The Applied Materials Division (AMD) at Argonne National Laboratory pioneers the development and understanding of materials for service in harsh environments. Argonne has an immediate opening for a Group Leader for the Materials Synthesis and Manufacturing group within the Materials for Harsh Environments Department in AMD. As Group Leader you will play a key role in developing and expanding capabilities for developing processing of materials for applications in harsh environments and characterizing the materials and lab-scale prototypes in relevant environments. In this leadership role, you will collaborate closely with the department manager, division direction, project/thought leaders, and a dedicated team of experts to support the Materials for Harsh Environments Department in pursuing AMD’s missions and strategies. You will act as Principal Investigator to manage and expand a portfolio of research projects, collaborating with researchers at Argonne, universities, and in industry. You will work closely with project leads to plan and execute projects to deliver to stakeholders, including managing budgets and financial responsibilities. You will also support DEIA-related activities and outreach at the lab and will promote project collaboration with other groups at Argonne across divisions. On-site presence is necessary.

In this position, you will:

Lead and manage a dynamic team focused on developing process methods to meet the performance of materials targeted for application in harsh conditions.

Develop a vision and implement a cohesive group research strategy to ensure the success of projects to position the group for future success.

Supervise and guide team members by planning, assigning, and directing their work.

Provide relevant input to assist the Department Manager with staff development while providing direct and impactful guidance to staff on a regular basis.

Participate actively in research activities, including generating ideas, identifying publishing opportunities, and contributing to articles.

Coordinate and collaborate effectively with other AMD managers, initiate proposals, and execute projects to serve multiple sponsors across the diverse spectrum of AMD programs.

Manage the overall operational, budgetary, and financial responsibilities and activities of the team.

Assist staff in setting performance goals consistent with the group’s strategy and members’ long-term career goals. Provide feedback to address performance issues in a timely manner.

Attract a quality, diverse pool of top candidates and hire staff members who are committed to world-class R&D and aspire to be the best in the field.

Lead by example by exercising the ANL core values.

Plan and implement systems that efficiently and effectively fulfill the department and division’s mission and goals.

As a leader of a technical group, supervise and direct/mentor staff for program coordination and development.

Serve as immediate supervisor for staff members in the group.

Advance the reputation of the group members and standing of the group as a whole through establishing collaborations, professional society leadership and involvement, and organizing technical events.

Support group members by consistently reviewing technical products such as proposals, publications, and artifacts to ensure high quality and consistency with ANL standards.

Build strong teams across ANL.

Connect staff to your scientific network and profession societies.

Hold regular scientific/technical group meetings and be visible in the labs and workplace.

Assume front-line responsibility for safety in the group’s lab space and create a strong safety culture.

Support DEIA-related activities and outreach initiatives within the laboratory.

Promote collaboration and synergy by engaging in project collaborations with other groups at Argonne across divisions.

Position Requirements

Ph.D. in Materials Science, Metallurgical Eng., Ceramics, or a related field and 6+ years’ experience.

Knowledge and experience in materials, particularly ceramics, with state-of-the-art knowledge in materials processing, additive manufacturing, mechanical, thermal, and electrochemical property characterizations, and relevant joining/integration techniques.

Knowledge and experience in the selection, fabrication, and advanced characterizations of ceramic/metallic materials and components.

Skills in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with sponsors, with other research scientists, and with support personnel.

A proven record of solving industrially relevant problems by applying materials processing and advanced manufacturing methods.

Skills in problem recognition, developing strategies to solve these problems, analyzing experimental results, and developing new equipment and test facilities or designing/establishing test beds, and establishing specifications for purchase of state-of-the-art commercially available equipment.

Experience leading interdisciplinary research projects and the ability to lead a team involving multi-disciplinary scientists and engineers at all experience levels.

Project management experience/skills and the ability to solve problems independently.

Ability to use independent judgement and to abstract from specific problems to general solutions.

Collaborative skills, including the ability to work well with other scientists and engineers of diverse backgrounds within Argonne, and at other research or industry institutions and organizations.

Skills in conducting fair judgement, organization, and conflict resolution.

Oral and written communication skills and abilities to appropriately communicate organizational information through group meetings, one-on-one engagements, and appropriate email, message, and regular interpersonal communication.

Experience with managing/directing and mentoring scientists.

Knowledge of ANL and DOE policies and procedures.

Ability to model Argonne’s core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork.

Ability to make our laboratory a safe, welcoming, inclusive, and accessible environment where all can thrive.

On-site presence is necessary.

Job Family

Research Development (RD)

Job Profile

Materials/Ceramics/Metallurgical Ldr 1

Worker Type

Regular

Time Type

Full time

As an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. In support of this commitment, Argonne encourages minorities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities to apply for employment. Argonne considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department.  

All Argonne offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes an assessment of criminal conviction history conducted on an individualized and case-by-case basis.  Please be advised that Argonne positions require upon hire (or may require in the future) for the individual be to obtain a government access authorization that involves additional background check requirements.  Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.