Modeling and Simulation of Inertial Confinement
Los Alamos National Laboratory
This job at a glance
- Who can apply
- New grads, no experience needed
- Must know
- PythonC++CData structures & algorithms
- Work
- On-site in Los Alamos
- Pay
- Not stated by the employer.
- Skill demand
- Python46%C++31%Data structures & algorithms17%C12%of 99 similar entry-level jobs posted in the US this week
- Listed
- Nov 10, 2026 · still open
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About the Role
The Eulerian Codes Group (XCP-2) in the X-Computational Physics (XCP) Division is seeking an outstanding candidate for a postdoctoral position in code development and modeling related to plasma physics and Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF). This work will involve contributing to the development of one or more physics packages relevant to ICF modeling as well as utilizing novel capabilities to simulate ICF implosions. XCP-2 supports and develops the xRAGE Radiation-Hydrodynamics Eulerian Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR) code, which is widely used to perform simulations of ICF and High Energy Density Physics (HEDP) experiments.
Key Responsibilities
- Assist in the development of physics models in the xRAGE code.
- Perform validation of physics models and their implementation in the xRAGE code as applied to the simulation of ICF and HEDP experiments.
- Perform detailed code comparisons.
- Work in a team environment with experimentalists and computational scientists.
- Implement models and methods in xRAGE.
- Publish results.
Specific models may include:
- Extended magnetohydrodynamics (for pulsed power experiments)
- Synthetic x-ray, neutron, gamma, and/or radiochemistry diagnostics
- Reduced models for laser-plasma interactions and coupling to hot electron transport
- Monte Carlo charged particle transport (thermonuclear reaction products)
- Multi-temperature multi-species fluid modeling
- Thermal conduction (non-local and coupling to laser physics and magnetohydrodynamics/MHD)
- Non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (nLTE)
- Plasma transport
Requirements & Tech Stack
- PhD in Physics, Astrophysics, Applied Mathematics, Engineering, or related field.
- Solid background in numerical methods and modeling HEDP or related systems.
- Proficiency in Fortran, C/C++, or Python.
- Strong record of publications commensurate with experience.
- Strong oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to obtain a DOE Q Clearance, which typically requires US Citizenship.
Desired Qualifications
- Experience with theoretical or computational plasma physics.
- Experience with magnetohydrodynamics.
- Experience in neutral particle transport and nuclear reactions (nuclear engineering).
- Experience in modeling highly-coupled physics experiments for compressible flows.
- Solid background in numerical methods for solving systems of partial differential equations in fluid dynamics or related fields.
- Experience with massively parallel numerical development and simulation.
- Experience with deploying numerical algorithms to future computing architectures.
- Experience with code development relevant to computational physics.
Education
- A Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, Computational Science, or a closely related field completed within the past five years or soon to be completed.
Work Environment
- Work Location: Onsite in Los Alamos, NM.