Chief Computational Scientist

Search Jobs - INL Professional Careers; Idaho Falls (ID); On-site; USD 137,000 - 337,000; Full time

Job summary

Idaho National Laboratory is seeking a Chief Computational Scientist for the Scientific Computing and AI division. This senior role leads research and engineering strategies combining high-performance computing, AI, and agentic workflows to accelerate nuclear energy innovation and national missions.

The role requires an advanced degree and 8–12 years of relevant experience, with the ability to obtain a DOE Q security clearance.

Qualifications

• Level 5: advanced degree + 8 years of relevant experience
• Level 6: advanced degree + 12 years of relevant experience
• Ability to obtain/maintain DOE Q security clearance (US citizenship required)

Responsibilities

• Lead computational science, AI, and agentic systems strategies across INL
• Mentor R&D/AS&E staff and develop plans for strategic capabilities
• Secure and sustain funding via DOE programs, LDRD and sponsors
• Collaborate with universities, industry, and federal partners to advance AI-enabled science

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Mentoring

Education

Advanced degree in engineering/science

Job description

We are looking for a Chief Computational Scientist for the Scientific Computing and AI (SCAI) division within NS&T. This is a senior level leadership role reporting to the SCAI division director. This role is responsible for leading research and applied engineering strategies that combine high-performance computing, scientific and engineering software, AI, and agentic systems to accelerate nuclear energy innovation, strengthen national mission programs, and expand INL’s scientific impact.

The Chief Computational Scientist provides strategic and technical leadership for computational science, artificial intelligence, research, and applied engineering excellence across the organization. Proactively mentor research and development (R&D) and applied scientific and engineering (AS&E) staff, design and implement R&D/AS&E strategies, advance high-impact research outputs, foster intellectual property development, strengthen university partnerships, and facilitate collaboration across INL.

Lead the advancement of AI and agentic AI capabilities, including multi-agent orchestration, tool-use frameworks, and the integration of INL’s scientific and engineering codes, computational models, data resources, and experimental capabilities into secure and reliable agentic workflows. Guide the application of these technologies to accelerate nuclear energy research, scientific discovery, engineering analysis, and national mission program execution.

Most of this position is direct funded and the successful candidate is expected to capture and sustain funding for their research portfolio through competitive proposals to DOE program offices, Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD), and other opportunities with federal and industry sponsors.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

Technical Research and Development:

• Develop, implement, and optimize AI models, workflows, and computational tools for research in nuclear energy, materials, autonomous laboratories, and national security.
• Leverage DOE’s high-performance computing infrastructure and unique datasets to accelerate R&D workflows.
• Participate in the Genesis Mission Consortium, contributing to working groups focused on AI model development, data integration, and cloud infrastructure.
• Capture direct funding to support research activities by developing and leading competitive proposals to DOE programs, LDRD, and other sponsors.

Organization Strategy:

• Establish a strategic vision for computational science and AI within the division that advances INL’s leadership in nuclear energy research and national mission applications.
• Identify opportunities to use agentic AI to connect scientific codes, simulation environments, experimental data, knowledge systems, and research tools while maintaining appropriate technical controls and human oversight.
• Work with R&D and AS&E staff to develop plans for deploying new strategic research capabilities, including AI platforms, computational infrastructure, scientific software, and integrated agentic workflows.
• Evaluate emerging computational and AI technologies for scientific value, technical readiness, mission relevance, risk, and responsible adoption.

Conduct of Research

• Establish expectations for the rigorous development, testing, evaluation, documentation, and reproducibility of computational and AI-enabled R&D and AS&E.
• Promote responsible AI practices appropriate for scientific, engineering, nuclear energy, and national mission applications.
• Propose and implement improvements to proposal-development processes in coordination with lead relationship managers and the organization proposal coordinator.
• Encourage concepts that responsibly apply advanced computing, AI, and agentic workflows to significant scientific and engineering challenges.
• Participate substantively in preproposal and proposal reviews.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders including universities, industry, other national laboratories, and federal partners to advance AI-enabled science, agentic research systems, computational methods, and workforce development.
• Engage industry partners and prospective partners to inform R&D priorities, coordinating activities with the organization industry liaison, where applicable.

Communication of Organization Capabilities and Accomplishments

• Communicate the organization’s capabilities in computational science, AI, agentic systems, and scientific software to technical and nontechnical audiences.
• Represent the division’s computational science and AI capabilities to federal sponsors, universities, industry, other national laboratories, and external research organizations.
• Exemplify the INL values and NS&T norms to help build and maintain an engaging, high-performing culture.

Staff Career Advancement

• Mentor researchers working in computational science, AI, agentic systems, scientific software, and related technical disciplines.
• Help develop multidisciplinary teams that combine expertise in computer science, applied mathematics, software engineering, nuclear science, engineering, and other mission domains.

Required:

• Level 5: Advanced degree in engineering, science, or related technical discipline and 8 years of relevant experience.
• Level 6: Advanced degree in engineering, science, or related technical discipline and 12 years of relevant experience
• The ability to obtain and maintain a DOE level “Q” security clearance, which requires U.S. Citizenship.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this classification, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, bend, use hands to handle materials, manipulate tools, keyboard and type, reach with hands and arms, and operate job-related equipment. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Sufficient visual acuity and hearing capacity to perform the essential functions and interact with people are required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions:

The work environment is an office environment. The noise level is generally moderate. The position typically works alone, may have irregular hours, and works longer than 8 hours/day.

Job Information:

Idaho National Laboratory is hiring a Chief Computational Scientist to work on our Scientific Computing and Artificial Intelligence team. Our team works a 9x80 schedule located out of our Collaborative Computing Center facility in Idaho Falls with every other Friday off.

• The pay range for this position is Level 5: $137,076 - $281,196/Level 6: $164,592 - $337,428. At Idaho National Laboratory compensation decisions are determined using factors such as education, relevant experience, and other credentials.
• TDP: This is a testing designated position; you will be required to submit to a pre-employment drug screen and periodic drug testing throughout the term of your employment.