Computational Scientist

Idaho National Laboratory•Idaho Falls, ID

6h•Hybrid

About The Position

Join Idaho National Lab as a Computational Scientist to support the DOE's Genesis Mission, a national initiative to build the world’s most powerful scientific AI platform. This platform integrates supercomputers, AI systems, and quantum technologies to double the productivity and impact of American scientific research within a decade. The role involves collaborating with interdisciplinary teams across DOE National Labs, academia, and industry to advance AI-driven scientific discovery. You will develop, implement, and optimize AI models, workflows, and computational tools for research in energy, materials, quantum science, and national security, leveraging DOE’s high-performance computing infrastructure and unique datasets. Participation in the Genesis Mission Consortium is expected, contributing to working groups focused on AI model development, data integration, and cloud infrastructure. Excellent communication skills are essential for extensive documentation, including technical reports, user’s manuals, and research papers. The position also involves providing technical leadership for national DOE programs and executing research in assigned technical subject areas, offering imaginative, thorough, and practical solutions to complex computing problems and articulating business cases for technical projects.

Requirements

Skills in one or more of the following areas are necessary: h and p adaptation, parallel computing, non-linear solvers, pre-conditioning, discontinuous Galerkin methods, and the development of complex scientific software for the solution of partial differential equations.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills as extensive documentation of work is required, which includes authorship of technical reports, user’s manuals, and research papers for refereed journals and proceedings.
Knowledge of one or more of the following technical areas: computational science, modeling, simulation, high-performance computing, scientific software engineering, finite element methods and analysis, fluid mechanics, nuclear science (including nuclear physics, simulation of nuclear fuel behavior, stochastic and deterministic reactor physics, core design), computational material science, phase field methods, molecular dynamics, crystal plasticity, thermo-mechanics, nonlinear solid mechanics, structural dynamics, heat transfer, and multi-physics coupling.
Knowledge of engineering software development processes and proficiency with related tools.
Level 1: Bachelor of Science degree in nuclear science, materials science, computational engineering, computational applied mechanics, computer science, engineering, physics, mathematics, or another similar degree and 0 years of relevant experience.
Level 2: Bachelor of Science degree in nuclear science, materials science, computational engineering, computational applied mechanics, computer science, engineering, physics, mathematics, or another similar degree and 2 years of relevant experience; or an advanced degree in nuclear science, materials science, computational engineering, computational applied mechanics, computer science, engineering, physics, mathematics, or another similar degree and 0 years of relevant experience.
Proficiency in C++, Python, and object-oriented programming languages, finite-element methods, advanced numerical methods for nonlinear analysis, and the development of complex engineering analysis software.
Must be either a US Citizen or a US Green Card holder to qualify for the job due to export control restrictions.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in nuclear science, materials science, computational engineering, computational applied mechanics, computer science, engineering, physics, mathematics, or another similar degree.
Demonstrated experience in providing leadership, strategic and tactical planning, and effective execution of large, complex, and technically challenging programs requiring multidisciplinary integration across multiple organizations.
Relevant research accomplishments published in peer-reviewed scientific literature.
Experience in the development of advanced mathematical software.
Experience in software verification & validation.
Strong analytical skills with proficiency in theory and application of computational science principles.
Demonstrated experience in applied mathematics, statistics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or data science.
Experience writing proposals.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams across DOE National Labs, academia, and industry to advance AI-driven scientific discovery.
Develop, implement, and optimize AI models, workflows, and computational tools for research in energy, materials, quantum science, 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.
Provide technical leadership for providing direction to national DOE programs.
Coordinate and execute project/program activities relative to work package scope, deliverables, and milestones.
Accept input and coaching from mentors and provide input in a constructive manner to others while maintaining a positive and professional relationship with all, even while under budget and deadline pressures.
Execute research in assigned technical subject areas.
Provide imaginative, thorough, and practical solutions to a wide range of complex, ambiguous, and/or difficult computing problems.
Articulate and advocate business cases in support of technical projects.