Distinguished R&D Staff

Oak Ridge National Laboratory•Oak Ridge, TN

11d•Onsite

About The Position

We invite applications for Distinguished R&D Staff positions within the Geospatial Science and Engineering Division. ORNL is the nation’s geospatial research laboratory. Our scientists and engineers are breaking new ground in geospatial science and technologies, advancing state of the art and scaling science for global impact. From designing advanced sensing platforms and autonomous systems, to characterizing global population risk with increasing spatiotemporal clarity, to designing GeoAI models for supercomputer-scale applications, geospatial science at ORNL is establishing new horizons for global geospatial intelligence and human security. The Geospatial Science and Engineering Division is part of the National Security Sciences Directorate, where we translate and apply the latest advancements in ORNL and U.S. scientific leadership to support the nation’s national and energy security needs. Distinguished R&D Staff are nationally and internationally known science leaders who bring multiple decades of research program experience and a strong vision for how their contributions will enable ORNL to drive and support the next decade of science innovations. In the Geospatial Science and Engineering Division, you will conceptualize, capture, and lead large science programs; build research and investment strategies with division and directorate leadership; mentor early- and mid‑career staff toward greater research impact; and help recruit and hire the best applied S&T talent in the nation. We are specifically recruiting experienced applied S&T leaders aligned with our strategic thrusts, which include the following: Autonomy, GeoAI, Human Security, Geospatial HPC Engineering, Quantum Sensing, and Critical Infrastructure. As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80‑year legacy of addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals. Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is recognized as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

Requirements

Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Computer Science, Data Science, Geospatial Science, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a closely related discipline.
Minimum 12 years of experience with a doctoral degree, or 16 years of experience with a master’s degree.
Proven track record of leadership, including building and managing multidisciplinary teams, developing strategy, hiring, mentoring, and managing scientists, engineers, and technologists.
Demonstrated technical expertise across relevant disciplines, evidenced through peer‑reviewed publications, secured program funding, and/or substantial experience leading technical research, engineering, or product teams to deliver industry solutions.
Experience engaging with federal sponsors or large external stakeholders, successfully managing programs, and interfacing at senior levels.
Ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Energy Q clearance as well as Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) accesses.
Must be able to pass a pre-placement drug test and participate in an ongoing random drug testing program.
May be subject to random polygraph testing due to SCI access.

Nice To Haves

Experience working for or with Department of War or Intelligence Community agencies.
Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in ambiguous or evolving environments, independently clarifying objectives, identifying priorities, and driving work forward without requiring fully defined requirements or step-by-step guidance.
Comfort working across the full spectrum of day-to-day responsibilities, from shaping strategy and defining direction to making hands-on technical contributions and addressing operational details needed to move work forward.
Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to articulate vision and technical concepts to senior leadership, sponsors, and non-technical stakeholders.
Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory.
Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to changing needs.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute science strategies for division, directorate, and laboratory priorities, working across organizations to integrate and represent capabilities and expertise that differentiate ORNL.
Maintain visible thought leadership and national/international recognition within your community by developing and leading R&D programs at the lab, delivering science artifacts (data, code, systems, publications), and representing the lab through presentations at community forums and professional society meetings.
Work with sponsors to define and understand strategic technical or mission capability gaps, and develop proposals to address these gaps. Continually engage with ORNL’s core sponsors and cultivate new sponsors by identifying dual‑use or translational science opportunities based on existing capabilities.
Ensure successful execution of ORNL programs through technical and programmatic leadership and oversight. Maintain strong multidisciplinary teams through clear goals and objectives, and maintain strong sponsor relationships through consistent, on‑time, and on‑budget capability deliveries.
Continuously develop talent to grow world‑class, internationally recognized scientists and engineers within the lab.
Align behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service.
Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.