Posting Title

Materials Scientist for High Temperature Processes

Location

CO - Golden

Position Type

Regular

Hours Per Week

Working at NLR

NLR is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development.

Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NLR stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth.

At NLR, you'll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.

Job Description

We seek a subject-matter expert and hands-on experimental researcher across a broad range of materials science topics. The primary focus is to characterize the chemical, physical, and microstructural evolution of materials in high-temperature processes, including iron ore and critical materials reduction, alloying and steelmaking, and molten-salt electrochemistry. The researcher will also develop novel techniques to solve challenging industrial problems in materials processing. Core responsibilities include project ideation, proposal development, and partner relationship management. A demonstrated record of safe research conduct is essential, including experience managing laboratories dedicated to high-temperature work.

Key Responsibilities

Co-lead a project investigating the physical, thermal, and chemical properties of low-sulfur coke to improve steelmaking quality for electric arc furnaces.
Lead nanotomographic characterization of samples at staged reduction (ore to metal) to identify microstructural changes that affect final properties.
Characterize products from molten-salt electrochemical processes, including carbon deposition and carbide formation in mild steels subjected to molten-salt treatments.
Evaluate and mitigate corrosion in molten-salt systems, including chloride salts.
Lead proposal development and partnership building in metallurgy, electrochemistry, and advanced processing.

Basic Qualifications

Relevant PhD . Or, relevant Master's Degree and 3 or more years of experience . Or, relevant Bachelor's Degree and 5 or more years of experience . Demonstrates complete understanding and wide application of scientific technical procedures, principles, theories and concepts in the field. General knowledge of other related disciplines. Demonstrates leadership in one or more areas of team, task or project lead responsibilities. Demonstrated experience in management of projects. Very good technical writing, interpersonal and communication skills.

* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

The successful candidate must demonstrate expertise in:

· High-temperature synthetic chemistry; molten-salt electrochemistry; inorganic chemistry; thermodynamics and kinetics; degradation mechanisms (e.g., corrosion, chemical changes); and analytical characterization (SEM/EDS/EBSD with sample preparation, nanoCT/tomography, XRD with Rietveld refinement, optical microscopy including etching, polarized light, and digital image analysis).

· Thermochemical modeling using FactSage and HSC Chemistry.

· Record of peer-reviewed publications relevant to this role.

· Ability to work independently and take initiative; design high-quality research projects; analyze, interpret, and clearly communicate experimental results.

· Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills with a strong record of contributions to the field.

· Teamwork, mentorship, project management, and leadership; proven ability to participate in, facilitate, and lead collaborations across diverse, interdisciplinary teams; ability to foster inclusive teamwork and amplify the unique talents and innovative ideas of collaborators from varied backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

· Experience collaborating with large, interdisciplinary teams.

· Demonstrated leadership skills.

· Experience establishing new laboratory capabilities.

* Mentorship and/or teaching experience

Job Application Submission Window

The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.

Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)

Job Profile: Researcher III / Annual Salary Range: $83,600 - $150,500

NLR takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.

Benefits Summary

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short*- and long-term disability insurance; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; paid holidays; and tuition reimbursement*. NLR employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement. Limited-term positions are not eligible for long-term disability or tuition reimbursement.

* Based on eligibility rules

Badging Requirement

NLR is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation.

Drug Free Workplace

NLR is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.

If you are offered employment at NLR, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

Submission Guidelines

Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NLR you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Reasonable Accommodations

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