NSIP Post Bachelors Research Associate - Phys Detect Systems & Deploy

Overview

At PNNL,our core capabilities are dividedamongmajor departments that werefer to as Directorates within the Lab,focused on a specific area of scientific research orother function, with its own leadership teamand 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 National Security Directorate (NSD) drives science-based, mission-focused solutions to take on complex,real-world threats to our nation and the world.

The Physical Detection Systems and Deployment Division, part of the National Security Directorate, delivers policy-informed technology solutions by removing barriers to real-world implementation. We strive to understand end-user environments to transition technology from the developmental stage to deployment. Our diverseexpertisein operational systems provides tools, technologies, and approaches for combating a range of threats, both at home and in more than 100 countries around the globe.

Protecting U.S. residents and visitors is among our nation’s highest priorities. As adversaries gain access to sophisticated technologies and materials, the threats grow more dynamic and complex—from cyber and nuclear to chemical and biological weapons of mass effect and other forms of terrorism. The PNNL national security mission employs our researchers, tools, and technologies to play a key role in advancing the ability to identify and secure nuclear materials, detect weapons of mass effect, manage nonproliferation treaties, secure our nation's borders, and protect critical infrastructures.

PNNL’s scientific discovery and capabilities—rooted in innovative theory, methods, algorithms, and tools—are enabling stronger, more resilient technologies and systems to safeguard national security. Coupled with decades of radiological and nuclear materials expertise, advanced computing and threat analysis capabilities, and a broad fundamental science base, we are identifying and countering emerging threats that have significant impact at home and around the globe.

NOTE:
Several documents are strictly required to submit with the application to be eligible for this position. Please read the entire job posting for detailed instructions.

PNNL’s Physical Detection Systems and Deployment Division is focused on discovering, developing and deploying physical detection systems. We are seeking post bachelor research associate candidates for assignments within the National Security Internship Program (NSIP).

Do you want to be challenged with hard problems in national security, energy, and science and apply cutting‑edge research to make our nation safer and stronger? Do you want to perform research and development critical to prevent and counter terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction? Are you interested in physics, material science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, systems engineering, project management or instructional design?

If you answered yes, please join us as an intern in the Physical Detection Systems and Deployment Division.

Participants will be starting in cohort sessions and must be available to start in May or June 2026 [Summer cohort].

Your research associate position will land you in one of the following focus areas:

We are a group of passionate makers who have a long history of building and deploying embedded sensor systems for a wide variety of sponsors and applications. We are 50+ electronics engineers, software engineers, mechanical engineers, physicists, etc.; all sharing the DNA and desire to deploy solutions for our sponsors that help the mission of national security. We focus on emerging technologies by integrating capability across electromagnetics, systems modeling, communications, analytics development, and systems design to serve as a flywheel for feeding technology advancements across the division and laboratory.

Projects within the group…