Senior Machine Learning Engineer

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is seeking a Senior Machine Learning Engineer to enhance research code maintainability and scalability. The role involves collaborating with engineers and researchers and developing tools and APIs for production environments.

Ideal candidates will possess strong Python skills and have extensive experience with machine learning frameworks. An ability to work in secure environments and the capacity to obtain a federal security clearance is essential for this role.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience with relevant work or advanced degrees with lesser experience.
• Strong proficiency in Python and ML frameworks.
• Ability to navigate research codebases for production readiness.

Responsibilities

• Refactor and modularize research code for maintainability.
• Collaborate with researchers and engineers for project alignment.
• Mentor junior staff on coding standards and practices.

Skills

Python

Machine Learning frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, Hugging Face)

Research integration

Communication skills

Education

BS/BA in relevant field or higher

Tools

ML frameworks

Job description

Overview

PNNL’s core capabilities are organized into major directorates focused on specific scientific research areas. The AI and Data Analytics Division, part of the National Security Directorate, integrates advanced hardware and software to deliver computational solutions that address complex data and analytic challenges.

Location

Richland, WA or Seattle, WA – on‑site presence required.

Responsibilities

Senior Machine Learning Engineer – refactor and modularize research code for maintainability, extensibility, and reusability. Work with researchers and engineers to align research goals with deployment requirements, and develop packages, APIs, and interfaces for mission‑relevant environments.

• Lead refactoring, modularization, and optimization of research code to improve maintainability, scalability, and production readiness.
• Collaborate with researchers to understand algorithmic intent and with engineers to ensure seamless integration into broader systems and workflows.
• Design and develop tools, pipelines, and APIs that enable deployment into mission‑relevant environments.
• Influence technical roadmaps and architectural decisions for AI/ML infrastructure.
• Evaluate and recommend emerging tools, frameworks, and practices to keep the team at the leading edge.
• Establish and promote best practices for translating research outputs into robust, production‑quality software.
• Mentor junior staff on software engineering standards, code quality, and research‑to‑production workflows.
• Write clear, well‑documented code and lead code reviews to uphold team standards.
• Conduct work in secure environments with adherence to operational security requirements.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS/BA and 5+ years of relevant work experience –or–
• MS/MA and 3+ years of relevant work experience –or–
• PhD with 1+ year of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Degree in computer science, engineering, mathematics, or a related field.
• Experience in research engineering, ML engineering, AI systems integration, or applied data science.
• Strong proficiency in Python and hands‑on experience with ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, Hugging Face).
• Demonstrated ability to navigate research codebases and translate them into production‑ready components.
• Experience designing and deploying scalable ML pipelines or AI‑enabled tools in operational or mission‑critical settings.
• Excellent communication and cross‑functional collaboration skills, with the ability to bridge research and engineering teams.

Security Clearance

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance. Applicants will be subject to a Federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter in accordance with 10 CFR 710, Appendix B. U.S. citizenship is required.

Equal Employment Opportunity

PNNL is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We consider all applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our application procedures and employment.