Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Post Masters Research Associate – User Experience & Product Design
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Seattle, Washington, us, 98127
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 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 We are seeking a Post Masters User Experience Design Research Associate to support the design and development of complex analytical systems with AI features in mission environments.
Collaborate and provide designs and concepts for multi-disciplinary teams to define user interaction and workflow models for research and product features
Identify mission challenges and formulate design solutions methodically
Apply good design and innovative problem-solving skills to solve challenging technical problems. Initiate personal direction and goals.
Demonstrate outstanding verbal and written communication skills and the ability to work in a collaborative environment
Be passionate and self-motivated with good time management skills
Ability to work well with software developers and project managers and possibly the users of the software applications
Critical Technologies
Visual Design – Figma, Adobe Creative Suite
Processes – Human Centered Design & Design Thinking
Development – Design Systems, Component Libraries, Figma Make Prototyping, First Draft & Sites
AI – MCP & Agentic Design/Development techniques
National Interest Project Examples
Detect and prevent smuggling of drugs and contraband at ports of entry
Develop at-scale data pipelines to thwart funding for terrorists, nuclear proliferators, drug cartels, and rogue leaders
Applying data solutions to national security problems
Detect and respond to advanced cyber threats with at-edge computing
Develop capabilities for scalable geospatial analytics
Use remotely sensed imagery to identify and monitor the progression of wildfires
Apply automation technologies to secure infrastructure and facilities for national security interests
How We Work
Locations – Richland, WA with partners and collaborators in Seattle, WA and Washington, D.C.
Agile development environment – Scrum meetings, standups, demos, and retrospectives
Partners – Work with government, academic, industry, and other partners to solve problems
Team Sizes – Typically around 5-10 members, although projects can be more than 100 or just a few members
Team Compositions – Our teams include cloud engineers, machine learning engineers, data scientists/domain experts, UI/UX designers, front-end developers, scrums masters, product owners, and most importantly, users
Qualifications Minimum Qualifications:
Candidates must have received a Master’s degree within the past 24 months or within the next 8 months from an accredited college or university.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with visual, media, and graphic design
Experience with designing user driven applications (web applications, etc.)
Experience with creating wireframes, visual mockups, and component libraries
Experience using design software, including Figma
Experience with creating prototypes
Ability to provide an online portfolio or samples at the time of interview
Experience with HTML, JavaScript, CSS a plus
Experience with Agentic AI and AI supported development a plus
Ability to get and maintain a security clearance
Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment Not Applicable
Additional Information This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.
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.
Testing Designated Position 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.
Commitment to Excellence and Equal Employment Opportunity Our laboratory is committed to fostering a work environment where all individuals are treated with fairness and respect while solving critical challenges in fundamental sciences, national security, and energy resiliency. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
Drug Free Workplace PNNL is committed to a drug‑free workplace supported by Workplace Substance Abuse Program (WSAP) and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs.
If you are offered employment at PNNL, you must pass a drug test prior to commencing employment. PNNL complies with federal law regarding illegal drug use. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug. If you test positive for any illegal controlled substance, including marijuana, your offer of employment will be withdrawn.
Security, Credentialing, and Eligibility Requirements New employees must obtain and maintain a HSPD‑12 Personal Identify Verification (PIV) credential. The credential is obtained after successful completion of a federal background investigation and favorable adjudication. All tiers of investigation include a declaration of illegal drug activities. For foreign nationals, residency requirements apply.
Mandatory Requirements DOE prohibits employees and contractors from having any affiliation with the foreign government of a country DOE has identified as a “country of risk” without explicit approval. Applicants with such affiliations must disclose and recuse themselves or obtain approval before starting employment.
Rockstar Rewards 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.)
Notice to Applicants PNNL lists the full pay range for the position in the job posting. Starting pay is calculated from the minimum of the pay range and actual placement in the range is determined based on an individual’s relevant job‑related skills, qualifications, and experience. This approach is applicable to all positions, with the exception of positions governed by collective bargaining agreements and certain limited‑term positions which have specific pay rules.
As part of our commitment to fair compensation practices, we do not ask for or consider current or past salaries in making compensation offers at hire. Instead, our compensation offers are determined by the specific requirements of the position, prevailing market trends, applicable collective bargaining agreements, pay equity for the position type, and individual qualifications and skills relevant to the performance of the position.
Salary Minimum Salary: USD $78,500.00/Yr.
Maximum Salary: USD $102,050.00/Yr.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
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 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 We are seeking a Post Masters User Experience Design Research Associate to support the design and development of complex analytical systems with AI features in mission environments.
Collaborate and provide designs and concepts for multi-disciplinary teams to define user interaction and workflow models for research and product features
Identify mission challenges and formulate design solutions methodically
Apply good design and innovative problem-solving skills to solve challenging technical problems. Initiate personal direction and goals.
Demonstrate outstanding verbal and written communication skills and the ability to work in a collaborative environment
Be passionate and self-motivated with good time management skills
Ability to work well with software developers and project managers and possibly the users of the software applications
Critical Technologies
Visual Design – Figma, Adobe Creative Suite
Processes – Human Centered Design & Design Thinking
Development – Design Systems, Component Libraries, Figma Make Prototyping, First Draft & Sites
AI – MCP & Agentic Design/Development techniques
National Interest Project Examples
Detect and prevent smuggling of drugs and contraband at ports of entry
Develop at-scale data pipelines to thwart funding for terrorists, nuclear proliferators, drug cartels, and rogue leaders
Applying data solutions to national security problems
Detect and respond to advanced cyber threats with at-edge computing
Develop capabilities for scalable geospatial analytics
Use remotely sensed imagery to identify and monitor the progression of wildfires
Apply automation technologies to secure infrastructure and facilities for national security interests
How We Work
Locations – Richland, WA with partners and collaborators in Seattle, WA and Washington, D.C.
Agile development environment – Scrum meetings, standups, demos, and retrospectives
Partners – Work with government, academic, industry, and other partners to solve problems
Team Sizes – Typically around 5-10 members, although projects can be more than 100 or just a few members
Team Compositions – Our teams include cloud engineers, machine learning engineers, data scientists/domain experts, UI/UX designers, front-end developers, scrums masters, product owners, and most importantly, users
Qualifications Minimum Qualifications:
Candidates must have received a Master’s degree within the past 24 months or within the next 8 months from an accredited college or university.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with visual, media, and graphic design
Experience with designing user driven applications (web applications, etc.)
Experience with creating wireframes, visual mockups, and component libraries
Experience using design software, including Figma
Experience with creating prototypes
Ability to provide an online portfolio or samples at the time of interview
Experience with HTML, JavaScript, CSS a plus
Experience with Agentic AI and AI supported development a plus
Ability to get and maintain a security clearance
Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment Not Applicable
Additional Information This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.
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.
Testing Designated Position 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.
Commitment to Excellence and Equal Employment Opportunity Our laboratory is committed to fostering a work environment where all individuals are treated with fairness and respect while solving critical challenges in fundamental sciences, national security, and energy resiliency. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
Drug Free Workplace PNNL is committed to a drug‑free workplace supported by Workplace Substance Abuse Program (WSAP) and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs.
If you are offered employment at PNNL, you must pass a drug test prior to commencing employment. PNNL complies with federal law regarding illegal drug use. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug. If you test positive for any illegal controlled substance, including marijuana, your offer of employment will be withdrawn.
Security, Credentialing, and Eligibility Requirements New employees must obtain and maintain a HSPD‑12 Personal Identify Verification (PIV) credential. The credential is obtained after successful completion of a federal background investigation and favorable adjudication. All tiers of investigation include a declaration of illegal drug activities. For foreign nationals, residency requirements apply.
Mandatory Requirements DOE prohibits employees and contractors from having any affiliation with the foreign government of a country DOE has identified as a “country of risk” without explicit approval. Applicants with such affiliations must disclose and recuse themselves or obtain approval before starting employment.
Rockstar Rewards 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.)
Notice to Applicants PNNL lists the full pay range for the position in the job posting. Starting pay is calculated from the minimum of the pay range and actual placement in the range is determined based on an individual’s relevant job‑related skills, qualifications, and experience. This approach is applicable to all positions, with the exception of positions governed by collective bargaining agreements and certain limited‑term positions which have specific pay rules.
As part of our commitment to fair compensation practices, we do not ask for or consider current or past salaries in making compensation offers at hire. Instead, our compensation offers are determined by the specific requirements of the position, prevailing market trends, applicable collective bargaining agreements, pay equity for the position type, and individual qualifications and skills relevant to the performance of the position.
Salary Minimum Salary: USD $78,500.00/Yr.
Maximum Salary: USD $102,050.00/Yr.
#J-18808-Ljbffr