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, Integrated Discovery 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.
At PNNL, our Computing and Information Technology organization is redefining how we work and innovate by reimagining the digital workplace. We empower research and streamline operations - making both faster, smarter, and more efficient - so our professionals can tackle some of the world's toughest challenges in science, energy, and national security. Our experts in AI, cybersecurity, design, and engineering work side by side, using real-time insights and human-centered design to break down barriers. Ready to make your mark on tomorrow? Come work with us.
In support of PNNL's mission, Digital Platforms collaborates closely with our business and technology partners to build and maintain innovative software solutions and robust data and analytics capabilities. We aim to be a strategic partner in delivering cutting-edge enterprise solutions that drive innovation and improve the way our staff work across the PNNL digital workplace. Our forward-thinking, agile teams leverage cloud technologies, DevSecOps, and AI to modernize existing platforms and assist in the creation of novel solutions. By integrating commercial products, custom-developed and low-code solutions, we ensure our digital platforms are ready for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.
Responsibilities
PNNL’s Digital Platforms organization is modernizing the enterprise data ecosystem to accelerate mission delivery across national security, energy, and scientific research. We operate robust, cloud native data platforms that enable analysts, scientists, and technologists to work faster and smarter.
We are seeking an experienced Databricks Engineer to support the design, build, and operation of our enterprise data lakehouse that powers analytics and reporting across PNNL systems. This role will focus on delivering governed, reliable, and performant data products - especially for ERP and other enterprise sources - and enabling downstream analytics with Power BI and AI/ML.
As part of a data transformation initiative, you will support the design, develop and maintain Databricks based lakehouse solutions that moves data reliably from source systems to curated gold tables. Using modern patterns such as Medallion Architecture, Delta Lake and Unity Catalog, you’ll support the build of scalable pipelines that transform raw data into analytics ready assets for Power BI and AI/ML, balancing pragmatic delivery with future-focused architecture.
You’ll support the modernization of legacy data warehouses and ETL tools into Databricks, transforming legacy ETL processes into scalable, maintainable solutions. Your platform engineering mindset will shape CI/CD for Databricks (e.g., DAB, GitHub Actions) and standardize deployment practices across environments. You will configure and operate workspaces, clusters, jobs, and workflows; tune for performance and reliability; and embed data quality, monitoring, and observability to keep critical pipelines healthy.
Security and governance will be integral to your work. You’ll implement role-based access controls, data masking, and Unity Catalog models to ensure secure, compliant data sharing, proper classification, lineage, and auditability.
You’ll stay current with Azure and Databricks capabilities, recommending and piloting features like Delta Live Tables and Unity Catalog enhancements to build a secure, reliable, and future ready data platform that accelerates science and mission delivery.
As part of our WE Culture, we offer a collaborative and agile team environment that embraces learning and fosters mentoring opportunities.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Lakehouse Architecture & Data Engineering: Design and build scalable Databricks lakehouse solutions using Medallion Architecture, Delta Lake, Unity Catalog, Spark/PySpark, Python, and SQL.
- Databricks & Azure Platform Engineering: Operate and optimize production Databricks environments, including Jobs/Workflows, clusters, orchestration, CI/CD, DAB, and core Azure services.
- Data Modernization & Integration: Modernize legacy warehouses and ETL processes and develop reliable ingestion-to-gold pipelines for ERP and complex transactional data.
- Governance, Security & Reliability: Implement secure, governed data platforms with access controls, lineage, data quality, monitoring, observability, and performance optimization.
- AI & Automation: Apply GenAI/LLM and emerging AI-agent technologies to automate engineering, testing, documentation, data quality, monitoring, and support.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
- PhD and 1 years of Data or Software Engineering experience -OR-
- MS/MA and 3 years of Data or Software Engineering experience -OR-
- BS/BA and 5 years of Data or Software Engineering experience -OR-
- AA and 14 years of Data or Software Engineering experience -OR-
- HS/GED and 16 years of Data or Software Engineering experienceIn addition, candidates must have:
- At least 1 years of experience developing production Databricks solutions.
- Experience in coding languages, such as, Python and SQL in a Spark/Databricks environment.
- Experience with cloud services (platforms like AWS, Azure, GCP).
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience working with Delta Lake, SQL, notebooks, end to end pipeline development, and cluster management.
- Experience implementing Databricks Asset Bundles (DAB) or equivalent for CI/CD and standardizing deployment workflows.
- Exposure to agentic AI / AI agents (e.g., orchestrating multi-step AI workflows for data quality checks, pipeline monitoring, or support automation) is a plus.
- Familiarity with core Azure services such as ADLS Gen2 and Key Vault
- Experience using GenAI / LLM-based tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Azure OpenAI, Databricks Genie, or similar) to accelerate and automate engineering tasks such as code generation, test creation, documentation, and troubleshooting.
Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment
Not Applicable.
Additional Information
This position involves access to sensitive systems and information. U.S. Citizenship is required. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is subject to the Department of Energy Unclassified Foreign Visits & Assignments Program site, information, technologies, and equipment access requirements. "Referral Eligible"
Testing Designated Position
This is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP).
About PNNL
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a world-class research institution powered by a highly educated, diverse workforce committed to the values of Integrity, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Courage. Every year, scores of dynamic, driven people come to PNNL to work with renowned researchers on meaningful science, innovations and outcomes for the U.S. Department of Energy and other sponsors; here is your chance to be one of them!
At PNNL, you will find an exciting research environment and excellent benefits including health insurance, and flexible work schedules. PNNL is located in eastern Washington State - the dry side of Washington known for its stellar outdoor recreation and affordable cost of living. The Lab’s campus is only a 45-minute flight (or ~3 hour drive) from Seattle or Portland, and is serviced by the convenient PSC airport, connected to 8 major hubs.
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.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. PNNL considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), protected veteran status, and any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local laws.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures and in employment. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, contact us at careers@pnnl.gov .
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
As a national laboratory, PNNL is responsible for adhering to the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which require new employees to obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 Personal Identify Verification (PIV) Credential. To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete the applicable tier of federal background investigation post hire and receive a favorable federal adjudication. The tier of federal background investigation will be determined by job duties and national security or public trust responsibilities associated with the job. All tiers of investigation include a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last 1 to 7 years (depending on the applicable tier of investigation). Illegal drug activities include marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.
For foreign national candidates:
If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) Federal risk determination to maintain employment. Once you meet the three-year residency requirement thereafter, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment. The tier of federal background investigation required to obtain the PIV credential will be determined by job duties at the time you become eligible for the PIV credential.
Mandatory Requirements
Please be aware that the Department of Energy (DOE) prohibits DOE 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 by DOE and Battelle. If you are offered a position at PNNL and currently have any affiliation with the government of one of these countries, you will be required to disclose this information and recuse yourself of that affiliation or receive approval from DOE and Battelle prior to your first day of 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.
**All benefits are dependent upon eligibility.
Click Here For Rockstar Rewards (https://careers.pnnl.gov/rockstar-rewards)
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.
Minimum Salary
USD $133,100.00/Yr.
Maximum Salary
USD $210,400.00/Yr.