Research Scientist II - Instrumentation Development

• Early level, career-track position for professionals with complete understanding and wide application of the concepts, principles, and theories in a limited field of expertise, with general knowledge of related disciplines. Under minimum supervision, performs independent scientific inquiry or engineering development in self-directed programs or programs that may have been formulated by more senior staff. Develops and operates highly specialized equipment or advanced methods. Independently plans and completes small projects. Contributes to large projects, choosing appropriate methods. Develops solutions to complex problems that require regular use of ingenuity and creativity. Contributes to project/program completion. Exercises significant impact on program results. Interacts primarily with work group but may collaborate with colleagues in other departments or at other institutions. May assist in preparing funding proposals.

Job Description

The Instrumentation Department at Brookhaven National Laboratory develops state-of-the-art instrumentation to enable forefront experimental research programs. The department maintains expertise and facilities in specialized high-technology areas, including radiation detectors, advanced sensor systems, and readout electronics. Its work supports major scientific initiatives at BNL and has broad impact on national and international programs that rely on cutting-edge instrumentation.

Position Description

The Research Scientist 2 (RS2) will contribute to the development of advanced instrumentation systems for scientific and national security applications within the Instrumentation Department. The candidate will engage in the full lifecycle of detector development, including modeling and simulation, system design, experimental characterization, and data analysis. This role emphasizes integration of simulation and experimental workflows to enable the development of novel, multipurpose detection systems.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct independent research in the development of radiation and optical detection systems, including semiconductor and scintillator-based technologies.
• Develop and apply modeling and simulation tools to inform detector design and interpret experimental results.
• Design, build, and operate experimental setups for detector characterization and validation.
• Integrate detector systems with data acquisition, control, and analysis frameworks.
• Execute end-to-end development workflows linking simulation, prototyping, and experimental validation.
• Contribute to development of cross-cutting instrumentation applicable to fundamental science, national security, and applied domains.
• Independently plan and execute small research projects while contributing to larger multi-institutional efforts.
• Analyze complex datasets and translate results into improved detector performance.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners across DOE laboratories, universities, and agencies.
• Contribute to technical reports, publications, and funding proposals

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• PhD in physics, nuclear engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field
• Experience in radiation detection systems and detector physics
• Demonstrated experience in both modeling/simulation and experimental characterization
• Experience with data acquisition systems, instrumentation control, and data analysis
• Ability to work across the full detector development lifecycle
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to develop innovative technical solutions
• Effective communication and collaboration skills

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Experience with semiconductor detectors (e.g., HPGe, silicon detectors)
• Experience with radiation transport simulation tools (e.g., Geant4)
• Background in neutrino, nuclear, or particle physics instrumentation
• Familiarity with national security or nonproliferation applications
• Experience in DOE laboratory environments or large collaborations
• Experience integrating simulation and experimental design (model-experiment feedback loop)
• Experience contributing to proposal development or funded programs

Environmental, Health & Safety Requirements:

• Work in laboratory environments involving electronic equipment, radiation detection systems, and experimental setups
• Adherence to BNL safety protocols and training requirements
• Ability to safely handle instrumentation and laboratory equipment

Other Information:

• This is a 2-year term, full-time position based at Brookhaven National Laboratory
• Work arrangement: on-site
• Some travel may be required for collaboration meetings and experimental work
• The position is supported by a combination of programmatic funding, including contributions from the National Security Program Office and DARPA-supported research activities
• Participation in multidisciplinary and multi-institutional collaborations is expected

Candidates must have received a Ph.D. by the commencement of employment.