Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Technical Project Manager, Software Engineer and AI

Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • BS/BA with 9+ years or MS/MA with 7+ years of project management experience
  • Experience in managing software engineering, analytics, AI/ML, or data science projects
  • Degree in computer science, data science, information technology, or related field preferred
  • Demonstrated success working with cross-functional teams
  • Proficiency in agile methodologies and tools like Jira and Confluence
  • Strong stakeholder communication and sponsor engagement abilities
  • PMP certification is a plus

Responsibilities

  • Lead software implementation projects from concept to sustained operation
  • Oversee integrated planning including scope, schedule, budget, and governance
  • Apply agile practices for iterative software delivery and experimentation
  • Collaborate with technical teams to resolve issues and align on objectives
  • Maintain project documentation in Jira/Confluence
  • Identify and mitigate risks related to technical execution and compliance
  • Serve as the main point of contact for stakeholders on project progress

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Robust telehealth and mental health options
  • Tuition assistance and relocation support
  • Backup childcare and legal benefits
  • Pension plan and 401(k) with company match
  • Accrual of up to 120 vacation hours per year
  • Ten paid holidays per year
Full Job Description
Responsibilities

We are seeking an experienced Technical Project Manager to lead software implementation projects from conception through operations and sustainment. The ideal candidate brings national security domain knowledge, software engineering or data science expertise, and proficiency in agile project management, with proven ability to manage scope, schedule, budget, and stakeholder expectations.

Key Responsibilities:
  • Lead project execution across software engineering, data science, and AI/ML initiatives from initiation through deployment, operations transition, and sustainment handoff
  • Own integrated planning and controls-scope, schedule, budget, milestones, resourcing, and governance-delivering clear, actionable status reporting and documented decisions
  • Apply agile practices to support iterative software delivery, data science experimentation, and development cycles
  • Partner with Technical Leads, Architects, Principal Investigators, Data Scientists, and SMEs to drive execution, resolve blockers, and align technical decisions with program objectives
  • Maintain project artifacts in Jira/Confluence (backlogs, roadmaps, decision logs, action items, dependency tracking)
  • Identify and mitigate risks and issues across scope, technical execution, data quality, model performance, ML-Ops readiness, security/compliance, and deployment
  • Serve as primary stakeholder interface, translating mission objectives into executable plans and managing expectations on progress, risks, and tradeoffs
  • Experience with National Security or federal government projects


This position is based in Richland, WA or Seattle, WA and requires an onsite presence.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:
  • BS/BA and 9+ years of relevant project management experience -OR-
  • MS/MA or higher and 7+ years of relevant project management experience
  • Experience managing software engineering, analytics, AI/ML, or data science projects in technically complex environments, including experimentation, validation, deployment, and operationalization

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Degree in computer science, data science, information technology, engineering, or related technical field
  • Demonstrated success with cross-functional teams (software engineers, data scientists, researchers, SMEs)
  • Proficiency with agile delivery methods and project tracking tools (Jira, Confluence)
  • Proven ability developing and managing project schedules, budgets, dependencies, and delivery metrics
  • Strong sponsor engagement and stakeholder communication skills
  • Solid analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and collaboration capabilities
  • PMP certification

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
  • 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.
  • 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.

Testing Designated Position

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.

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 $140,200.00/Yr.
Maximum Salary

USD $228,800.00/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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