Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Electrical and Electromechanical Systems Engineer III

Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • BS/BA in engineering or related field with 5+ years experience OR MS/MA with 3+ years OR PhD with 1+ year experience.
  • Experience in designing and troubleshooting control systems or instrumentation hardware.
  • Hands-on experience with prototype wiring, sensors, and electrical safety practices.
  • Knowledge of electromechanical systems including gas handling and automation.
  • Ability to develop troubleshooting plans and data reviews.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and maintain technical documentation for instrumentation systems.
  • Design and troubleshoot hardware for integrated gas-processing systems.
  • Conduct troubleshooting of electrical circuits and wiring in lab settings.
  • Support assembly and deployment of electromechanical systems.
  • Analyze data to improve system performance and identify failure modes.
  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to achieve technical objectives.
  • Prepare technical reports and documentation for reviews.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
  • Robust mental health support and telehealth options.
  • Tuition assistance and relocation support.
  • Automatic enrollment in a company-funded pension plan.
  • Generous vacation and paid holidays.
Full Job Description
Responsibilities

The Disruptive Technology group is seeking an Electrical and Electromechanical Systems Engineer III with electrical engineering and electromechanical systems experience to support hardware development, integration, troubleshooting, and deployment of complex measurement systems.

This role will also support nuclear event monitoring and related deployable measurement-system activities, including next-generation in-field gas analysis systems for detection and characterization of radioactive noble gases.

The successful candidate will be expected to learn the technical mission area, execute hands-on engineering work, and grow into a project-facing technical contributor who can interact with sponsors and support higher-level technical planning.

Key Responsibilities:
  • Develop, review, and maintain electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, interface definitions, and configuration-controlled technical documentation for prototype and deployed instrumentation systems.
  • Design, implement, and troubleshoot control-system hardware for integrated gas-processing systems.
  • Troubleshoot low-voltage and high-voltage electrical circuits, instrument wiring, sensor interfaces, power distribution, grounding, noise, and system integration issues in laboratory and deployment-like environments.
  • Support electromechanical system development, assembly, verification, commissioning, field-readiness activities, field deployment support, and post-test troubleshooting.
  • Connect measurement-system needs with practical engineering outputs, including subsystem requirements, test plans, acceptance criteria, and corrective-action recommendations.
  • Analyze operational and experimental data to diagnose system performance, identify failure modes, and recommend design or process improvements.
  • Contribute to automation, maintainability, throughput, consumables reduction, and measurement-efficiency improvements for next-generation deployable detection systems.
  • Coordinate with scientists, software engineers, mechanical engineers, technicians, project managers, and sponsors to deliver safe, reliable, and mission-relevant technical outcomes.
  • Prepare figures, test summaries, engineering notes, technical reports, and presentation materials for internal project reviews, sponsor discussions, and technical decision-making.
  • Operate with high standards for quality, safety, security, conduct of research, and protection of sensitive information.


This position is based in Richland, WA and requires an onsite presence Monday through Friday.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:
  • BS/BA and 5+ years of relevant work experience -OR-
  • MS/MA and 3+ years of relevant work experience -OR-
  • PhD with 1+ year of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Systems Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Physics, or a closely related field.
  • Experience designing, documenting, integrating, and troubleshooting control systems or instrumentation hardware.
  • Hands-on experience with prototype wiring, sensors, signal conditioning, DAQ interfaces, power supplies, relays, interlocks, electrical safety practices, and laboratory troubleshooting.
  • Working knowledge of electromechanical systems involving gas handling, vacuum systems, compressors, valves, detectors, embedded controllers, PLCs, or automated test systems.
  • Ability to translate ambiguous system behavior into structured troubleshooting plans, test procedures, data reviews, and corrective actions.
  • Experience supporting fieldable or deployable systems, including configuration management, maintainability, verification, and operational-readiness activities.
  • Competence with data analysis or scripting tools such as Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, or equivalent tools.
  • Interest in advancing measurement systems through practical use of automation, AI/ML-enabled diagnostics where appropriate, new sensors, and emerging technologies.
  • Demonstrated strong written and verbal communication skills, including ability to explain technical findings to project teams, sponsors, and non-specialist stakeholders.
  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary science and engineering teams.

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:
  • U.S. Citizenship


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

Notice to Applicants

PNNL lists the full pay range for the position in the job posting. Starting pay is calculated from the minimum of the pay range and actual placement in the range is determined based on an individual's relevant job-related skills, qualifications, and experience. This approach is applicable to all positions, with the exception of positions governed by collective bargaining agreements and certain limited-term positions which have specific pay rules.

As part of our commitment to fair compensation practices, we do not ask for or consider current or past salaries in making compensation offers at hire. Instead, our compensation offers are determined by the specific requirements of the position, prevailing market trends, applicable collective bargaining agreements, pay equity for the position type, and individual qualifications and skills relevant to the performance of the position.

Minimum Salary

USD $122,100.00/Yr.
Maximum Salary

USD $193,000.00/Yr.

About Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a United States Department of Energy national laboratory that conducts research and development in areas including energy, environment, and national security. PNNL is operated by Battelle Memorial Institute and is located in Richland, Washington. The laboratory was established in 1965 as the Battelle Northwest Laboratory and was renamed to its current name in 1997. PNNL has a staff of over 4,000 scientists, engineers, and support staff, and has an annual budget of over $1 billion. The laboratory has been involved in a number of high-profile projects, including the development of the first artificial heart and the cleanup of the Hanford Site, a decommissioned nuclear production complex.
Learn more about Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Size
5,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1965

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