ResponsibilitiesWe are seeking a
Senior Software Engineer to join PNNL's advanced SI engineering team and help build next-generation systems across agentic SI platforms, large-scale data orchestration, and real-time intelligence processing. You'll design scalable, mission-critical solutions while mentoring others and shaping technical direction.
Who You Are:An accomplished engineer with strong foundations in scalable system design, SI/ML development, and production software. You're ready to lead complex system components, mentor junior engineers, and turn technical requirements into working solutions.
What You'll Build:- SI Systems: Agentic SI, LLM orchestration (LangChain, LlamaIndex), MLOps pipelines, and multi-modal data integration
- Scalable Infrastructure: Microservices, real-time streaming, large scale ETL pipelines, and Kubernetes deployments
- Production Systems: Monitoring/observability, secure & edge deployments, geospatial and time-series processing
- Technical Leadership: Lead project components, mentor staff, drive design decisions, and support proposals
What You Bring:- Engineering: Strong Python plus one other language (.NET/C#, Go, C++, Rust); solid CS fundamentals (object-oriented design, design patterns, data structures, algorithms, and clean code practices), Git, testing (TDD), CI/CD, and SI-assisted development tools (Copilot, Claude, Cursor)
- SI/ML: Understanding of the ML lifecycle, model serving, and production integration via APIs
- Cloud Native: Hands-on experience with AWS/Azure/GCP, Docker/Kubernetes, event-driven & microservice architectures, API design (REST, GraphQL, gRPC), and SQL/NoSQL databases
- Data Engineering: ETL/ELT pipelines, distributed processing (Spark, Kafka, Flink, Ray), cloud storage, and data modeling at scale
- Collaboration: Strong communication and engagement with cross-functional teams, Agile experience, mentorship, and pragmatic delivery
National Interest Project Examples:- Detect and prevent smuggling of drugs and contraband at ports of entry [Link]
- Develop large data pipelines to thwart funding for terrorists, nuclear proliferators, drug cartels, and rogue leaders [Link]
- Applying big data solutions to national security problems [Link]
- Applying image classification for nuclear forensics analysis [Link]
- Develop capabilities for scalable geospatial analytics [Link]
Read more about the AI & Data Analytics division: https://www.pnnl.gov/ai-and-data-analytics
This position is based in Richland, WA or Seattle, WA and requires onsite presence Monday through Thursday, with Friday as needed based on business needs.QualificationsMinimum Qualifications:
- PhD and 1 year of Software Engineering experience -OR-
- MS/MA and 3 years of Software Engineering experience -OR-
- BS/BA and 5 years of Software Engineering experience -OR
- 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-
- 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
- Current, hands-on software development experience using Python
Preferred Qualifications:
- Degree in computer science, software engineering, or related field
- Expertise in Python and proficiency in at least one other language (Java, C#/.NET, C++, Go, Rust)
- Ability to contribute to technical direction and independently structure complex problems into actionable work, in collaboration with senior engineers and cross-functional teams
- Experience designing or implementing components of large-scale ETL pipelines and analytics systems (petabyte-scale experience valued)
- Experience contributing to Cloud-native system design: API and microservice architecture, DevOps, containerization and orchestration (Docker/Kubernetes), infrastructure as code, and full-stack observability (logging, metrics, tracing)
- Active technical community engagement demonstrated through meaningful open-source contributions, maintained GitHub repositories, technical blog posts or presentations, conference participation, mentoring activities, or self-initiated projects exploring emerging technologies that showcase continuous learning and passion for the engineering craft
Hazardous Working Conditions/EnvironmentNot Applicable
Additional InformationThis position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.
"Referral Eligible"
Rockstar RewardsEmployees 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 ApplicantsPNNL 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 SalaryUSD $133,100.00/Yr.
Maximum SalaryUSD $210,400.00/Yr.
