Postdoctoral Appointee-Machine Learning / Neuromorphic Computing

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 vacations, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

We are seeking a dedicated Postdoctoral Appointee to join the Cognitive & Emerging Computing team to explore, study and develop neuromorphic algorithms, methods, and machine learning approaches for solving complex real-world problems. In our department, we perform high-level R&D in neuromorphic computing, machine learning, and spiking neural networks for a variety of application domains from across the larger laboratories complex. Working from fundamental theory to applied neuromorphic research, we work to increase capabilities, understanding, and efficiency in domains such as high energy physics, scientific computing, edge computing, brain-inspired algorithms, and natural language/document processing.

The successful candidate will join our fun and interdisciplinary team of computer scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and neuroscientists and will work closely alongside an assigned mentor. Sandia has fantastic opportunities for internal career advancement and to learn from and collaborate with a large number of experienced scientists and engineers.

A strong basis in one of fundamental theory (e.g., mathematics, theoretical neuroscience, computer science), practical machine learning (e.g., convolutional neural networks, attention-based methods, language models), neuromorphic algorithms or hardware (e.g., AI/ML accelerators, spiking neural networks, neuromorphic accelerators) or relevant applications (edge computing, high energy physics, scientific computing, machine learning) is a necessity.

We work on a varied set of problems. Example responsibilities could include:

• Develop and extend machine learning or neuromorphic algorithms
• Program and test algorithms on neuromorphic and AI accelerator hardware
• Design novel energy-efficient computing architectures.
• Apply existing state-of-the-art methods to domain data
• Explore deployment characteristic using both Sandia-developed and open-sourced tools
• Research theoretical principles and model interpretability/model introspection
• Develop software demonstrations of recent results/methods
• Engage with the community for conferences, workshops, proposals and outreach
• Develop and support open-source research software packages
• Publish research results in high-quality journals and competitive conference venues

• Possess, or are pursuing, a PhD in computer science, mathematics, theoretical neuroscience, physics, computer engineering, electrical engineering or a relevant field conferred within five years prior to employment
• Experience with theoretical or practical aspects of either neuromorphic hardware, neuromorphic algorithms, or machine learning
• Experience in a common programming language such as Python or C
• Able to acquire and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance

• Interest in developing neural-inspired and cutting-edge machine learning algorithms (e.g. deep/convolutional neural networks, spiking neural networks, bayesian neural networks) or in the deployment and application of such algorithms
• Experience with specialized computational architectures such as GPUs, FPGAs, neuromorphic processors, or machine learning accelerators.
• Experience with neural network modeling languages (PyTorch, Tensorflow, Keras, etc) or neural modeling languages
• Prior research peer-reviewed publications are highly desirable
• Desire to work as part of a collaborative, multi-discinplinary team

Cognitive & Emerging Computing 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.

Our team is committed to nurturing environment compatible with a broad group of people and perspectives in accordance with the changing makeup of the workforce. In support of this vision, we actively recruit applicants from diverse groups of backgrounds and fosters an inclusive community. Join us and work towards your goals while making a difference!

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) 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 postdoctoral position is a temporary position for up to one year, which may be renewed at Sandia's discretion up to five additional years. The PhD must have been conferred within five years prior to employment.

Individuals in postdoctoral 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.