Chief Engineer – Physical Embodiment of AI

Employees and their families are offered medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, robust telehealth care options, several mental health benefits, free wellness coaching, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, basic life insurance, disability insurance*, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, tuition assistance, relocation, backup childcare, legal benefits, supplemental parental bonding leave, surrogacy and adoption assistance, and fertility support. Employees are automatically enrolled in our company-funded pension plan* and may enroll in our 401 (k) savings plan with company match*. Employees may accrue up to 120 vacation hours per year and may receive ten paid holidays per year.

• Research Associates excluded.

**All benefits are dependent upon eligibility.

We are seeking a Chief Engineer who can bring automation and autonomy to our R&D. A key facet is engineering the physical embodiment of artificial intelligence—translating advanced AI/ML algorithms into robust, fieldable autonomous robotic systems. This role focuses on the hardware implementation of autonomous systems, using advancements in embodied AI to create self-governing systems that have the capability of adapting without human intervention. It requires deep expertise in mechanical engineering, robotics integration, autonomy architectures, and physical/digital test infrastructure development.

The selected candidate will lead the design and implementation of integrated robotic platforms, digital twin ecosystems, and laboratory-scale autonomy testbeds that accelerate deployment across air, ground, maritime, subsea, and space domains. This role bridges mechanical design, embedded systems, autonomy software, simulation environments, and sponsor-driven mission needs.

Strategic & Technical Leadership

• Define and execute the technical vision for AI-enabled autonomous systems with an emphasis on physical system realization and field transition
• Lead development of integrated autonomy architectures spanning mechanical systems, sensing, controls, embedded compute, and AI/ML stacks
• Translate sponsor mission needs into engineered robotic systems and deployable autonomy capabilities
  Establish digital twin and physical prototyping capabilities that accelerate system validation and transition

Mechanical Engineering & Robotic System Development

• Lead mechanical design and integration of robotic platforms including:
  • Structural systems
  • Actuation and mobility subsystems
  • Power distribution and thermal management
  • Payload integration and sensor mounting architectures
• Engineer robotic embodiments capable of operating in austere and mission-relevant environments
• Develop modular hardware architectures to enable rapid prototyping and mission reconfiguration
• Oversee fabrication, assembly, integration, and validation of robotic platforms
• Conduct system-level trade studies balancing weight, power, compute, and autonomy performance

Autonomy & AI Integration

• Design and implement end-to-end autonomy stacks integrating:
  • Perception (EO/IR, LiDAR, IMU, multi-modal fusion)
  • State estimation and navigation
  • Planning and decision-making
  • Controls and low-level actuation
• Deploy advanced ML architectures onto edge and embedded hardware platforms (e.g., NVIDIA Jetson-class devices)
• Optimize models for real-time, low-latency operation within power- and compute-constrained robotic systems
• Develop scalable MLOps pipelines tailored for robotics environments

Digital Twin & Test Infrastructure Development

• Architect and implement high-fidelity digital twin environments for robotic systems using simulation platforms such as Omniverse, Isaac Sim, Unreal, or equivalent
• Establish software-in-the-loop (SIL), hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), and human-in-the-loop testing frameworks
• Design hybrid physical/digital experimentation workflows linking lab hardware with simulation-based validation
• Develop robotic laboratories and autonomy experimentation facilities capable of supporting multi-domain platforms
• Build data pipelines for synchronized physical and simulated experimentation
• Enable rapid iteration between simulated and real-world deployments

Systems Engineering, Test & Evaluation

• Lead requirements definition, verification, validation, and accreditation (VV&A)
• Execute Test & Evaluation (T&E) for fieldable systems under sponsor constraints
• Conduct performance characterization of mechanical, electrical, and autonomy subsystems
• Ensure systems meet safety, cybersecurity, and compliance requirements for defense applications
• Lead integration and demonstration efforts during on-site DoD test events

Research, Funding & Mentorship

• Shape internal R&D investments in robotic autonomy and physical AI systems
• Author and contribute to proposals, journal publications, technical reports, and patent disclosures
• Sustain and grow sponsor-funded programs
• Mentor junior engineers in mechanical design, robotics integration, and autonomy development
• Advise leadership on emerging technologies in embodied AI and autonomous systems

This position is based in Richland, WA and requires onsite engagement with robotic laboratories and hardware development environments.

• BS/BA and 9+ years of relevant work experience -OR-
• MS/MA and 7+ years of relevant work experience -OR-
• PhD with 5+ years of relevant experience

• Core Technical Depth
  • Demonstrated experience designing and deploying integrated robotic systems
  • Strong background in mechanical system design for mobile or fieldable platforms
  • Experience developing and validating digital twins of physical robotic systems
  • Expertise in autonomy stack integration across hardware and software layers
  • Experience with embedded systems and edge AI optimization
  • Proficiency in Python and modern C++
  • Experience with ROS/ROS2 and robotics middleware
• Testbed & Infrastructure Development
  • Experience building robotic laboratories or autonomy experimentation facilities
  • Experience implementing SIL/HIL frameworks
  • Experience integrating COTS embedded compute platforms (Jetson, Raspberry Pi, M.2 accelerators)
  • Experience generating and scaling datasets through simulation engines (Omniverse, Isaac Sim, Unreal, Blender)
• Research & Field Deployment
  • Sustained experience in autonomous systems R&D
  • Experience transitioning research systems into operational environments
  • Record of peer-reviewed publications or juried conference presentations
  • Experience working with federal sponsors, particularly within defense or national security missions
  • Knowledge of security and compliance requirements for fielded autonomous systems

Not applicable.

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.

A security clearance background investigation includes review of your employment, education, financial, and criminal history, as well as interviews with you and your personal references, neighbors, and co-workers to determine trustworthiness, reliability, and loyalty to the United States. The investigation also examines your foreign connections, drug and alcohol use, foreign influence, and overall conduct.

Requirements:

• U.S. Citizenship
• Background Investigation: Applicants selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter in accordance with 10 CFR 710, Appendix B.
• Drug Testing: All Security Clearance positions are Testing Designated Positions, which means that the applicant selected for hire is subject to pre-employment drug testing, and post-employment random drug testing. In addition, applicants must be able to demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the requisite Questionnaire for National Security Positions (QNSP).

Note: Applicants will be considered ineligible for security clearance processing by the U.S. Department of Energy if non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for 12 months cannot be demonstrated.

This position is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). The candidate selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing for illegal drugs, including marijuana, consistent with the Controlled Substances Act and the PNNL Workplace Substance Abuse Program.