ML and Optimization Engineer

National Laboratory of the Rockies • Golden, CO

1d • $100,400 - $180,700 • Onsite

About The Position

The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) is seeking an accomplished full-time software engineer with experience in AI, optimization, applied mathematics, and high-performance computing within the Computational Science Center (CSC) with a focus on advancing energy innovation by supporting world class research and leadership in computational science. In the CSC, we integrate discovery science, engineering, and mission delivery to translate breakthrough research into operational capabilities, with core strengths in high‑performance computing, AI/ML, modeling and simulation, and visualization. We steward state‑of‑the‑art supercomputing and data facilities, secure research environments (including classified spaces), and specialized testbeds that enable end‑to‑end development and red‑team evaluation. NLR collaborates across DOE program offices and with the defense and intelligence communities, other federal agencies, universities, and industry through public–private partnerships and technology transition pathways, while fostering a culture of scientific excellence, operational rigor, and responsible research. In this position you will design, develop, and rigorously test software applications and components, utilizing best practices and cutting-edge technologies to pave the way for innovative, collaborative, and hybrid computing solutions supporting NLR’s mission critical research projects. Candidates will work across the full research-to-implementation stack including designing and evaluating AI models, translating findings into production-ready systems, and occasionally diving into the quantitative underpinnings that make intelligent systems behave reliably in constrained, real-world settings. This isn't a role where AI and optimization live in separate silos. Candidates are expected to reason across both. Strong software engineering fundamentals are the foundation. Beyond that, candidates should have meaningful experience with modern AI/ML such as deep learning, probabilistic modeling, large-scale inference, foundation models, and applied AI in a specific domain. Candidates understand the difference between a benchmark result and a deployed system, and know how to close that gap. On the optimization side, candidates are expected to be comfortable with formulating and reasoning about constrained optimization problems. Candidates should possess a willingness to go deep when the work demands it. Candidates should have a strong technical background, good work ethic, experience in leadership and mentorship, and be comfortable to quickly learn and apply new technologies, as the role will include self-starting and performing technical tasks independently. The role also requires collaboration and effective communication with peers, mentors, and team members. The successful candidate will not shy away from tackling challenges, but rather, demonstrate eagerness to engineer creative solutions. In this vein, the candidate should have a high degree of curiosity, excitement to work on a team, and ability to adapt to needs of different projects and challenges by gaining and utilizing new skills in support of research goals.

Requirements

• Relevant Bachelor's Degree and 5 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant Master's Degree and 3 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant PhD or equivalent relevant education/experience.
• Complete understanding and wide application of principles, concepts and techniques in specific field.
• General knowledge of related IS disciplines.
• Strong leadership and project management skills.
• Skilled in analytical techniques, practices and problem solving.
• Advanced programming, design and analysis abilities with various computer software programs and information systems.
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
• Demonstrated experience with pytorch and tensorflow.
• Demonstrated experience writing clean, efficient, and maintainable code, adhering to coding standards and guidelines.
• Demonstrated experience designing, developing, and testing software applications and components using best practices and modern technologies.
• Demonstrated knowledge in Python and at least one other major programming language, such as JavaScript/TypeScript,, Java, or C/C++.
• Ability to communicate complex technical documentation of software architecture, design decisions, and technical specifications with precision and clarity, providing valuable insights for team collaboration and future reference.
• Effective communication skills to participate in code reviews, provide constructive feedback to ensure code quality and consistency across the team.
• Openness to alternative methods and willingness to adjust plans as circumstances evolve.
• Works effectively with others toward a common goal, valuing differing perspectives and contributions.
• Demonstrated experience in a research lab environment including technical publication experience, experience in writing proposals, ability to context shift and be able to support multiple projects at once, experience supporting junior-level researchers and developers.

Nice To Haves

• First-author publication(s)
• Open-source software release(s)
• Ability to obtain a clearance

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and rigorously test software applications and components, utilizing best practices and cutting-edge technologies to pave the way for innovative, collaborative, and hybrid computing solutions supporting NLR’s mission critical research projects.
• Work across the full research-to-implementation stack including designing and evaluating AI models, translating findings into production-ready systems, and occasionally diving into the quantitative underpinnings that make intelligent systems behave reliably in constrained, real-world settings.
• Reason across both AI and optimization.
• Understand the difference between a benchmark result and a deployed system, and know how to close that gap.
• Formulate and reason about constrained optimization problems.
• Go deep when the work demands it.
• Quickly learn and apply new technologies.
• Perform technical tasks independently.
• Collaborate and communicate effectively with peers, mentors, and team members.
• Engineer creative solutions.
• Adapt to needs of different projects and challenges by gaining and utilizing new skills in support of research goals.

Benefits

• medical, dental, and vision insurance
• pension benefits
• 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match
• sick leave (where required by law)
• performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component
• relocation expense reimbursement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level