Senior Research Software Engineer

Requisition

Overview:

We are seeking a Senior Research Software Engineer to join the Incident Modeling and Computational Sciences (IMCS) Group in the National Security Sciences Directorate (NSSD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). IMCS develops and maintains state-of-the-art modeling and simulation tools supporting nuclear forensics, nuclear weapon effects, and radiological consequence management for DOE, DOD, and DHS sponsors. In this role, you will serve as a senior technical leader responsible for the architecture, development, and sustained operation of enterprise AI and data infrastructure, including Docker-based microservices, large language model (LLM) inference servers on GPU clusters, vector database and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines, and observability stacks that advance AI capabilities across the laboratory.

The successful candidate will work independently and lead collaboratively, driving technical decisions, mentoring junior staff, and partnering with multidisciplinary teams of scientists, data engineers, and system administrators to deliver reliable, secure, and high-performance AI services to ORNL researchers.

Basic Qualifications:

* A PhD in computer science, software engineering, or a related technical field and a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience, or an MS in these areas with a minimum of 12 years of relevant experience.

* Demonstrated experience designing, deploying, and operating complex software systems or AI/ML infrastructure in a research, national security, or comparable production environment.

* Experience leading or making significant technical contributions to multi-component software projects, including ownership of architecture decisions and delivery of results to stakeholders.

* Experience deploying and managing containerized applications using Docker and Docker Compose or equivalent technologies in multi-service environments.

* Demonstrated proficiency in Python and at least one additional language (e.g., JavaScript, Bash, C++).

* Experience with Linux shell scripting and working in HPC or GPU cluster environments.

* Experience presenting technical work to diverse audiences, including both technical peers and non-specialist stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications:

* Deep expertise deploying and operating LLM inference infrastructure, including serving frameworks such as vLLM, Ollama, or comparable tools, and model routing or proxy solutions such as LiteLLM.

* Experience architecting or administering vector database and RAG pipelines (e.g., Milvus, Chroma

DB, or similar) at scale.

* Expertise in reverse proxy and web infrastructure, including Nginx configuration, TLS/mTLS certificate management, Web Socket proxying, and authentication sub request patterns.

* Experience designing and operating observability stacks using Open Telemetry, Prometheus, Grafana, Loki, Tempo, or equivalent tooling.

* Experience maintaining security-sensitive forks of open-source projects, including upstream merge management, CVE triage, patch backporting, and coordinated disclosure workflows.

* Familiarity with JavaScript or Type Script and component-based frontend frameworks such as Svelte or React.

* Demonstrated experience mentoring junior engineers or leading multidisciplinary technical teams.

* Experience contributing to research proposals, white papers, or program development activities with federal sponsors or comparable R&D organizations.

* Experience working with DOE National Laboratories or other federal research institutions.

* Excellent written and oral communication skills.

* Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever-changing needs.

Special Requirements :

* This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance from the Department of Energy. As such, this position is a Workplace Substance Abuse (WSAP) testing designated position. WSAP positions require passing a pre-placement drug test and participation in an ongoing random drug testing program. In addition, due the SCI, you may also be subject to random polygraph testing.

About ORNL

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation's most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment.

These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans…