Chief Data Scientist - AI Safety
About the role
The National Security Directorate (NSD) of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) 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.
Responsibilities
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.
Lead nationally visible AI Safety programs, ensuring technical excellence, sponsor alignment, risk-informed execution, and timely delivery of impactful results.
Provide technical leadership that supports interdisciplinary teams, helping shape research methodologies, data science and engineering best practices, and evaluation strategies while overseeing end-to-end analytic workflows.
Build and sustain collaborations across DOE laboratories, federal agencies, academia, and industry to accelerate innovation and deliver integrated, mission-aligned AI Safety capabilities.
Partner with software engineering and operational teams to transition research outputs into secure, scalable real-world systems that support national security missions.
Represent PNNL as a senior AI Safety expert in technical exchanges, working groups, and high-impact national and international forums.
Publish influential research, contribute to emerging standards, and help shape national discourse on AI Safety.
Communicate PNNL’s AI capabilities and mission relevance to external stakeholders, articulating use cases, technical solutions, and emerging challenges within the broader national security landscape.
Mentor junior through senior researchers, offering guidance on research challenges, technical leadership skills, and effective collaboration practices.
Contribute to an inclusive and learning-oriented environment that encourages scientific rigor, safety-first innovation, and high-impact interdisciplinary work.
Qualifications
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
Advanced degree in computer science, engineering, data science, mathematics, or a related discipline
Active DOE Q or TS/SCI clearance and ability to maintain such clearance
Demonstrated impact in AI Safety (e.g., peer-reviewed publications, recognized awards, contributions to community standards)
National reputation in AI Safety, frontier model evaluation, trustworthy AI, secure machine learning operations, or related mission relevant technical areas
Familiarity with agentic AI safety (tool-use governance, retrieval hygiene, autonomous decision workflows) and evaluation of multi-step reasoning systems
Experience developing and applying cutting edge AI/ML in national security environments, with an understanding of mission needs and operational constraints
Experience serving as PI or project manager on multi-institution R&D efforts
Strong record of securing external funding, managing research portfolios, and initiating new R&D programs in applied AI or AI Safety domains
Experience working with sponsors such as DOE, NNSA, DoD, DHS, or other mission agencies, with the ability to help shape strategic research investments
Proven ability to communicate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences across government, industry, and academia