Computer Engineer 3 – Quantum Computing

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory • Richland, WA

22h

About The Position

At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments that we refer to as Directorates within the Lab, focused on a specific area of scientific research or other function, with its own leadership team and dedicated budget.
Our Science & Technology directorates include National Security, Earth and Biological Sciences, Physical and Computational Sciences, and Energy and Environment. In addition, we have an Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus.
The Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate's (PCSD’s) strengths in experimental, computational, and theoretical chemistry and materials science, together with our advanced computing, applied mathematics and data science capabilities, are central to the discovery mission we embrace at PNNL. But our most important resource is our people—experts across the range of scientific disciplines who team together to take on the biggest scientific challenges of our time.
The Advanced Computing, Mathematics, and Data Division (ACMDD) focuses on basic and applied computing research encompassing artificial intelligence, applied mathematics, computing technologies, and data and computational engineering. Our scientists and engineers apply end-to-end co-design principles to advance future energy-efficient computing systems and design the next generation of algorithms to analyze, model, understand, and control the behavior of complex systems in science, energy, and national security.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is seeking a Computer Engineer 3 with deep expertise in quantum computing technology to advance and expand a state-of-the-art quantum computing testbed supporting the Quantum Science Center and PNNL’s Quantum Algorithms and Architectures for Domain Sciences (QuAADS) initiative.
This position is intended for an established technical leader who brings recognized expertise within a defined science and engineering domain and contributes meaningfully to shaping technical direction at the group and division level. The selected candidate will play a central role in developing quantum computing capabilities that support scientific discovery and national security missions.

Requirements

• BS/BA and 5+ years of relevant experience -OR- MS/MA and 3+ years of relevant experience -OR- PhD with 1+ year of relevant experience

Nice To Haves

• Ph.D. in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, or a closely related discipline.
• Established expertise in quantum computing technology, with hands-on experience in experimental quantum systems and enabling infrastructure (e.g., cryogenic systems, RF/microwave engineering, FPGA-based control, precision measurement, and scalable control architectures and algorithms).
• Demonstrated ability to independently develop and implement technical approaches for complex engineering challenges, integrating hardware, firmware, and software from a systems perspective.
• Experience serving as PI or co-PI, or leading major technical tasks, including forming and leading multidisciplinary teams, defining scope and technical direction, integrating contributions across groups, and contributing to proposal development and funded research efforts.
• Record of peer-reviewed publications or equivalent technical contributions, strong written and oral communication skills, presentations at national or international conferences, and engagement with stakeholders across academia, national laboratories, and industry.
• Demonstrated mentorship of junior researchers, postdoctoral scholars, or students.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for the laboratory’s quantum computing testbed, defining and advancing elements of the hardware, control, and integration architecture.
• Ownership of critical subsystems spanning cryogenic infrastructure, control electronics, embedded systems, firmware, and software, with responsibility for ensuring performance, reliability, and secure operation.
• Identify strategic technical opportunities, select and develop appropriate engineering approaches, and implement system improvements that enhance fidelity, coherence, scalability, and operational robustness.
• Contribute directly to setting technical direction within their specialization and will influence capability development across the division.
• Serve as Principal Investigator (PI) or co-PI on projects and major tasks. Responsibilities include defining scope, developing technical approaches, integrating contributions from multidisciplinary team members, and supporting scoping, scheduling, and budgeting activities.
• Independently resolve complex technical challenges with only occasional oversight and will be accountable for delivering results aligned with cost, schedule, and performance objectives.
• Actively generate new technical ideas and contribute to business development efforts, leading technical sections of small to medium proposals and contributing to larger strategic initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to attract and manage research funding with programmatic impact at the sector and division level is expected.
• Build and optimize division-level capabilities in quantum computing, forming effective project teams across groups and directorates.
• Mentorship of junior staff, postdoctoral researchers, and students, as well as contributions to operational assignments that strengthen laboratory infrastructure.
• Serve as a role model for quality, safety, and security, reinforcing best practices in laboratory operations, configuration management, and secure research execution.
• Clear and persuasive communication of technical results through formal reports, stakeholder briefings, and presentations in scientific community venues is required.

Benefits

• Employees and their families are offered medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, robust telehealth care options, several mental health benefits, free wellness coaching, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, basic life insurance, disability insurance, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, tuition assistance, relocation, backup childcare, legal benefits, supplemental parental bonding leave, surrogacy and adoption assistance, and fertility support.
• Employees are automatically enrolled in our company-funded pension plan and may enroll in our 401 (k) savings plan with company match.
• Employees may accrue up to 120 vacation hours per year and may receive ten paid holidays per year.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree