Senior Scientist - Quantum Computing

Overview

At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments that we refer to as Directorates within the Lab, focused on a specific area of scientific research or other function, with its own leadership team and dedicated budget.

Our Science & Technology directorates include National Security, Earth and Biological Sciences, Physical and Computational Sciences, and Energy and Environment. In addition, we have an Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus.

The Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate's (PCSD's) strengths in experimental, computational, and theoretical chemistry and materials science, together with our advanced computing, applied mathematics and data science capabilities, are central to the discovery mission we embrace at PNNL. But our most important resource is our people-experts across the range of scientific disciplines who team together to take on the biggest scientific challenges of our time.?

The Advanced Computing, Mathematics, and Data Division (ACMDD) focuses on basic and applied computing research encompassing artificial intelligence,?applied mathematics, computing technologies, and data and computational engineering. Our scientists and engineers apply end-to-end co-design principles to advance future energy-efficient computing systems and design the next generation of algorithms to analyze, model, understand, and control the behavior of complex systems in science, energy, and national security.

Responsibilities

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory seeks a Senior Scientist in Quantum Computing to provide scientific leadership and technical expertise in quantum computing architectures, compilation, large-scale simulation, and fault-tolerant scalability, supporting PNNL's contributions to the Quantum Science Center (QSC) and PNNL's Internal Research Investment QuAADS.

This position is focused on end-to-end, system-level research across the quantum computing stack and hybrid quantum HPC systems. The successful candidate will lead and conduct research in aligning architectures, compilers, error models, simulation, and hybrid quantum-classical execution to determine how fault-tolerant quantum computing can be realized in practice for scientific workloads. A key responsibility of this role is extending PNNL's existing quantum software and simulation capabilities, including large-scale, noise-aware simulation on leadership-class HPC systems. This is a senior technical role with substantial engagement in research, modeling, and software direction.

The Computer Scientist will lead research and development efforts in the design and evaluation of quantum computing architectures and fault-tolerant systems, focusing on feasibility, scalability, and implications for scientific workloads. The successful candidate will select and develop technical approaches for complex problems with limited oversight and will deliver results through publications, reusable software, and technical products.

The role includes leading and integrating task-level contributions across disciplines, working closely with hybrid algorithms, scientific applications, and experimental validation teams. The candidate will contribute to coordinated development across relevant stack components-such as compilation strategies, error and noise modeling, simulation methods, and hybrid execution models-ensuring technical consistency and clear documentation.

A major focus is conducting large-scale, noise-aware simulation and advancing and applying PNNL's Northwest Quantum Simulator (NWQ-Sim) to study architectural scalability, compilation strategies, and fault-tolerance tradeoffs under realistic assumptions. The candidate will lead small to medium project tasks (and serve as PI or co-PI where appropriate), supporting scoping, scheduling, and milestone execution while integrating the work of collaborators.

The Computer Scientist will contribute to proposal development and business development activities, generating technical ideas and leading technical sections of proposals within their area. The role includes mentoring junior staff, postdoctoral researchers, and students, and participating in internal technical reviews. The successful candidate will model strong expectations for quality, reproducibility, and secure research execution, and will communicate technical results to both internal stakeholders and external professional audiences.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS/BA and 5+ years of relevant experience -OR-

• MS/MA and 3+ years of relevant experience -OR-

• PhD with 1+ year of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Computer Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related discipline.

• Established expertise in quantum computing systems, architectures, or software, with demonstrated contributions in one or more of: compilation, simulation, system-level modeling, or fault-tolerant methods.

• Applied knowledge of quantum error correction concepts and fault-tolerant architectural tradeoffs sufficient to conduct system-level evaluation under realistic noise/error assumptions.

• Demonstrated ability to lead defined technical efforts, select technical approaches for complex problems with limited oversight, and deliver results through publications and/or reusable research software.

• Experience contributing to proposals and funded research activities; experience serving as PI/co-PI or leading major tasks is valued.

• Track record of peer-reviewed publications, open or internal software contributions, and clear technical communication; growing engagement in the external research community is expected.

• Experience mentoring junior researchers, postdoctoral scholars, or students is a plus.

• Prior experience in DOE-funded programs, national laboratories, or comparable research environments.

Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment

Not Applicable

Testing Designated Position

This is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP).

About PNNL

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a world-class research institution powered by a highly educated, diverse workforce committed to the values of Integrity, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Courage. Every year, scores of dynamic, driven people come to PNNL to work with renowned researchers on meaningful science, innovations and outcomes for the U.S. Department of Energy and other sponsors; here is your chance to be one of them!

At PNNL, you will find an exciting research environment and excellent benefits including health insurance, and flexible work schedules. PNNL is located in eastern Washington State-the dry side of Washington known for its stellar outdoor recreation and affordable cost of living. The Lab's campus is only a 45-minute flight (or ~3 hour drive) from Seattle or Portland, and is serviced by the convenient PSC airport, connected to 8 major hubs.

Commitment to Excellence and Equal Employment Opportunity

Our laboratory is committed to fostering a work environment where all individuals are treated with fairness and respect while solving critical challenges in fundamental sciences, national security, and energy resiliency. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. PNNL considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), protected veteran status, and any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local laws.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures and in employment. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, contact us at careers@pnnl.gov .

Drug Free Workplace

PNNL is committed to a drug-free workplace supported by Workplace Substance Abuse Program (WSAP) and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs.

If you are offered employment at PNNL, you must pass a drug test prior to commencing employment. PNNL complies with federal law regarding illegal drug use. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug. If you test positive for any illegal controlled substance, including marijuana, your offer of employment will be withdrawn.

Security, Credentialing, and Eligibility Requirements

As a national laboratory, PNNL is responsible for adhering to the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which require new employees to obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 Personal Identify Verification (PIV) Credential. To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete the applicable tier of federal background investigation post hire and receive a favorable federal adjudication. The tier of federal background investigation will be determined by job duties and national security or public trust responsibilities associated with the job. All tiers of investigation include a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last 1 to 7 years (depending on the applicable tier of investigation). Illegal drug activities include marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.

For foreign national candidates:

If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) Federal risk determination to maintain employment. Once you meet the three-year residency requirement thereafter, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment. The tier of federal background investigation required to obtain the PIV credential will be determined by job duties at the time you become eligible for the PIV credential.

Mandatory Requirements

Please be aware that the Department of Energy (DOE) prohibits DOE employees and contractors from having any affiliation with the foreign government of a country DOE has identified as a "country of risk" without explicit approval by DOE and Battelle. If you are offered a position at PNNL and currently have any affiliation with the government of one of these countries, you will be required to disclose this information and recuse yourself of that affiliation or receive approval from DOE and Battelle prior to your first day of employment.

Rockstar Rewards

Employees and their families are offered medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, robust telehealth care options, several mental health benefits, free wellness coaching, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, basic life insurance, disability insurance*, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, tuition assistance, relocation, backup childcare, legal benefits, supplemental parental bonding leave, surrogacy and adoption assistance, and fertility support. Employees are automatically enrolled in our company-funded pension plan* and may enroll in our 401 (k) savings plan with company match*. Employees may accrue up to 120 vacation hours per year and may receive ten paid holidays per year.

• Research Associates excluded.

**All benefits are dependent upon eligibility.

Click Here For Rockstar Rewards (https://careers.pnnl.gov/rockstar-rewards)

Notice to Applicants

PNNL lists the full pay range for the position in the job posting. Starting pay is calculated from the minimum of the pay range and actual placement in the range is determined based on an individual's relevant job-related skills, qualifications, and experience. This approach is applicable to all positions, with the exception of positions governed by collective bargaining agreements and certain limited-term positions which have specific pay rules.

As part of our commitment to fair compensation practices, we do not ask for or consider current or past salaries in making compensation offers at hire. Instead, our compensation offers are determined by the specific requirements of the position, prevailing market trends, applicable collective bargaining agreements, pay equity for the position type, and individual qualifications and skills relevant to the performance of the position.

Minimum Salary

USD $122,100.00/Yr.

Maximum Salary

USD $193,000.00/Yr.