Department Manager, Spatial Computing
About The Position
Idaho National Laboratory is seeking a Department Manager to establish and grow the Spatial Computing department within the Scientific Computing and AI Division. This is a founding leadership role where the manager will define the department's technical identity, build its team, establish its research agenda, and position INL as a national leader in spatial computing applied to energy, defense, and critical infrastructure missions. The department will focus on the convergence of physical nuclear facilities, intelligent autonomous systems, and immersive digital environments. The role involves reporting to the Division Director, collaborating with other department managers, and contributing to division-wide strategy.
Requirements
- Master's degree in Computer Science, Nuclear Engineering, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Vision, Human-Computer Interaction, or a closely related technical field and 6 years of relevant experience, OR PhD in the same fields and 4 years of relevant experience.
- Demonstrated success building and leading high-performing research or engineering teams in a scientific, government, or national laboratory environment.
- Demonstrated track record of securing and managing externally funded research programs (DOE, DOD, DHS, NASA, NSF, or equivalent).
- Proven ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly and persuasively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Energy "Q" clearance, which requires U.S. Citizenship.
Nice To Haves
- PhD in Nuclear Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field.
- Deep technical expertise in one or more of the department's focus areas: AI for autonomous labs, vision-language-action (VLA) models for physical systems, SLAM and 3D scene reconstruction, embodied AI, GPU-accelerated physics simulation (e.g., NVIDIA Isaac Sim / Omniverse), or spatial intelligence architectures.
- Established relationships with DOE, DOD DARPA or service research offices, or other federal sponsors of advanced autonomy and robotics programs.
- Familiarity with DOE national laboratory program structures, work authorization, and export control frameworks (10 CFR Part 810, EAR).
- Record of peer-reviewed publications, patents, or major software/hardware deliverables demonstrating research leadership.
- Active or current DOE Q or TS/SCI clearance.
Responsibilities
- Define the Spatial Computing department's technical vision, research agenda, and organizational structure.
- Recruit, hire, and onboard a multidisciplinary team of researchers and engineers.
- Manage all department staff, providing performance evaluations, goal-setting, and career development planning.
- Identify, pursue, and win funded research programs with federal sponsors.
- Develop and submit competitive proposals and work authorizations.
- Maintain active engagement with the technical work of the department and provide strategic guidance.
- Integrate the department's capabilities into INL's broader digital engineering ecosystem.
- Drive application of spatial computing capabilities to INL's core missions.
- Represent INL's spatial computing capabilities at national and international conferences.
- Author or co-author peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and patents.
- Participate actively in the Division leadership team, contributing to strategic planning and budget development.
- Champion INL's Integrated Safety Management System (ISMS) and ensure department compliance.
Benefits
- Medical, Dental, Vision, and Flexible Spending Accounts
- 401(k) with a 4.2% employer contribution and up to 4.8% match
- Paid time off (personal leave)
- Employee Education Program (tuition assistance for eligible positions)
- Comprehensive Relocation Package
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
