Entry Level Cyber Security Engineer

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is seeking an entry-level cybersecurity engineer to support the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Office of Radiological Security (ORS) cybersecurity team. This role supports the ORS Prevent mission by designing, deploying, and operating cyber defense systems, while contributing security engineering, testing, and operational support.

Based in Richland, WA, this position is onsite and supports security-focused engineering across information technology and operational technology environments. The salary range for this role is USD 90,600 to 144,700 per year.

What you will do

• Design, deploy, and operate cybersecurity foundations including systems, networks, applications, and tools.
• Provide integration across hardware, software, and other components to address operational challenges for cyber defenders.
• Perform data and systems engineering to support cyber operations, including engineering and deploying security and defensive countermeasures and controls.
• Help ensure operational system security is assessed and included in design and development, including activities such as security requirements definition, systems analysis, systems design, security hardening, security test and evaluation, and certification and accreditation.
• Support operational systems, including activities such as vulnerability scanning and network and system security configuration.
• Contribute to the design and architecture of new approaches, methods, and techniques for cyber defense and resiliency across IT and OT systems and networks.
• May interface with external entities, including law enforcement, intelligence, and other government organizations and agencies.
• Complete project tasking independently and provide timely updates to project leadership.
• Support tasking related to software engineering, computing, automation, and cybersecurity infrastructure.

Education and eligibility requirements

• BS/BA or higher in cyber, computer science, or mathematics.
• U.S. Citizenship.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.
• Selected applicants 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 and security clearance conditions

• This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP), requiring pre-employment drug testing and random post-employment drug testing.
• Applicants must demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the required Questionnaire for National Security Positions (QNSP).
• PNNL is committed to a drug-free workplace under its Workplace Substance Abuse Program (WSAP), and applicants must pass a drug test prior to commencing employment. If you test positive for illegal controlled substances, including marijuana, the employment offer will be withdrawn.

HSPD-12 PIV credential requirement

• As a national laboratory, PNNL requires new employees to obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 PIV Credential per Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and DOE Order 473.1A.
• Employees must complete the applicable tier of federal background investigation post hire and receive favorable federal adjudication.
• The tier of investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities (including marijuana and cannabis derivatives under federal law) within the last 1 to 7 years, depending on the tier.
• For foreign national candidates who have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, eligibility for the PIV credential is not available; instead, a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) federal risk determination is required.

Technologies

• Java
• Python
• CI/CD

Preferred qualifications

• Implement software components using sound engineering practices such as modular design, consistent coding standards, and maintainable structure.
• Develop automation scripts and tools to improve repeatability and reliability across development, testing, and operational workflows.
• Build event-driven automation pipelines triggered by system or hardware actions, including cron-scheduled execution or device-initiated workflows.
• Create and maintain automated test suites to validate software behavior and system reliability.
• Integrate automated testing frameworks into CI/CD pipelines using object-oriented languages such as Java or Python.
• Improve test coverage and resilience through runtime checks, configuration validation, and environmental readiness tests.
• Apply foundational cybersecurity principles including secure coding, access control, data protection, and environment hardening across engineering tasks.
• Use static and dynamic analysis tools to identify vulnerabilities and support remediation.
• Support secure configuration management and reliable system-state verification.

Benefits

• Medical insurance, dental insurance, and vision insurance
• Robust telehealth care options and several mental health benefits
• Free wellness coaching
• Health savings account and flexible spending accounts
• Basic life insurance and disability insurance*
• Employee assistance program and business travel insurance
• Tuition assistance and relocation support
• Backup childcare, legal benefits, supplemental parental bonding leave, surrogacy and adoption assistance, and fertility support
• Automatic enrollment in a company-funded pension plan* and eligibility to enroll in a 401(k) savings plan with company match*
• May accrue up to 120 vacation hours per year and may receive ten paid holidays per year

*Certain benefits may have eligibility requirements.