What are the responsibilities and job description for the Nuclear Data Scientist position at Idaho National Laboratory?
Job Description
At Idaho National Laboratory, you'll analyze data and generate results across cloud, on-premises, and edge-based computational architectures, apply technologies including explainable AI, large language models, and physics-informed machine learning, and develop software including 3D visualization tools, parallel software, and web API solutions in support of research objectives. You'll work with domain experts to understand the scope of questions data can answer, design output metrics that describe system behavior, collaborate with government agencies, academia, and industry partners, and publish results in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings.
Essential Job Functions And Responsibilities
While performing the duties of this classification, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, bend, use hands to handle materials, manipulate tools, keyboard and type, reach with hands and arms, and operate job related equipment. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Sufficient visual acuity and hearing capacity to perform the essential functions and interact with people is required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Job Information
We are seeking a senior-level Nuclear Engineer (Level 3/4) to lead and shape the integration of machine learning and data-driven methodologies within complex nuclear engineering programs. The ideal candidate brings deep, hands-on nuclear engineering expertise as their primary qualification, complemented by meaningful experience applying data science and ML tools to real-world nuclear challenges. This is not a software or data science role — it is a nuclear engineering role that leverages computational and analytical techniques.
Our team works a 9x80 schedule located out of our Research and Education Campus in Idaho Falls with every other Friday off.
Benefits and Relocation
INL is a science-based, applied engineering national laboratory dedicated to supporting the U.S. Department of Energy's mission in nuclear energy research, science, and national defense. With more than 6,300 scientists, researchers, and support staff, the laboratory works with national and international governments, universities and industry partners to change the world's energy future and secure our nation's critical infrastructure.
INL Mission
Our mission is to discover, demonstrate and secure innovative nuclear energy solutions, other clean energy options and critical infrastructure.
INL Vision
Our vision is to change the world's energy future and secure our nation's critical infrastructure.
Selective Service Requirements
To be eligible for employment at INL males born after December 31, 1959 must have registered with the Selective Service System (SSS). For more information see www.sss.gov .
Equal Employment Opportunity
Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. It is the policy of INL to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.
Reasonable Accommodation
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
Other Information
When applying to positions please provide a resume and answer all questions on the following screens. Applicants, who fail to provide a resume or answer the questions, may be deemed ineligible for consideration.
INL does not accept resumes from third party vendors unsolicited.
At Idaho National Laboratory, you'll analyze data and generate results across cloud, on-premises, and edge-based computational architectures, apply technologies including explainable AI, large language models, and physics-informed machine learning, and develop software including 3D visualization tools, parallel software, and web API solutions in support of research objectives. You'll work with domain experts to understand the scope of questions data can answer, design output metrics that describe system behavior, collaborate with government agencies, academia, and industry partners, and publish results in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings.
Essential Job Functions And Responsibilities
- Serve as a primary technical authority on the intersection of nuclear engineering and machine learning within the program.
- Lead the scoping, design, and technical oversight of ML-assisted analyses, modeling efforts, and data-driven decision support tools for nuclear applications.
- Provide nuclear domain review and validation of ML model outputs, ensuring physical fidelity and alignment with regulatory or operational standards.
- Mentor and guide junior SMEs and cross-functional team members on nuclear engineering principles as they relate to data science applications.
- Engage with stakeholders, customers, and technical leads to define requirements and communicate complex findings.
- Independently manage technical tasks with high complexity and ambiguity; exercise significant judgment in approach and methodology.
- Actively engage team creation for proposal writing to a variety of external and internal customers.
- Analyze data and generate results in response to data analytics, visualization, and modeling needs on a variety of computational architectures (cloud, on-premises, edge-based).
- Apply advanced technologies, such as Explainable Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML), Large Language Models (LLMs), physics-informed machine learning, systems performance analysis, and/or data sensor fusion methodologies.
- Work with a multi-disciplinary team of scientists and engineers on challenging work scopes.
- Demonstrate effective research skills and the ability to collaborate and partner with other government agencies, academia, and private sector companies to achieve project goals.
- Publish results of research and development in a mix of refereed publications and conference proceedings.
- Work effectively with other research teams to develop and manage cross-cutting technical programs for a variety of customers.
- Develop and maintain notebooks, software, and/or applications.
- Work with software and database developers to develop, test, and deploy software code to development, staging, and production environments.
- Develop software for custom solutions, including but not limited to, 3D visualization tools, parallel software, batch scripting, and web API interaction/development.
- Analyze data quality, characterize, and communicate data quality issues to data providers, and design repeatable data processing procedures to accurately analyze data in the presence of quality issues.
- Work with domain experts to understand the scope and limits of questions that can be answered by data sets, identify key data features as inputs to analysis, and design output metrics that elegantly describe system attributes and behavior.
- Employ specialized methods and state-of-the-art data analysis and modeling tools to support INL's mission by ensuring the nation’s safe, competitive, and sustainable use of engineered systems in many domains by applying capabilities to impactful issues in risk, reliability, and operational performance.
- Adhere to INL policies and lab-wide procedures related to software development, cybersecurity, and management of sensitive information and data.
- Work with data providers, database administrators, and software developers to diagnose and solve problems with data and software systems quickly and effectively.
- Level 3: An advanced degree in data science, nuclear engineering, or related technical discipline, and a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience.
- Level 4: An Master's degree in data science, nuclear engineering, or related technical discipline, and a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience, or a PhD in the same fields and 4 years of relevant experience.
- Demonstrated experience applying data analysis, machine learning, or scientific computing tools in an engineering context.
- Strong ability to critically evaluate ML-based results through a nuclear engineering lens.
- Proven track record of technical leadership and cross-functional collaboration.
- Proven track record of proposal submissions.
- Proven track record of publications.
- PhD in Nuclear Engineering or related discipline.
- Experience with nuclear simulation and modeling codes (e.g., MCNP, SCALE, RELAP, MOOSE, OpenMC).
- Familiarity with ML frameworks such as scikit-learn, TensorFlow, or PyTorch at an applied level.
- Prior experience supporting government, national laboratory, or defense nuclear programs.
- Experience with uncertainty quantification or sensitivity analysis in nuclear systems.
While performing the duties of this classification, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, bend, use hands to handle materials, manipulate tools, keyboard and type, reach with hands and arms, and operate job related equipment. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Sufficient visual acuity and hearing capacity to perform the essential functions and interact with people is required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Job Information
We are seeking a senior-level Nuclear Engineer (Level 3/4) to lead and shape the integration of machine learning and data-driven methodologies within complex nuclear engineering programs. The ideal candidate brings deep, hands-on nuclear engineering expertise as their primary qualification, complemented by meaningful experience applying data science and ML tools to real-world nuclear challenges. This is not a software or data science role — it is a nuclear engineering role that leverages computational and analytical techniques.
Our team works a 9x80 schedule located out of our Research and Education Campus in Idaho Falls with every other Friday off.
- The pay range for this position is: Level 3 ($95,256 - $195,288) / Level 4 ($114,360 - $234,336). At Idaho National Laboratory compensation decisions are determined using factors such as education, relevant experience, and other credentials.
- Multi-Level: This is a multi-level posting and you will be placed at the appropriate level dependent on depth and breadth of proven experience and skills.
Benefits and Relocation
- Medical, Dental, Vision, and Flexible Spending Accounts
- 401(k) with a 4.2% employer contribution and up to 4.8% match (regular positions) or self-contribute access (postdoctoral positions)
- Paid time off (personal leave)
- Employee Education Program (tuition assistance for eligible positions)
- Comprehensive Relocation Package
- Benefit eligibility subject to multiple factors, including employment status and position classification.
INL is a science-based, applied engineering national laboratory dedicated to supporting the U.S. Department of Energy's mission in nuclear energy research, science, and national defense. With more than 6,300 scientists, researchers, and support staff, the laboratory works with national and international governments, universities and industry partners to change the world's energy future and secure our nation's critical infrastructure.
INL Mission
Our mission is to discover, demonstrate and secure innovative nuclear energy solutions, other clean energy options and critical infrastructure.
INL Vision
Our vision is to change the world's energy future and secure our nation's critical infrastructure.
Selective Service Requirements
To be eligible for employment at INL males born after December 31, 1959 must have registered with the Selective Service System (SSS). For more information see www.sss.gov .
Equal Employment Opportunity
Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. It is the policy of INL to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.
Reasonable Accommodation
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
Other Information
When applying to positions please provide a resume and answer all questions on the following screens. Applicants, who fail to provide a resume or answer the questions, may be deemed ineligible for consideration.
INL does not accept resumes from third party vendors unsolicited.
Salary : $95,256 - $195,288