Research Engineer (Scientist 1/2)

Los Alamos National Security LLC; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 96,600 - 176,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PPO or High Deductible medical insurance

Dental and vision insurance

401(k) with 6% matching

Job summary

Los Alamos National Security LLC is seeking a Research Engineer specializing in AI at their Los Alamos location. This entry-level role revolves around the development of innovative software solutions to support mission-oriented research in national security.

You will collaborate with a diverse team to prototype and evaluate technologies like large language models, enhancing operational capabilities.

Competitive salary range from $96,600 to $176,000 based on experience level.

Qualifications

• Experience developing software within Unix/Linux environments.
• Strong proficiency in Python with modern frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate technical concepts.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the maturation of research prototypes.
• Lead the design and operational transition of new capabilities.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.

Skills

Software Development in Unix/Linux environments

Experience with Git and CI/CD pipelines

Strong proficiency in Python

Experience with large language models (LLMs)

Education

Bachelor's degree in a STEM field

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

What You Will Do

What You Will Do

This position will be filled at either the Scientist 1 or Scientist 2 level, depending on the skills of the selected candidate. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level.

Scientist 1 $96,600 - $158,000

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 US 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 $106,400 - $176,000

In addition to the responsibilities outlined at the lower level, at this level you must be able to operate independently, be self‑sufficient, and exercise personal initiative in successfully completing assigned tasks.

• Lead the design, prototyping, evaluation, and operational transition of new capabilities supporting mission‑focused research environments.
• 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.

What You Need

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 utilizing modern development standards and engineering best practices.
• 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 Job 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 who do not meet the two‑year experience requirement, are encouraged to apply and may be considered for hire through an allowable variance.

Education/Experience at lower level: Position requires a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field from an accredited college or university and 2 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation. Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, or related STEM field preferred.

Education/Experience at higher level: Positions requires a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field from an accredited college and university and 4 years of related experience, typically with post‑doctoral research experience at a university or national lab or equivalent experience directly related to the occupation. Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, or related STEM field preferred.

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.

Work Environment

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 is 1 year. Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position 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.

Note to Applicants: Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, certain citizens are prohibited from accessing facilities that support the mission, functions, and operations of national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, which includes Los Alamos National Laboratory.

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 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)

Additional Details

Directive 206.2 – Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating the employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. 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/SCI (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. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre‑offer.

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.