composites processes and manufacturing, and additive manufacturing.
• Formulate and execute an R&D vision in the area of NDT/E for manufacturing especially in composite and additive manufacturing.
• Work with others to maintain a high level of scientific productivity.
• Interact regularly with senior scientists, program managers, group members, and industrial partners, and prepare and present periodic reports documenting research and development.
• Establish ORNL’s reputation in NDT/E of manufacturing processes by publishing results in peer-reviewed journals, presenting in conferences and active participation in relevant societies.
• Maintain strong commitment to the implementation and perpetuation of values and ethics.
• Ensure compliance with environment, safety, health and quality program requirements.
• Deliver ORNL's mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by fostering a respectful workplace- in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science or other related discipline.

PREFFERED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience with a wide range of NDT/E techniques.
• Experience with data analysis related to the integrity of materials and manufacturing processes.
• Experience with material and process technologies, including advanced manufacturing processes, failure analysis, and prevention, material testing and characterization.
• Experience with a variety of advanced manufacturing techniques.
• Familiarity with relevant industry standards and regulations.
• Proven experimental experience in NDT/E, specifically with composite materials.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to communicate in English to an international scientific audience.
• Motivated and safety conscious.
• Ability to set priorities, multi-task and adapt to ever changing needs with the proven ability to function well in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work with a measure of autonomy and a willingness to participate creatively in a collaborative team environment.

• Ability to work on multiple tasks in a limited amount of time and to independently set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks to meet deadlines.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:

Three letters of reference should be provided upon request.

WORK DIRECTION AND INTERFACES: 

Position reports to the Group Leader, Composites Innovation Group and interfaces with administrative staff, managers and visitors to ORNL

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply.  UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.