Computer Engineer – Quantum Computing

Overview

At PNNL,our core capabilities are dividedamongmajor departments that werefer to as Directorates within the Lab,focused on a specific area of scientific research orother function, with its own leadership teamand dedicated budget.

Our Science & Technologydirectoratesinclude 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  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.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is seeking a Computer Engineer 2 with deep expertise in quantum computing technology to support and advance a state‑of‑the‑art quantum computing testbed supporting PNNL’s Internal Research Investment and direct funded projects from the US Dept. of Energy Office of Science. This position resides within a multidisciplinary research environment focused on advancing quantum information science and enabling next‑generation computing architectures for scientific discovery and national security applications.

The selected candidate will contribute technical leadership within a defined science and engineering domain while operating and evolving complex experimental quantum hardware systems. The role requires strong experimental capability, systems‑level thinking across hardware and control stacks, and the ability to define and execute focused technical efforts that contribute to broader programmatic objectives.

The Computer Engineer will serve as a key technical contributor to the laboratory’s quantum computing testbed, taking ownership of defined elements of the hardware and control architecture. The successful candidate will operate, maintain, and enhance quantum systems, including cryogenic infrastructure, control electronics, embedded systems, firmware, and software, ensuring reliable and secure experimental performance.

In collaboration with physicists, engineers, and program managers, the candidate will evaluate technical alternatives, recommend system improvements, and implement upgrades that improve fidelity, stability, scalability, and operational efficiency. The role requires making informed engineering judgments on subsystem design, integration strategies, and performance tradeoffs, while aligning with broader technical direction established at the group and division level.

The Computer Engineer will independently execute recurring experimental campaigns and lead small task‑level projects from planning through delivery. This includes defining scope, establishing milestones, managing technical risk, tracking schedule and budget, and delivering results in the form of data, reports, and technical products.

The selected candidate will build collaborative networks within the laboratory and across partner institutions, facilitating effective use of shared research infrastructure. Mentorship of junior staff, postdoctoral researchers, and students is expected, as is active participation in internal technical reviews.

A strong commitment to quality, safety, and security is essential. The candidate will model and reinforce best practices in laboratory safety,…