AI-Driven Building Energy Systems Research Engineer II

Overview

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) conducts transformative research in energy, environmental, and national security. The Energy and Environment Directorate focuses on science and technology solutions for the nation’s largest energy challenges.

The Electricity Infrastructure and Buildings Division accelerates the transition to a resilient, secure energy system through research, data analytics, and policy impact.

This role is in the Building Simulation and Design Group (BS & DG) and will develop AI‑enabled building energy systems tools.

Research Engineer II – AI for Building Energy Systems

This position is based in Portland, OR, Richland, WA, or Seattle, WA and requires onsite presence. Hybrid work arrangements may be available in accordance with laboratory policy.

• Contribute to AI‑enabled building energy systems research under DOE mission areas, including modeling, code compliance, performance data analysis, workflow automation, and building controls.

• Join multidisciplinary teams and develop AI methods, computational methods, and workflows that support building research.

• Conduct independent research and develop technical approaches in AI‑enabled building energy systems, including generative AI, large language models, and agentic systems.
• Develop, fine‑tune, test, evaluate, and apply generative AI, large language models, and agentic methods for building research applications, including data curation and technical evaluation.
• Develop and implement analysis methods, modeling workflows, tools, and prototypes for building research applications, integrating AI methods into software tools and technical workflows.
• Contribute to mission‑relevant tools and technical products that support building research and decision‑making.
• Support and contribute to existing building research and engineering projects in these application areas, including established workflows and projects transitioning toward AI‑enabled approaches.
• Lead defined technical tasks or project components with responsibility for assigned scope, schedule, and deliverables.
• Collaborate with project teams, stakeholders, and interdisciplinary partners to understand technical needs and contribute to approaches.
• Provide guidance to interns, students, or junior staff as appropriate.
• Contribute technical ideas, analyses, and writing to proposal development.
• Contribute to technical reports, publications, and conference presentations, and present research results in meetings.
• Maintain awareness of relevant technical developments and emerging methods supporting current and future research activities.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a full academic or research CV.

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS/BA and 2 years of relevant experience – or
• MS/MA – or
• PhD

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD in architectural engineering, building science, mechanical engineering, or a closely related field with at least 2 years of relevant experience beyond the PhD.
• Experience analyzing building energy systems, including modeling, controls, or system performance analysis, and developing technical approaches.
• Experience developing and applying AI or machine learning methods to building energy modeling, analysis, or engineering research problems.
• Strong programming skills for developing tools, scripts, or computational workflows supporting modeling and data analysis.
• Experience leading technical tasks or project components, supporting planning of scope and deliverables, and collaborating with team members.
• Experience contributing to proposal development, including technical writing and analysis support.
• Record of contributing to technical publications or presentations in building energy systems.
• Experience presenting research results at conferences, workshops, or project meetings.

Our laboratory promotes a work environment where all individuals are treated fairly and respectfully while solving critical challenges. PNNL is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and considers all applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, and other protected characteristics.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, contact careers.

Minimum Salary: USD $89,300.00/Yr.

Maximum Salary: USD $/Yr.

Not applicable.