Computer Scientist (Scientist 2​/3

Computer Scientist (Scientist 2/3)

Los Alamos National Laboratory is seeking a highly motivated Database Engineer/Computer Scientist to help modernize and transform surveillance and predictive analytics capabilities through scalable data infrastructure, advanced analytics, and AI-enabled technologies. This opportunity is well suited for candidates from industry, national laboratories, academia, government or other technical environments who are interested in applying their database and computer science expertise to mission-driven work.

This role will support the development of next-generation digital systems designed to integrate, structure, and analyze large-scale engineering and surveillance datasets. The selected candidate will help enable predictive insight, risk-informed decision-making, and long-term mission assurance. The ideal candidate is passionate about building robust data architectures, enabling AI/ML workflows, and solving complex engineering data challenges in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

Key responsibilities include:

• Design, build, and maintain scalable, high-performance database architectures for engineering and surveillance data
• Develop automated data pipelines to ingest, clean, structure, validate, and integrate large datasets from multiple sources
• Support AI/ML and advanced analytics applications by preparing and optimizing data environments for predictive modeling
• Implement efficient data storage, retrieval, and query solutions for high-volume and real-time processing
• Collaborate with engineers, analysts, and scientists to develop integrated data solutions supporting predictive surveillance and system health monitoring
• Develop tools and workflows to correlate data across components, assemblies, and assets
• Ensure data integrity, security, accessibility, and long-term maintainability of database systems
• Support visualization, reporting, and analytical tools enabling actionable technical insight

Minimum job requirements include:

• Experience designing, developing, managing, or optimizing relational and/or non-relational database systems, including data modeling, schema design, query development, indexing, and performance tuning.
• Proficiency with SQL and Python, with experience developing automated data pipelines, ETL/ELT workflows, data integration processes, or model-ready datasets.
• Familiarity with AI/ML workflows, predictive analytics environments, feature engineering, or data preparation practices that support advanced modeling and analysis.
• Experience working with large, complex, or heterogeneous technical datasets, including engineering, scientific, manufacturing, test, surveillance, or system health data.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary technical teams across engineering, science, analytics, and software disciplines.

Additional job requirements for Scientist 3 include:

• Technical leadership:
  Experience leading complex technical projects, guiding technical direction, and making independent decisions related to database architecture, data integration, or analytical infrastructure
• Advanced system architecture:
  Experience designing scalable, reliable, secure, and maintainable data systems that integrate information across multiple sources
• Strategic data integration:
  Experience developing strategies to integrate diverse engineering, scientific, surveillance, or operational datasets in support of analytics, reporting, and decision-making
• Mentorship and team coordination:
  Experience mentoring staff, coordinating multidisciplinary technical teams, and communicating technical recommendations to leadership, customers, or stakeholders
• Innovation and capability development:
  Experience identifying, evaluating, and implementing data engineering tools, methods, or technologies that improve analytical capability, workflow efficiency, or mission outcomes

Education/experience at the Level 2 requires a Bachelor's degree in a STEM field from an accredited college and university and 4 years of related experience, typically with post-doctoral research experience at a university or national lab or equivalent experience directly related to the occupation.

Education/experience at the Level 3 requires a Master's degree in a STEM field from an accredited college or university and 6 years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Desired qualifications include:

• Experience in one or more of the following areas is especially valuable:
• Database platforms such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Neo4j, or similar technologies
• Python data tools such as Pandas, Num Py, SQL Alchemy, PySpark, or related libraries
• Data modeling, schema design, indexing, performance tuning, and query optimization
• Cloud computing, distributed computing, or high-performance computing environments
• AI/ML data preparation, feature engineering, or model-ready dataset development
• Integration of engineering,…