Research Analyst 1

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory•Richland, WA

1d•$28 - $40

About The Position

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s (PNNL) Earth System Science Division (ESSD) advances national security and energy resilience by integrating science, engineering, and decision analytics. We tackle complex, interconnected problems across the dynamic Earth system, applying a “science-to-solutions” approach that transforms research into actionable impact. The Applied Decision Systems & Analytics (ADSA) group develops tools, analysis, and decision-support capabilities that help sponsors navigate high-consequence challenges in energy, environment, intelligence, and national defense. Our work blends rigorous analysis, multidisciplinary collaboration, and modern digital systems to deliver transparent, reproducible, and deeply mission-relevant insights. ADSA is seeking creative, motivated early-career analysts who are passionate about shaping decision frameworks, organizing complex information, and enabling applied research that strengthens our nation’s security and resilience. In this role, you will contribute analytical, organizational, and systems-level insight that enables high-impact mission work.

Requirements

BS/BA or higher
U.S. Citizenship
Ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.
Must be able to demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the requisite Questionnaire for National Security Positions (QNSP).

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree plus 0-2 years of relevant experience.
Master’s degree in Energy Policy, Environmental Policy, Public Policy, Systems Science, Engineering, Data/Decision Science, or a related field.
Experience with workflow automation or digital collaboration tools (e.g., Power Automate, Teams, SharePoint, OneNote, Forms/Lists).
Exposure to systems analysis, decision science, risk assessment, or multi criteria evaluation.
Experience structuring and managing information in complex, multi project environments.
Strong writing and communication skills, including the ability to synthesize technical information for diverse audiences.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams and adapt to evolving mission priorities.

Responsibilities

Conduct research, structured analysis, and decision-oriented evaluations to support national security, energy, and environmental missions.
Develop analytic artifacts such as workflows, decision trees, structured assessments, and data-informed recommendations.
Integrate and interpret information from diverse technical, regulatory, and operational sources to support multidisciplinary projects.
Curate, organize, and maintain knowledge repositories, project artifacts, digital workspaces, and structured datasets that support research and decision-making.
Support transparent, reproducible processes by implementing consistent data organization, metadata structures, reporting workflows, and information lifecycle practices.
Utilize digital collaboration and workflow tools (e.g., Teams, SharePoint, Power Automate, task-tracking systems, data management platforms) to enhance project efficiency and situational awareness.
Develop lightweight automated workflows or digital tools to improve reporting, tracking, and analytical processes.
Support adoption of new technologies and techniques that improve team effectiveness.
Support program- and project-level coordination across multiple technical domains, schedules, and stakeholders.
Help organize and track deliverables, technical milestones, and cross-project dependencies.
Assess and communicate implications of new information, shifting priorities, or operational constraints.
Prepare materials for sponsor interactions, including agendas, briefing content, analytic summaries, and post-meeting notes.
Collaborate closely with scientists, engineers, project managers, and technical leads to capture needs, align expectations, and facilitate clarity across teams.
Contribute to high-quality, publishable reports, briefings, and decision-support products.
Provide domain knowledge and insight on national-level mission needs to multidisciplinary project teams comprised of scientists and engineers.