Chief Engineer, AI-Driven Robotic Autonomy

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Richland (WA); On-site; USD 173,400 - 274,100; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental & vision insurance

Pension plan / 401(k)

Paid holidays & vacation

Job summary

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory seeks a Chief Engineer to bring automation and autonomy to R&D. You will architect AI-enabled autonomous robotic systems, lead mechanical design, and integrate sensing, controls, and embedded compute.

The role spans digital twin ecosystems, lab-scale autonomy testbeds, and multi-domain deployment across air, ground, and maritime platforms. The candidate will oversee end-to-end autonomy stacks, prototype robotic systems, and establish advanced testing

Qualifications

• Minimum professional education with seniority as outlined in the job posting.
• Experience in designing and deploying integrated robotic systems and autonomy stacks.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a US federal security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the technical vision for AI-enabled autonomous systems with emphasis on physical realization and field transition.
• Lead development of integrated autonomy architectures across mechanical systems, sensors, controls, and AI/ML stacks.
• Translate sponsor mission needs into deployable robotic systems and autonomy capabilities.
• Establish digital twin and prototyping capabilities to accelerate validation and transition.
• Lead testing and evaluation efforts in lab and field environments with DoD-related requirements.

Skills

Python

C++

ROS/ROS2

Embedded systems

Education

BS/BA + 9+ years

MS/MA + 7+ years

PhD + 5+ years

Tools

NVIDIA Jetson

Omniverse/Isaac Sim

Unreal Engine

ROS2

Raspberry Pi/Embedded compute

Job description

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory seeks a Chief Engineer to bring automation and autonomy to R&D. You will architect AI-enabled autonomous robotic systems, lead mechanical design, and integrate sensing, controls, and embedded compute.

The role spans digital twin ecosystems, lab-scale autonomy testbeds, and multi-domain deployment across air, ground, and maritime platforms. The candidate will oversee end-to-end autonomy stacks, prototype robotic systems, and establish advanced testing