Post Masters Research Associate – User Experience & Product Design

Post Masters Research Associate – User Experience & Product Design

Join to apply for the

Post Masters Research Associate – User Experience & Product Design

role at

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

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

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 and 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

Apply 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, scrum 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. A security clearance background investigation includes review of your employment, education, financial, and criminal history, as well as interviews with you and your personal references, neighbors, and co‑workers to determine trustworthiness, reliability, and loyalty to the United States. The investigation also examines your foreign connections, drug and alcohol use, foreign influence, and overall conduct.

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. 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).

Security Clearance

This position is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). The candidate selected 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.

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. At PNNL, you will find an exciting research environment and excellent benefits including health insurance, and flexible work schedules.

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, protected veteran status, or 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.

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.

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, we determine specific pay by prevailing market trends, pay equity and individual qualifications.

Minimum Salary

USD $78,500.00 / Yr.

Maximum Salary

USD $102,050.00 / Yr.

#J-18808-Ljbffr