AI Infrastructure and Advanced Computing Scientist (Scientist 3/4)

Los Alamos National Laboratory; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 128,000 - 267,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PPO health insurance

Dental and vision insurance

Life and disability insurance

Parental leave

401(k) matching

Tuition assistance

Flexible schedules and PTO

Onsite gyms

Job summary

Los Alamos National Laboratory seeks a Scientist 3/4 to lead cross‑disciplinary AI and advanced computing initiatives. You will shape institutional AI infrastructure, evaluate technologies, and develop scalable AI services for scientific discovery and national-security missions.

You will oversee major technical efforts, guide architecture across teams, and mentor researchers while delivering sustainable capabilities aligned with mission goals.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant STEM discipline; Scientist 3 requires six years of experience, Scientist 4 twelve years, or equivalent.
• Experience with GPUs or accelerators, heterogeneous computing, performance analysis, or AI frameworks.
• Experience with Kubernetes/OpenShift, containers, HPC workload managers, DevOps practices, and hybrid cloud/HPC environments.
• Experience with large-language-model inference, retrieval-augmented generation, vector databases, document intelligence, agentic systems, or AI-assisted software development.
• Experience establishing shared research-computing or AI services, supporting users, and coordinating cybersecurity, data governance, or access requirements.
• Experience developing proposals, working with technology vendors or external collaborators, and translating evaluation results into technical plans.

Responsibilities

• Lead integration and evaluation of emerging computing architectures, accelerators, and software stacks for scientific simulation, data analysis, and AI.
• Architect and mature AI services spanning model serving, retrieval and agentic workflows, GPUs, orchestration, observability, and on-premises or cloud environments.
• Develop reproducible experiments and benchmarks to assess performance, scalability, reliability, usability, cost, and mission suitability.
• Partner with researchers, computing operations, cybersecurity, and vendors to define requirements, resolve risks, and move prototypes into reliable use.
• Strengthen applied-AI delivery through technical consultation, project triage, reusable components, documentation, training, mentoring, and handoff to mission teams.

Skills

AI/ML systems

HPC

Computer architecture

Distributed systems

Accelerated computing

Cloud-native platforms

Scientific software infra

Education

Master's degree in relevant STEM

Tools

Kubernetes/OpenShift

Containers

HPC workload managers

DevOps practices

Hybrid cloud

Job description

What You Will Do

Help shape the AI and advanced-computing capabilities that enable scientific discovery and national-security missions. The Applied Computer Science Group (CAI-1) is seeking a Scientist 3/4 to provide technical leadership across emerging-computing testbeds, institutional AI infrastructure, and applied-AI projects.

In this role, you will combine hands‑on technical work with cross‑organizational leadership. You will evaluate new computing technologies, develop secure and scalable AI services, and help Laboratory teams turn promising AI concepts into useful, sustainable capabilities.

You will:

• Lead the integration and evaluation of emerging computing architectures, accelerators, and software stacks for scientific simulation, data analysis, and AI.
• Architect and mature AI services that span model serving, retrieval and agentic workflows, GPU resources, orchestration, observability, and on-premises or cloud environments.
• Develop reproducible experiments and benchmarks to assess performance, scalability, reliability, usability, cost, and mission suitability.
• Partner with researchers, computing operations, cybersecurity organizations, and vendors to define requirements, resolve technical risks, and move prototypes into reliable use.
• Strengthen applied-AI delivery through technical consultation, project triage, reusable components, documentation, training, mentoring, and effective handoff to mission teams.

This position may be filled at either the Scientist 3 or Scientist 4 level, depending on the selected candidate's qualifications.

Scientist 3 – $128,000–$215,900

At the Scientist 3 level, you will lead major technical efforts and multidisciplinary project teams.

Scientist 4 – $153,600–$266,500

At the Scientist 4 level, you will serve as a Laboratory‑level technical authority, establish strategy and architecture across organizations, and build institutional capabilities and programs.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

• Technical expertise: Advanced knowledge in one or more relevant areas, such as AI/ML systems, high‑performance computing, computer architecture, distributed systems, accelerated computing, cloud‑native platforms, or scientific software infrastructure.
• Systems development and integration: Demonstrated experience developing, integrating, or evaluating complex computing systems in Linux environments, including multiple layers such as compute, storage, networking, containers, orchestration, schedulers, model runtimes, data services, or monitoring.
• Experimental evaluation: Experience designing reproducible computational experiments, analyzing performance or system behavior, and using results to guide architecture or technology decisions.
• Technical leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead complex technical projects, establish scope and priorities, coordinate multidisciplinary contributors, manage risks, and deliver results; experience mentoring staff or students.
• Collaboration and communication: Ability to work effectively across research, operational, security, and program organizations and communicate technical findings, tradeoffs, and recommendations through clear writing and presentations.

Additional Job Requirements For Scientist 4

• Institutional impact: Significant technical achievements that have advanced AI, computing, research, or mission capabilities at a Laboratory‑wide or comparable institutional scale.
• Technical strategy: Demonstrated experience establishing architectures, standards, roadmaps, or investment direction for complex computing capabilities.
• Cross‑organizational leadership: Success leading large, multidisciplinary, high‑risk efforts and serving as an authority for consequential technical decisions.
• Capability development: Demonstrated success building teams, funded programs, or strategic partnerships and advising senior organizational or government leaders.

Education/Experience

Scientist 3: A master's degree in a relevant STEM discipline from an accredited institution and six years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of directly applicable education and experience.

Scientist 4: A master's degree in a relevant STEM discipline from an accredited institution and twelve years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of directly applicable education and experience.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with GPUs or other accelerators, heterogeneous computing, parallel programming, performance analysis, or AI frameworks.
• Experience with Kubernetes or OpenShift, containers, HPC workload managers, DevOps practices, and hybrid cloud/HPC environments.
• Experience with large‑language‑model inference, AI gateways, retrieval‑augmented generation, vector databases, document intelligence, agentic systems, or AI‑assisted software development.
• Experience establishing shared research‑computing or AI services, supporting users, and coordinating cybersecurity, authorization, data‑governance, or access requirements.
• Experience developing proposals, working with technology vendors or external collaborators, and translating evaluation results into technical plans or investments.
• Ph.D. in computer science, computational science, data science, applied mathematics, engineering, or a related field.

Work Location

The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.

Position commitment

Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position in order to be eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the time required, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. The position commitment for this position is 1 year.

Where You Will Work

Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:

• PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network
• Dental and vision insurance
• Free basic life and disability insurance
• Paid childbirth and parental leave
• Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
• Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
• Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)
• Onsite gyms and wellness programs
• Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)

Additional Details

Directive 206.2 – Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.

Clearance: Q (Position will be cleared to this level). Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government, and must meet eligibility requirements* for access to classified matter. This position requires a Q clearance, and obtaining such clearance requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Dependent upon the position, additional authorization to access classified information may be required, which may or may not be available to dual citizens. Receipt of a Q clearance and additional access authorization ultimately is a decision of the Federal Government and not of Triad.

• Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order 472.2 for additional information.

New-Employment Drug Test

The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.

Regular position

Term status Laboratory employees applying for regular-status positions are converted to regular status.

Internal Applicants

Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy Policy P701 for applicant eligibility requirements.

Equal Opportunity

Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to protected categories such as race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to [e-mail] or call (505)-664-6947.