Chief Data Scientist - AI Safety

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

The AI and Data Analytics Division, part of the National Security Directorate, combines profound domain expertise and creative integration of advanced hardware and software to deliver computational solutions that address complex data and analytic challenges. Working in multidisciplinary teams, we connect foundational research to engineering to operations, providing the tools to innovate quickly and field results faster. Our strengths are integrated across the data analytics lifecycle, from data acquisition and management to analysis and decision support.

** Responsibilities*
* Our AI & Data Analytics division is seeking a Chief Data Scientist with deep expertise in data science and experience in AI Safety for national security missions. The selected candidate will lead large, multi-year research and development programs within the AI and Data Analytics Division, which includes over 400 staff specializing in data science, applied mathematics, advanced analytic architectures, software engineering, and human-centered computing.

We support PNNL's mission by contributing to impactful, mission‑focused applied R&D projects that help tackle national security challenges. This role requires deep technical expertise and the ability to translate emerging research into mission-ready capabilities

The Chief Data Scientist will shape national technical direction, engage directly with sponsors and senior leadership, and serve as a strategic partner in aligning PNNL's AI safety portfolio with evolving mission and policy requirements. This individual will guide technical direction, mentor interdisciplinary teams, and collaborate closely with software engineers to transition cutting edge research into field-ready capabilities. In addition to leading research efforts, the Chief Data Scientist will serve as a key interface with sponsors and stakeholders, leveraging domain expertise to align PNNL's research agenda with evolving mission requirements.

** Work Location & Requirements*
* + Based in  
** Richland, WA
** or  
** Seattle, WA
** with  
** onsite presence required*
* +  
** Clearance required**  (see below for details)

+ Travel may be required for stakeholder engagement, project events, and sponsor reviews.

** Key Responsibilities*
* The chosen candidate will have the unique opportunity to drive real-world impact at mission tempo while supporting PNNL's mission to tackle grand challenges through science, technology, and innovation. Key responsibilities will include:

+  
** Strategic Leadership and Vision:*
* + Shape and execute forward-looking strategies for advancing AI Safety research, evaluation methodologies, and trustworthy deployment practices within PNNL's national security mission space.

+ Partner with government sponsors as a senior technical leader, translating evolving mission priorities and operational risk considerations into actionable research direction and investment opportunities.

+ Lead high-visibility proposal development to help shape national investment in frontier-model safety, agentic AI governance, secure machine learning operations, and evaluation infrastructure.

+  
** Scientific and Technical Leadership:*
* + Lead nationally visible AI Safety programs, ensuring technical excellence, sponsor alignment, risk-informed execution, and timely delivery of impactful results.

+ Serve as a senior technical leader in AI Safety, guiding approaches for evaluating, testing, and characterizing the behavior,…