Computer Engineer – 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  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 (PNNL) is seeking a Computer Engineer 3 with deep expertise in quantum computing technology to advance and expand a state-of-the-art quantum computing testbed supporting the Quantum Science Center and PNNL’s Quantum Algorithms and Architectures for Domain Sciences (QuAADS) initiative.

This position is intended for an established technical leader who brings recognized expertise within a defined science and engineering domain and contributes meaningfully to shaping technical direction at the group and division level.

The selected candidate will play a central role in developing quantum computing capabilities that support scientific discovery and national security missions.

The Computer Engineer will provide technical leadership for the laboratory’s quantum computing testbed, defining and advancing elements of the hardware, control, and integration architecture. The role includes ownership of critical subsystems spanning cryogenic infrastructure, control electronics, embedded systems, firmware, and software, with responsibility for ensuring performance, reliability, and secure operation.

Working collaboratively with physicists, engineers, computer scientists, and program managers, the candidate will identify strategic technical opportunities, select and develop appropriate engineering approaches, and implement system improvements that enhance fidelity, coherence, scalability, and operational robustness. The successful candidate will contribute directly to setting technical direction within their specialization and will influence capability development across the division.

At the project level, the Computer Engineer will serve as Principal Investigator (PI) or co-PI on projects and major tasks. Responsibilities include defining scope, developing technical approaches, integrating contributions from multidisciplinary team members, and supporting scoping, scheduling, and budgeting activities. The candidate will independently resolve complex technical challenges with only occasional oversight and will be accountable for delivering results aligned with cost, schedule, and performance objectives.

The selected individual will actively generate new technical ideas and contribute to business development efforts, leading technical sections of small to medium proposals and contributing to larger strategic initiatives. Demonstrated ability to attract and manage research funding with programmatic impact at the sector and division level is expected.

Organizationally, the Computer Engineer will build and optimize division-level capabilities in quantum…