Research Engineer (Scientist 1/2)

Los Alamos National Laboratory; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PPO or high-deductible medical insurance

Dental and vision insurance

401(k) with matching contributions

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Los Alamos National Laboratory is seeking an early-career Research Engineer for their Advanced Research in Cyber Systems group. The role involves applying expertise in AI and software engineering to support national security missions through developing new capabilities and iterating on prototypes.

Responsibilities include collaborating with scientists, iterating on prototypes, and developing web applications. A Bachelor's degree in a STEM field is required, along with strong Python skills and experience in Linux environments.

Qualifications

• Experience developing software within Unix/Linux environments using modern software development tools.
• Strong proficiency in Python with experience utilizing modern frameworks.
• Demonstrated skill in building productive relationships with partners.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the maturation of research prototypes.
• Rapidly iterate on prototype systems based on findings.
• Collaborate with researchers to identify operational gaps.

Skills

Software Development

Machine Learning

Artificial Intelligence

Python

Collaboration and Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in a STEM field

Tools

Git

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

What You Will Do

The Analytics, Intelligence, and Technology Division (A‑Division) – Advanced Research in Cyber Systems (A‑4) group is seeking an early‑career Research Engineer to support the Trustworthy and Reliable AI Laboratory (TRAIL). This role offers the opportunity to apply and expand expertise in software engineering, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and large language models (LLMs) in support of research teams for the LANL global security mission. As an entry‑level Research Engineer, you will work closely with research scientists, mission operators, and software engineers to rapidly prototype, evaluate, and transition novel research concepts into operationally relevant capabilities. This role focuses on developing new capabilities from emerging technologies for real‑world mission problems, developing proof‑of‑concept systems, and iterating on research prototypes in operational environments supporting organizations such as the Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of War, Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Intelligence Community.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to the maturation of research prototypes into reliable, maintainable, and operationally deployable capabilities.
• Rapidly iterate on prototype systems based on research findings, stakeholder feedback, and evolving mission requirements.
• Prototype and evaluate emerging techniques in operationally relevant environments, balancing research objectives with mission, security, scalability, and usability constraints.
• Work in exploratory research environments where requirements may evolve as prototype capabilities mature and mission understanding develops.
• Support development, evaluation, and operational integration of LLM‑based solutions, retrieval‑augmented generation (RAG) pipelines, and agentic AI workflows applied to mission problems.
• Develop and maintain modern web applications and software solutions using contemporary front‑end and back‑end frameworks, APIs, databases, and cloud‑native technologies in support of mission‑focused applications and services.
• Collaborate with researchers, engineers, cybersecurity professionals, and mission stakeholders to identify operational gaps, translate mission needs into prototype AI capabilities, and evaluate solutions in realistic operational contexts.
• Contribute to software development efforts in Linux‑based environments utilizing Git, GitLab, Docker, and Kubernetes for on‑prem, high‑performance computing, and cloud architectures.
• Assist with implementation and maintenance of CI/CD pipelines supporting deployment and testing.
• Document technical work, communicate findings, and support presentations and reviews for technical and non‑technical audiences.

Scientist 2 Responsibilities

In addition to the responsibilities described for Scientist 1, a Scientist 2 will operate independently, exercise personal initiative, and lead the design, prototyping, evaluation, and operational transition of new capabilities supporting mission‑focused research environments.

Additional Responsibilities

• Guide prototype architecture decisions and technical trade studies balancing research innovation with operational constraints.
• Independently design and implement scalable architectures and workflows for mission applications.
• Mentor junior staff and contribute technical guidance to multidisciplinary project teams.
• Evaluate emerging AI technologies and provide technical recommendations for adoption and implementation.
• Contribute to strategic planning and execution of research initiatives aligned with national security objectives.
• Coordinate technical efforts across multiple projects while balancing priorities, schedules, and deliverables.

Minimum Job Requirements

Software Development:

• Experience developing software within Unix/Linux environments using modern software development tools and workflows, including Git, GitLab, containerization technologies, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Experience developing applications utilizing GPU‑enabled local and distributed compute environments.
• Experience developing and deploying applications utilizing technologies such as large language models (LLMs), retrieval‑augmented generation (RAG), agentic workflows, model orchestration frameworks, or related AI technologies.
• Strong proficiency in Python with experience utilizing modern frameworks and libraries such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, Pandas, NumPy, SciPy, or similar technologies.

Collaboration and Teamwork:

• Demonstrated skill in building productive relationships with internal and external partners to ensure requirements align with mission objectives and customer expectations.
• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary technical teams consisting of software developers, engineers, analysts, and scientific staff.

Communication:

• Ability to effectively participate in research discussions and prototyping.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts and development activities to diverse audiences.
• Ability to effectively participate in stakeholder reviews, including communicating requirement changes or exceptions.

Additional Requirements for Scientist 2

• Demonstrated experience developing and deploying purpose‑built software applications in operational, research, or production environments.
• Demonstrated experience designing or implementing scalable workflows and distributed application architectures.
• Demonstrated experience leading technical implementation efforts within collaborative engineering teams.
• Demonstrated experience evaluating hardware, software, and infrastructure requirements supporting application development and deployment.

Candidates that meet the degree requirement but do not meet the two‑year experience requirement are encouraged to apply and may be considered for hire through an allowable variance.

Education and Experience

Lower level: Bachelor's degree in a STEM field from an accredited college or university and two years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Preferred fields: Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, or related STEM field.

Higher level: Bachelor's degree in a STEM field from an accredited college or university and four years of related experience, typically with post‑doctoral research experience at a university or national lab or equivalent. Preferred fields: Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, or related STEM field.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience developing proof‑of‑concept or prototype systems for operational users or mission environments.
• Experience transitioning research software or prototypes into operational or production environments.
• Experience evaluating systems under real‑world performance, security, or reliability constraints.
• Experience contributing to applied research projects involving AI, machine learning, or autonomous systems.
• Experience with cloud‑native or high‑performance computing environments.
• Experience working with container technologies such as Docker, Podman, and Kubernetes.
• Active Q clearance or TS clearance.

Eligibility & Clearance

The position requires a Q clearance and a U.S. citizenship. Clearance is obtained through a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government. Additional access authorizations may be required depending on the role.

Location and Commitment

Work location is onsite in Los Alamos, NM. Position commitment is one year.

Benefits

• PPO or high‑deductible medical insurance with a 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).

Equal Opportunity Employment

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.