Overview:
At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments that we refer to as Directorates within the Lab, focused on a specific area of scientific research or other function, with its own leadership team and dedicated budget.
Our Science & Technology directorates include National Security, Integrated Discovery Sciences, and Energy and Environment. In addition, we have an Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus.
The National Security Directorate (NSD) drives science-based, mission-focused solutions to take on complex, real-world threats to our nation and the world.
The AI and Data Analytics Division, part of NSD, combines profound domain expertise and creative integration of advanced hardware and software to deliver computational solutions that address complex data and analytic challenges. Working in multidisciplinary teams, we connect foundational research to engineering to operations, providing the tools to innovate quickly and field results faster. Our strengths are integrated across the data analytics lifecycle, from data acquisition and management to analysis and decision support.
Rockstar Rewards:
Employees and their families are offered medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, robust telehealth care options, several mental health benefits, free wellness coaching, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, basic life insurance, disability insurance*, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, tuition assistance, relocation, backup childcare, legal benefits, supplemental parental bonding leave, surrogacy and adoption assistance, and fertility support. Employees are automatically enrolled in our company-funded pension plan* and may enroll in our 401 (k) savings plan with company match*. Employees may accrue up to 120 vacation hours per year and may receive ten paid holidays per year.
- Research Associates excluded.
**All benefits are dependent upon eligibility.
Click Here For Rockstar Rewards
Responsibilities:
We are seeking a talented Senior Full-Stack Product Engineer to help design and build the human-facing layer for next-generation AI systems at PNNL. You will create intuitive, trustworthy experiences that help people work with complex data, dynamic content, and user-facing AI agents.
You will work end-to-end with researchers, designers, software engineers, mission experts, and end users—from product discovery and interaction design through implementation, evaluation, deployment, and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities:
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Build production web applications and reusable interfaces using React, TypeScript and/or JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
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Work across the stack as needed, including APIs, data services, application state, integrations, testing, deployment, and operational improvement.
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Translate ambiguous mission and user needs into prioritized, executable product plans; make practical tradeoffs among user value, complexity, schedule, performance, accessibility, security, and maintainability.
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Design AI-assisted and human-in-the-loop workflows that provide users with appropriate control, feedback, transparency, and opportunities to review or correct generated results.
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Own features and workstreams through the full software-development lifecycle and contribute improvements to shared components, design systems, engineering practices, and standards.
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Mentor junior and associate engineers through pairing, code and design review, documentation, and technical guidance.
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Contribute technical content to proposals and white papers, help scope new work, and support sponsor relationships.
This position is based in Richland, WA and requires an onsite presence.
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications:
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PhD and 1 year of Software Engineering experience -OR-
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MS/MA and 3 years of Software Engineering experience -OR-
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BS/BA and 5 years of Software Engineering experience -OR
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AA and 14 years of Software Engineering experience in designing, architecting, programming, deploying, and automating software solutions in support of scientific research or consumer digital product development -OR-
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HS/GED and 16 years of Software Engineering experience in designing, architecting, programming, deploying, and automating software solutions in support of scientific research or consumer digital product development
Preferred Qualifications:
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Experience translating ambiguous or loosely defined problems into actionable, prioritized roadmaps, including scoping minimum viable products and adapting plans as requirements change.
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Experience mentoring junior engineers and fostering their growth through pair programming, code and design reviews, and technical guidance.
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Experience developing accessible, responsive, and performant web applications with reusable UI components, integrating frontend with APIs, and supporting specialized user needs.
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Experience building, extending, and integrating backend services and APIs to power user-facing products, as well as handling application state, asynchronous data, and dynamic content.
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Experience applying user-centered design practices such as requirements gathering, prototyping, usability testing, and iterative development, including creating interfaces for AI-assisted workflows and analytical communities.
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Experience utilizing modern frontend tooling and AI-assisted development tools, ensuring code correctness, maintainability, and security, and writing automated tests for UI, components, and integrations.
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Experience contributing technical content to proposals, white papers, or new-work scoping
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Demonstrated continuous learning and technical community engagement through open-source contributions, maintained repositories, technical writing, presentations, conference participation, or self-initiated projects exploring emerging technologies
Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment:
Not applicable.
Additional Information:
This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.
A security clearance background investigation includes review of your employment, education, financial, and criminal history, as well as interviews with you and your personal references, neighbors, and co-workers to determine trustworthiness, reliability, and loyalty to the United States. The investigation also examines your foreign connections, drug and alcohol use, foreign influence, and overall conduct.
Requirements:
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U.S. Citizenship
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Background Investigation: Applicants selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter in accordance with 10 CFR 710, Appendix B.
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Drug Testing: All Security Clearance positions are Testing Designated Positions, which means that the applicant selected for hire is subject to pre-employment drug testing, and post-employment random drug testing. In addition, applicants must be able to demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the requisite Questionnaire for National Security Positions (QNSP).
Note: Applicants will be considered ineligible for security clearance processing by the U.S. Department of Energy if non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for 12 months cannot be demonstrated.
“Referral Eligible”
Testing Designated Position (TDP):
This position is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). The candidate selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing for illegal drugs, including marijuana, consistent with the Controlled Substances Act and the PNNL Workplace Substance Abuse Program.
About PNNL:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a world-class research institution powered by a highly educated, diverse workforce committed to the values of Integrity, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Courage. Every year, scores of dynamic, driven people come to PNNL to work with renowned researchers on meaningful science, innovations and outcomes for the U.S. Department of Energy and other sponsors; here is your chance to be one of them!
At PNNL, you will find an exciting research environment and excellent benefits including health insurance, and flexible work schedules. PNNL is located in eastern Washington State—the dry side of Washington known for its stellar outdoor recreation and affordable cost of living. The Lab’s campus is only a 45-minute flight (or ~3 hour drive) from Seattle or Portland, and is serviced by the convenient PSC airport, connected to 8 major hubs.
Commitment to Excellence and Equal Employment Opportunity:
Our laboratory is committed to fostering a work environment where all individuals are treated with fairness and respect while solving critical challenges in fundamental sciences, national security, and energy resiliency. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. PNNL considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), protected veteran status, and any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local laws.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures and in employment. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, contact us at
[email protected].
Drug Free Workplace:
PNNL is committed to a drug-free workplace supported by Workplace Substance Abuse Program (WSAP) and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs.
If you are offered employment at PNNL, you must pass a drug test prior to commencing employment. PNNL complies with federal law regarding illegal drug use. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug. If you test positive for any illegal controlled substance, including marijuana, your offer of employment will be withdrawn.
HSPD-12 PIV Credential Requirement:
As a national laboratory, PNNL is responsible for adhering to the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which require new employees to obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 Personal Identify Verification (PIV) Credential. To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete the applicable tier of federal background investigation post hire and receive a favorable federal adjudication. The tier of federal background investigation will be determined by job duties and national security or public trust responsibilities associated with the job. All tiers of investigation include a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last 1 to 7 years (depending on the applicable tier of investigation). Illegal drug activities include marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.
For foreign national candidates:
If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) Federal risk determination to maintain employment. Once you meet the three-year residency requirement thereafter, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment. The tier of federal background investigation required to obtain the PIV credential will be determined by job duties at the time you become eligible for the PIV credential.
