Chief Computational Scientist

Idaho National Laboratory•Idaho Falls, ID

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are looking for a Chief Computational Scientist for the Scientific Computing and AI (SCAI) division within NS&T. This is a senior level leadership role reporting to the SCAI division director. This role is responsible for leading research and applied engineering strategies that combine high-performance computing, scientific and engineering software, AI, and agentic systems to accelerate nuclear energy innovation, strengthen national mission programs, and expand INL’s scientific impact. The Chief Computational Scientist provides strategic and technical leadership for computational science, artificial intelligence, research, and applied engineering excellence across the organization. Proactively mentor research and development (R&D) and applied scientific and engineering (AS&E) staff, design and implement R&D/AS&E strategies, advance high-impact research outputs, foster intellectual property development, strengthen university partnerships, and facilitate collaboration across INL. Lead the advancement of AI and agentic AI capabilities, including multi-agent orchestration, tool-use frameworks, and the integration of INL’s scientific and engineering codes, computational models, data resources, and experimental capabilities into secure and reliable agentic workflows. Guide the application of these technologies to accelerate nuclear energy research, scientific discovery, engineering analysis, and national mission program execution. Most of this position is direct funded and the successful candidate is expected to capture and sustain funding for their research portfolio through competitive proposals to DOE program offices, Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD), and other opportunities with federal and industry sponsors.

Requirements

Level 5: Advanced degree in engineering, science, or related technical discipline and 8 years of relevant experience.
Level 6: Advanced degree in engineering, science, or related technical discipline and 12 years of relevant experience
The ability to obtain and maintain a DOE level “Q” security clearance, which requires U.S. Citizenship.

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and optimize AI models, workflows, and computational tools for research in nuclear energy, materials, autonomous laboratories, and national security.
Leverage DOE’s high-performance computing infrastructure and unique datasets to accelerate R&D workflows.
Participate in the Genesis Mission Consortium, contributing to working groups focused on AI model development, data integration, and cloud infrastructure.
Capture direct funding to support research activities by developing and leading competitive proposals to DOE programs, LDRD, and other sponsors.
Establish a strategic vision for computational science and AI within the division that advances INL’s leadership in nuclear energy research and national mission applications.
Identify opportunities to use agentic AI to connect scientific codes, simulation environments, experimental data, knowledge systems, and research tools while maintaining appropriate technical controls and human oversight.
Work with R&D and AS&E staff to develop plans for deploying new strategic research capabilities, including AI platforms, computational infrastructure, scientific software, and integrated agentic workflows.
Evaluate emerging computational and AI technologies for scientific value, technical readiness, mission relevance, risk, and responsible adoption.
Establish expectations for the rigorous development, testing, evaluation, documentation, and reproducibility of computational and AI-enabled R&D and AS&E.
Promote responsible AI practices appropriate for scientific, engineering, nuclear energy, and national mission applications.
Propose and implement improvements to proposal-development processes in coordination with lead relationship managers and the organization proposal coordinator.
Encourage concepts that responsibly apply advanced computing, AI, and agentic workflows to significant scientific and engineering challenges.
Participate substantively in preproposal and proposal reviews.
Collaborate with key stakeholders including universities, industry, other national laboratories, and federal partners to advance AI-enabled science, agentic research systems, computational methods, and workforce development.
Engage industry partners and prospective partners to inform R&D priorities, coordinating activities with the organization industry liaison, where applicable.
Communicate the organization’s capabilities in computational science, AI, agentic systems, and scientific software to technical and nontechnical audiences.
Represent the division’s computational science and AI capabilities to federal sponsors, universities, industry, other national laboratories, and external research organizations.
Exemplify the INL values and NS&T norms to help build and maintain an engaging, high-performing culture.
Mentor researchers working in computational science, AI, agentic systems, scientific software, and related technical disciplines.
Help develop multidisciplinary teams that combine expertise in computer science, applied mathematics, software engineering, nuclear science, engineering, and other mission domains.