DevOps / Platform Engineer II

Our mission: -driven environment provides opportunities for researchers and engineers to work alongside renowned experts on innovative projects that deliver meaningful outcomes for the U.S. Department of Energy and other national sponsors. Located in eastern Washington State, PNNL offers an inspiring research environment with excellent benefits, including health insurance and flexible work schedules. The laboratory's strategic position near outdoor recreation hubs and major urban centers like Seattle and Portland makes it an ideal place for professionals seeking both impactful work and quality of life.

About The Role: We are seeking a dedicated DevOps/Platform Engineer to join PNNL’s AI engineering team. In this role, you will be instrumental in developing and deploying scalable, cloud-native AI platforms, high-performance data pipelines, and real-time intelligence solutions that support national security missions. Your work will involve designing containerized infrastructure, automating CI/CD pipelines, and enhancing system performance, security, and operational reliability. Collaborating closely with software engineers, data scientists, and researchers, you will contribute to architecture discussions, code reviews, and continuous improvement efforts. This position offers an exciting opportunity for early- to mid-career engineers to expand their expertise in AI/ML infrastructure, cloud technologies, and distributed systems while working on high-impact projects such as detecting contraband at ports, thwarting terrorist funding, nuclear forensics, and geospatial analytics. The role is based in Richland, WA, or Seattle, WA, with an onsite presence required Monday through Thursday.

Qualifications: PhD in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field, ORMS/MA in relevant discipline, ORBS/BA with two (2) years of professional software development experience. Current hands-on experience with Python programming. Experience with cloud platforms, infrastructure automation, or CI/CD pipelines through professional, academic, or personal projects. Exposure to AI/ML workflows, data pipelines, or model deployment processes.

Preferred: Degree in computer science, software engineering, or related technical field. Programming or scripting experience using Python, Bash, or similar languages. Familiarity with containerization technologies such as Docker and an interest in Kubernetes and cloud-native architectures.

Responsibilities: Build and deploy cloud-native AI platforms, agentic AI applications, and large language model (LLM) solutions. Develop scalable data pipelines, streaming architectures, APIs, and microservices to process high-volume, real-time data streams. Design, implement, and maintain containerized infrastructure, automated CI/CD pipelines, and testing frameworks to ensure reliable software delivery. Enhance system performance, observability, security, and operational reliability across production environments. Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams including software engineers, data scientists, and researchers to deliver innovative AI capabilities. Participate in technical architecture discussions, code reviews, and strategic planning to foster continuous improvement and technical leadership. Contribute to national security projects such as detecting contraband at ports, preventing illicit funding, nuclear forensics, and geospatial analytics.

Benefits: Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans. Access to telehealth services and mental health benefits. Wellness coaching, health savings accounts, and flexible spending accounts. Basic life insurance, disability insurance, and employee assistance programs. Tuition assistance, relocation support, and backup childcare services. Legal benefits and supplemental parental leave options, including surrogacy and adoption assistance. Participation in company-funded pension plans and optional 401(k) with company match. Generous paid time off, including up to 120 vacation hours annually and ten paid holidays. Equal OpportunityPNNL is committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable work environment. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer that considers all applicants regardless of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans throughout the employment process. Our commitment extends to creating a workplace where diversity is valued and everyone has the opportunity to contribute and succeed.