Senior AI Software Engineer (Hybrid Eligible)

About the role

We’re hiring a Senior AI Software Engineer who has AI/ML development and deployment skills! The position and its focus are to design, develop and move to production AI/ML tools and analytics that enhance and evolve business operations and scientific decision-making capability and related activities at ORNL.

Major Duties/Responsibilities

• Development and support of models utilizing AI/ML and Microsoft Azure, Google Vertex AI, AWS Bedrock.
• Collaboration with business and classified business and scientific/technical stakeholders to understand needs and gather detailed actionable requirements at the highest security levels.
• Analysis of emerging trends and technologies to provide recommendations for roadmaps and AI strategy. This includes Generative AI and ML techniques and solution methods.
• LLM/GPT CI/CD pipelines and diagnostic monitoring for clients or set up for client self-monitoring.
• Ethical and responsible use of AI in line with ORNL policy and guidelines.
• Collaboration with other DOE labs and private sector companies to understand and mature ORNL capabilities.
• Help us become the Go-To DOE lab for AI/ML best practices across lab domains.
• Adherence to ORNL and ITSD software quality assurance standards and ITIL effective practices.
• Support of and adherence to ORNL and ITSD project management requirements and Guidance for Researchers and general users of AI models within ORNL guidelines.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service.
• Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications

• 2-3 years of recent AI experience including: agentic work experience, workflows, and development of agent fleets to accomplish specific tasks
• A BS in computer science, data science, artificial intelligence or a related field and a minimum of 8 years total relevant AI/ML experience.
• An overall combination of equivalent experience may be considered.
• Experience developing and deploying AI/ML solutions in cloud and/or on-prem including classified and secure environments, including gathering requirements, designing solutions, and delivering results
• Familiarity with modern AI/ML tools and platforms such as: Azure AI services (e.g., Azure OpenAI, Azure SQL) or similar cloud tools
• OpenAI APIs, Microsoft Azure AI Foundry, Google Vertex AI and AWS Bedrock, Hugging Face, LangChain, GitHub, GitLab or other LLM frameworks
• Experience working with data models, reporting solutions, or analytics environments

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a related field: Master’s degree with ~7–10 years of experience
• Active DOE Q clearance, DoD TS with SCI and Poly
• Understanding of multidimensional and tabular modelling, vector databases, Graph DB
• Experience using Microsoft Visual Studio or Visual Studio Code, Python, PyTorch, TensorFlow
• Two to three years of experience leading group projects and programs with current AI/ML, Data Science or Data Analytic tools including using and teaching low code-no code skills to others
• Knowledge of current ORNL business processes and applications (or similar) is a bonus.
• Knowledge of Microsoft SharePoint technologies is a bonus.
• A curious, problem-solving mindset with the ability to learn and adapt in a fast-moving space
• Comfortable working independently and as part of a project-based team
• Strong communication skills and a focus on delivering value to customers and end users