Early Career Software Engineer

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is seeking an early career software engineer to join the Software Engineering and Architectures (SEA) team within the National Security Directorate (NSD). The position focuses on designing, building, and improving scalable software systems that support multi-modal intelligence processing and AI-powered intelligence platform capabilities, with mentorship and opportunities for production deployment.

Role Location and Schedule

• Location: Richland, WA 99354 (onsite)
• Onsite schedule: Monday through Thursday, with Friday as required by business needs

Compensation

• Salary: USD 83,100 to 122,100 per year

Core Responsibilities

• Partner with experienced engineers to design, build, and optimize scalable systems for processing multi-modal intelligence data.
• Develop applications that use AI agents and large language models (LLMs), including LLM integrations, evaluation, testing, and foundational MLOps practices.
• Contribute to software that combines multiple sources of intelligence, supports geospatial analysis, and helps users interpret complex information.
• Build and maintain data pipelines, develop analytics workflows, and learn how cloud-native systems process and manage data at scale.
• Participate in code reviews and design discussions; build skills in testing, debugging, documentation, and enterprise software development.
• Receive mentorship, take on growing responsibility, and learn to design, build, deploy, and support production-quality software.
• Support mission-critical AI systems and help build enterprise-scale data platforms, with hands-on experience in intelligence and security applications.

Required Qualifications

• BS/BA or higher
• Hands-on experience building and delivering software applications using Python through professional, internship, academic, or personal projects
• Degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field
• Experience programming in Python, Go, Rust, C#/.NET, or C++
• Strong foundation in software engineering and data management best practices
• Demonstrated communication and collaboration skills
• Technical growth capacity, including at least one cloud platform (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and familiarity with Linux environments
• Working understanding of Git and version control; exposure to CI/CD; familiarity with Agile or Scrum
• Ability to write SQL and familiarity with data modeling, data processing, or data pipeline concepts
• Familiarity with AI coding tools such as Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, or similar tools
• Comfort using AI coding tools to explore code, generate or improve tests, and troubleshoot issues while applying judgment around accuracy, security, code quality, and validation
• Interest in AI/ML, geospatial systems, large-scale data processing, and learning new technologies and domains

Additional Required Position Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship
• Ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance
• 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: This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP), subject to pre-employment drug testing and random drug testing after hire
• Ability to demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the QNSP questionnaire
• Marijuana remains an illegal drug under federal law; positive results for illegal controlled substances may withdraw an employment offer
• PNNL must obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 PIV credential for new employees, which requires completion of the applicable federal background investigation tier post hire and favorable adjudication
• Residency condition 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 a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) federal risk determination to maintain employment

Testing Designated Position (TDP) and Drug-Free Workplace

• This role is a Testing Designated Position (TDP), with pre-employment and random drug testing for illegal drugs, including marijuana.
• PNNL is committed to a drug-free workplace supported by the Workplace Substance Abuse Program (WSAP) and complies with federal laws prohibiting possession and use of illegal drugs.

Technologies and Tools

• Languages/Frameworks: Python, Go, Rust, C#/.NET, C++, AWS, Azure, GCP, Linux
• Development Practices: Git, CI/CD, Agile, Scrum
• Data and Querying: SQL
• AI/ML: AI agents, large language models (LLMs), LLM integrations, MLOps
• AI Coding Tools: Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot
• Domain Focus: geospatial analysis
• Credentialing: HSPD-12 Personal Identify Verification (PIV) Credential

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Robust telehealth care options
• Several mental health benefits
• Free wellness coaching
• Health savings account and flexible spending accounts
• Basic life insurance and disability insurance*
• Employee assistance program
• Business travel insurance
• Tuition assistance and relocation support
• Backup childcare
• Legal benefits
• Supplemental parental bonding leave; surrogacy and adoption assistance
• Fertility support
• Company-funded pension plan* (automatic enrollment)
• 401(k) savings plan with company match*
• Accrue up to 120 vacation hours per year and ten paid holidays per year