Post Bachelor’s Research Associate - Electrical Engineering

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory • Richland, WA

5d

About The Position

The Post Bachelor’s Research Associate will support electrical engineering research in the Physical Detection Systems and Deployment Division within PNNL’s National Security Directorate. The work focuses on development, assembly, and testing of embedded control and data-acquisition electronics for RF systems and millimeter-wave imaging research, as well as prototype electromagnetic actuator systems. Under technical guidance and appropriate supervision, the associate will contribute to requirements definition, electronics design and integration, FPGA or embedded firmware, laboratory testing, modeling, data analysis, and technical documentation. The position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance and is a Testing Designated Position subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. The minimum qualification is a bachelor’s degree received within the past 24 months or expected within the next 8 months. The role is based at PNNL in eastern Washington State; the posting does not specify a workplace type or work schedule. The listed pay range is USD $27.50–$35.77 per hour.

Requirements

• Must have received a bachelor’s degree within the past 24 months or expect to receive one within the next 8 months from an accredited college or university.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required for this clearance position.
• Must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter under 10 CFR 710, Appendix B, and be subject to a federal background investigation.
• Must demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the Questionnaire for National Security Positions; pre-employment and random drug testing apply.
• Must comply with applicable federal background investigation and credentialing requirements, including HSPD-12 PIV credential requirements where applicable.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or a closely related technical field.
• Coursework or project experience with schematic capture, PCB layout, circuit simulation, board assembly, bring-up, or testing using Altium Designer, KiCad, OrCAD, or similar tools.
• Familiarity with analog, digital, or power-electronic fundamentals, including DC-DC converters, regulators, sensing, grounding, filtering, protection, or basic signal and power integrity.
• Exposure to feedback controls, state machines, sensor or actuator interfaces, motor control, or real-time systems.
• Coursework or project experience with electromagnetic actuators, solenoids, motors, magnetic circuits, electromagnetic simulation, or electromechanical hardware integration.
• Exposure to high-voltage analog or power circuits and understanding of isolation, protection, safe handling, and supervised laboratory procedures.
• FPGA coursework or projects using VHDL, Verilog, or SystemVerilog, or firmware projects using microcontrollers, embedded C/C++, device drivers, or a real-time operating system.
• Familiarity with GPIO and embedded interfaces such as SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, USB, or Ethernet, or with memory-mapped registers and data acquisition.
• Hands-on experience with laboratory tools such as oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, logic analyzers, bench power supplies, LCR meters, impedance analyzers, soldering equipment, or JTAG/SWD debuggers.
• Experience using Python, MATLAB, Git, scripting, or automated test methods for research data collection, analysis, or verification.
• Clear written and verbal communication and interest in collaborating with RF, mechanical, optical, systems, and software researchers.

Responsibilities

• Assist with development, assembly, and testing of embedded control and data-acquisition electronics for RF systems development and millimeter-wave imaging research.
• Contribute to defining electrical, firmware, FPGA, interface, and verification requirements under senior engineers’ technical guidance.
• Support schematic development, component selection, PCB layout review, assembly, board bring-up, and troubleshooting of prototype electronics.
• Assist with evaluation of low-voltage power circuits, including DC-DC conversion, point-of-load regulation, sequencing, protection, grounding, and power distribution.
• Contribute to FPGA logic or embedded firmware for timing, control, data movement, and peripheral interfaces, depending on project needs and the candidate’s background.
• Configure and test GPIO, ADC/DAC, PWM, timers, interrupts, and interfaces such as SPI, I2C, UART, USB, or Ethernet.
• Help integrate hardware, programmable logic, firmware, host software, sensors, actuators, and RF subsystems, and assist with diagnosing interface issues.
• Support electromagnetic actuator research through prototype assembly, control-system integration, testing, data collection, and design iteration.
• Assist with actuator control functions such as sensor feedback, command generation, current or voltage regulation, timing, protection, and closed-loop performance testing.
• Under appropriate supervision and established safety procedures, support high-voltage analog drive and measurement electronics, including sensing, amplification, isolation, filtering, protection, and fault monitoring.
• Assist with electromagnetic modeling and characterization of coil and magnetic-circuit behavior, inductance, force and displacement relationships, thermal effects, parasitics, and coupling.
• Perform impedance and frequency-response measurements using established procedures; organize and analyze results and compare them with models and actuator performance.
• Maintain clear research records, document configurations and results, contribute to test procedures and measurement automation, and participate in technical discussions and design reviews.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Flexible work schedules
• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Telehealth care options
• Mental health benefits
• Wellness coaching
• Health savings account
• Flexible spending accounts
• Basic life insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Business travel insurance
• Tuition assistance
• Relocation assistance
• Backup childcare
• Legal benefits
• Supplemental parental bonding leave
• Surrogacy and adoption assistance
• Fertility support
• Company-funded pension plan
• 401(k) savings plan with company match
• Up to 120 vacation hours per year
• Ten paid holidays per year

What This Job Offers

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