Early Career Software Engineer

About the Role

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is seeking a motivated Early Career Software Engineer to join its AI and Data Analytics Division within the National Security Directorate. This role involves contributing to cutting-edge projects that shape the future of critical technology supporting national security and intelligence. You will collaborate with experienced engineers to design, build, and optimize scalable systems for processing multi-modal intelligence data.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, and optimize scalable systems for processing multi-modal intelligence data.
• Shape mission-critical AI systems and build enterprise-scale data platforms.
• Gain hands-on experience with sophisticated intelligence and security applications.
• Receive mentorship from senior engineers and collaborate with research scientists.
• See your code deployed in production systems supporting national security missions.
• Develop applications that use AI agents and large language models (LLMs), including LLM integrations, evaluation, and testing.
• Learn foundational MLOps practices.
• Contribute to software that combines multiple sources of intelligence, supports geospatial analysis, and helps users understand complex information.
• Build and maintain data pipelines and develop analytics workflows.
• Learn how cloud-native systems process and manage data at scale.
• Participate in code reviews and design discussions.
• Build skills in testing, debugging, documentation, and enterprise software development.
• Learn to design, build, deploy, and support production-quality software.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Python skills and experience with at least one additional language, such as Go, Rust, C#/.NET, or C++.
• Exposure to at least one cloud platform, such as AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Familiarity with Linux environments.
• Understanding of Git and version control.
• Exposure to CI/CD practices.
• Familiarity with Agile or Scrum development environments.
• Experience writing SQL.
• Basic understanding of data modeling, data processing, or data pipeline concepts.
• Familiarity with AI coding tools such as Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, or similar tools.
• Curiosity and eagerness to learn in areas like AI/ML, geospatial systems, and large-scale data processing.

Qualifications

• Completed BS/BA or higher in computer science or software engineering.
• Hands-on experience building and delivering software applications using Python through professional, internship, academic, or personal projects.
• Preferred: Experience programming in Python, Go, Rust, C#/.NET, C++.
• Preferred: Understanding of software engineering and data management best practices.
• Preferred: Strong communication and collaborative skills.

Security Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.
• Federal background investigation required.
• Must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter.
• Subject to pre-employment and random drug testing for illegal drugs, including marijuana.
• Must demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs for 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the requisite Questionnaire for National Security Positions (QNSP).

Location

• Richland, WA.
• Requires an onsite presence Monday through Thursday, with Friday as required by business needs.

Compensation

• Minimum Salary: $83,100.00/Yr.
• Maximum Salary: $122,100.00/Yr.