Electrical and Electromechanical Systems Engineer III

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

Our Science & Technologydirectoratesinclude National Security,Earthand 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 facilityhoused on the PNNL campus.

The National Security Directorate (NSD) drives science-based, mission-focused solutions to take on complex,real-world threats to our nation and the world.

The Physical Detection Systems and Deployment Division (PDSD), part of NSD, delivers policy-informed technology solutions by removing barriers to real-world implementation. We strive to understand end-user environments to transition technology from the developmental stage to deployment. Our diverse expertise in operational systems provides tools, technologies, and approaches for combating a range of threats, both at home and in more than 100 countries around the globe.

The Disruptive Technology group, part of PDSD, supports national-security missions requiring instrumentation, control systems, data acquisition, measurement science, and technical problem solving across physics and engineering applications.

The Disruptive Technology group is seeking an Electrical and Electromechanical Systems Engineer III with electrical engineering and electromechanical systems experience to support hardware development, integration, troubleshooting, and deployment of complex measurement systems.

This role will also support nuclear event monitoring and related deployable measurement-system activities, including next-generation in-field gas analysis systems for detection and characterization of radioactive noble gases.

The successful candidate will be expected to learn the technical mission area, execute hands-on engineering work, and grow into a project-facing technical contributor who can interact with sponsors and support higher-level technical planning.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop, review, and maintain electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, interface definitions, and configuration-controlled technical documentation for prototype and deployed instrumentation systems.
• Design, implement, and troubleshoot control-system hardware for integrated gas-processing systems.
• Troubleshoot low-voltage and high-voltage electrical circuits, instrument wiring, sensor interfaces, power distribution, grounding, noise, and system integration issues in laboratory and deployment-like environments.
• Support electromechanical system development, assembly, verification, commissioning, field-readiness activities, field deployment support, and post-test troubleshooting.
• Connect measurement-system needs with practical engineering outputs, including subsystem requirements, test plans, acceptance criteria, and corrective-action recommendations.
• Analyze operational and experimental data to diagnose system performance, identify failure modes, and recommend design or process improvements.
• Contribute to automation, maintainability, throughput, consumables reduction, and measurement-efficiency improvements for next-generation deployable detection systems.
• Coordinate with scientists, software engineers, mechanical engineers, technicians, project managers, and sponsors to deliver safe, reliable, and mission-relevant technical outcomes.
• Prepare figures, test summaries, engineering notes, technical reports, and presentation materials for internal project reviews, sponsor discussions, and technical decision-making.
• Operate with high standards for quality, safety, security, conduct of research, and protection of sensitive information.

This position is based in Richland, WA and requires an onsite presence Monday through Friday.

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS/BA and 5+ years of relevant work experience
  -OR-
• MS/MA and 3+ years of relevant work experience
  -OR-
• PhD with 1+ year of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Systems Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Physics, or a closely related field.
• Experience designing, documenting, integrating, and troubleshooting control systems or instrumentation hardware.
• Hands-on experience with prototype wiring, sensors, signal conditioning, DAQ interfaces, power supplies, relays, interlocks, electrical safety practices, and laboratory troubleshooting.
• Working knowledge of electromechanical systems involving gas handling, vacuum systems, compressors, valves, detectors, embedded controllers, PLCs, or automated test systems.
• Ability to translate ambiguous system behavior into structured troubleshooting plans, test procedures, data reviews, and corrective actions.
• Experience supporting fieldable or deployable systems, including configuration management, maintainability, verification, and…