Los Alamos National Laboratory

Computer Scientist (Scientist 1/2)

Los Alamos National Laboratory$96K — $176K *
Information Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in a STEM field
  • 2-4 years of relevant experience depending on level
  • Proficient in SQL and Python
  • Experience with relational/non-relational databases
  • Strong problem-solving and communication skills

Responsibilities

  • Support design and maintenance of database systems
  • Develop and improve data pipelines for various datasets
  • Facilitate AI/ML applications by preparing datasets
  • Implement data storage and retrieval solutions
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance data solutions
  • Maintain data integrity and security
  • Support visualization and reporting tools for analytical insights

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) plan with matching contributions
  • Paid parental leave
  • Tuition assistance for further education
  • Flexible scheduling and paid time off
  • Onsite wellness programs and gyms
  • Relocation assistance for long-distance moves
Full Job Description
Description

Job Title Computer Scientist (Scientist 1/2)

Location Los Alamos, NM, US

Organization Name W-9/Weapons Systems Surveillance

Minimum Salary

Maximum Salary

What You Will Do

This position is open for external candidates only to apply.

This position will be filled at either the Scientist 1 or 2 level, depending on the skills of the selected candidate. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level.

Scientist 1 $96,600- $158,000

Scientist 2 $106,400- $176,000

This role will support the development of next-generation digital systems designed to integrate, structure, and analyze large-scale engineering and surveillance datasets. The selected candidate will help enable predictive insight, risk-informed decision-making, and long-term mission assurance.
The ideal candidate is passionate about building robust data architectures, enabling AI/ML workflows, and solving complex engineering data challenges in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment

Key Responsibilities
  • Support the design, development, and maintenance of database systems for engineering and surveillance data
  • Develop, maintain, or improve data pipelines to ingest, clean, structure, validate, and integrate datasets from multiple sources
  • Support AI/ML and advanced analytics applications by preparing, organizing, and improving datasets for predictive modeling, reporting, or analysis
  • Assist with implementing efficient data storage, retrieval, and query solutions for technical datasets
  • Collaborate with engineers, analysts, and scientists to develop integrated data solutions supporting predictive surveillance and system health monitoring
  • Develop or maintain tools and workflows to correlate data across components, assemblies, and assets
  • Support data integrity, security, accessibility, and long-term maintainability of database systems
  • Support visualization, reporting, and analytical tools that enable actionable technical insight


What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

Data Systems and Database Design
Experience designing, developing, managing, or optimizing relational and/or non-relational database systems, including data modeling, schema design, query development, indexing, and performance tuning.

Programming and Data Pipeline Development
Proficiency with SQL and Python, with experience developing automated data pipelines, ETL/ELT workflows, data integration processes, or model-ready datasets.

AI/ML and Advanced Analytics Enablement
Familiarity with AI/ML workflows, predictive analytics environments, feature engineering, or data preparation practices that support advanced modeling and analysis.

Complex Technical Data Integration
Experience working with large, complex, or heterogeneous technical datasets, including engineering, scientific, manufacturing, test, surveillance, or system health data.

Collaboration and Communication
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary technical teams across engineering, science, analytics, and software disciplines.

Additional Job Requirements for Scientist 2:

In addition to the requirements outlined above, qualification at Level 2 requires:
  • Technical Leadership: Experience leading complex technical projects, guiding technical direction, and making independent decisions related to database architecture, data integration, or analytical infrastructure
  • Advanced System Architecture: Experience designing scalable, reliable, secure, and maintainable data systems that integrate information across multiple sources
  • Strategic Data Integration: Experience developing strategies to integrate diverse engineering, scientific, surveillance, or operational datasets in support of analytics, reporting, and decision-making
  • Mentorship and Team Coordination: Experience mentoring staff, coordinating multidisciplinary technical teams, and communicating technical recommendations to leadership, customers, or stakeholders
  • Innovation and Capability Development: Experience identifying, evaluating, and implementing data engineering tools, methods, or technologies that improve analytical capability, workflow efficiency, or mission outcomes

Education/Experience at the Level 1: Position requires a Bachelor's d degree in a STEM field from an accredited college or university and 2 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Education/Experience at the Level 2: Positions requires a Bachelor' degree in a STEM field from an accredited college and university and 4 years of related experience, typically with post-doctoral research experience at a university or national lab or equivalent experience directly related to the occupation.

Desired Qualifications:
  • Experience in one or more of the following areas is especially valuable:
  • Database platforms such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Neo4j, or similar technologies
  • Python data tools such as Pandas, NumPy, SQLAlchemy, PySpark, or related libraries
  • Data modeling, schema design, indexing, performance tuning, and query optimization
  • Cloud computing, distributed computing, or high-performance computing environments
  • AI/ML data preparation, feature engineering, or model-ready dataset development
  • Integration of engineering, scientific, manufacturing, test, or surveillance datasets
  • Version control and collaborative development tools such as Git
  • Visualization, dashboarding, or reporting platforms
  • Education or training in computer science, software engineering, data science, information technology, computer engineering, cybersecurity, cloud computing, database systems, or a related technical field
  • Oracle Certified Professional
  • Microsoft Certified - Azure Database Administrator Associate
  • Active Q clearance, or the ability to obtain an active Q clearance

Work Location : The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.

Position commitment: Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position in order to be eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the time required, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. The position commitment for this position is 1 year.

Note to Applicants:

  • For full consideration, applicants must submit a resume and comprehensive cover letter addressing each key requirement of this position.

Where You Will Work

Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:
  • PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network
  • Dental and vision insurance
  • Free basic life and disability insurance
  • Paid childbirth and parental leave
  • Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
  • Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
  • Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)
  • Onsite gyms and wellness programs
  • Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)


Additional Details

Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2 . Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.

Clearance: Q (Position will be cleared to this level). Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government, and must meet eligibility requirements* for access to classified matter. This position requires a Q clearance, and obtaining such clearance requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Dependent upon the position, additional authorization to access classified information may be required, which may or may not be available to dual citizens. Receipt of a Q clearance and additional access authorization ultimately is a decision of the Federal Government and not of Triad.

*Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order 472.2 for

New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.

Employment Status Full Time

Appointment Type Regular

Regular

Contact Details

Contact Name Robinson, Loren

Email [email protected]

Work Telephone

About Los Alamos National Laboratory

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a United States Department of Energy national laboratory initially organized during World War II for the design of nuclear weapons as part of the Manhattan Project. It is located a short distance northwest of Santa Fe, New Mexico in the southwestern United States. LANL conducts research in fields such as national security, space exploration, renewable energy, medicine, nanotechnology, and supercomputing. It is the largest institution of its kind in the world. LANL is managed and operated by Triad National Security, LLC, which is composed of Battelle Memorial Institute, the University of California, and the Texas A&M University System.
Learn more about Los Alamos National Laboratory
Size
12,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1943

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