Chief Engineer – Physical Embodiment of AI

About the role

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is seeking a Chief Engineer to bring automation and autonomy to our R&D, focusing on the hardware implementation of autonomous systems. 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.

Responsibilities

• 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
• Lead mechanical design and integration of robotic platforms, including structural systems, actuation and mobility subsystems, power distribution and thermal management, and payload integration and sensor mounting architectures
• Design and implement end-to-end autonomy stacks integrating perception, state estimation and navigation, planning and decision-making, and controls and low-level actuation
• Develop scalable MLOps pipelines tailored for robotics environments
• Architect and implement high-fidelity digital twin environments for robotic systems using simulation platforms
• Lead requirements definition, verification, validation, and accreditation (VV&A) for fieldable systems
• Conduct performance characterization of mechanical, electrical, and autonomy subsystems
• Ensure systems meet safety, cybersecurity, and compliance requirements for defense applications
• Shape internal R&D investments in robotic autonomy and physical AI systems
• Mentor junior engineers in mechanical design, robotics integration, and autonomy development

Qualifications

• Minimum 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
• Preferred Qualifications: Demonstrated experience designing and deploying integrated robotic systems, strong background in mechanical system design, expertise in autonomy stack integration, and experience with embedded systems and edge AI optimization

Skills

• Proficiency in Python and modern C++
• Experience with ROS/ROS2 and robotics middleware
• Knowledge of security and compliance requirements for fielded autonomous systems

Additional Information

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance. The position is based in Richland, WA, and requires onsite engagement with robotic laboratories and hardware development environments.