Senior/Principal R&D Biological Sciences and Engineering - AI/ML-Driven Computational Biology and 'Omics Data Scientist, Hybrid

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation's premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting-edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

• Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
• Extraordinary co-workers
• Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world
• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities
• Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten-hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)
• Generous vacation, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://www.sandia.gov

*These benefits vary by job classification.

Sandia National Laboratories invites exceptional candidates to join our world-class research team advancing the frontiers of AI-driven predictive biology and 'omics data integration. We are seeking a mid-career scientist passionate about applying artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computational modeling to uncover the principles governing living systems and their interactions with materials and the environment. This position offers the opportunity to develop next-generation tools that connect molecular to ecosystem scales - transforming complex biological data into predictive insight that enables design, control, and optimization of biological function in support of bioenergy, environmental resilience, and national security.

The successful candidate will help lead research that integrates cutting-edge AI frameworks with a variety of experimental data streams and high-performance computing to accelerate biological understanding, prediction, and design. Working within Sandia's collaborative environment, you will contribute to multidisciplinary projects funded by the DOE Office of Science Biological and Environmental Research (BER), the Alternative Fuels and Feedstocks Office (AFFO), the Joint Strategic Technology Office (JSTO), and other federal partners.

This role emphasizes the use of AI, data automation, and high-performance computing to accelerate discovery and advance predictive models of biological-environmental-material interactions.

On any given day, you may be called upon to:

• Work closely with experts across computational biology, materials science, and geoscience to design and build interoperable data infrastructures and model-integration workflows.
• Collaborate in the development and application of machine learning, AI, and multiscale modeling approaches to integrate and interpret complex 'omics datasets (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) and uncover hidden relationships across biological, environmental, and materials datasets.
• Lead the design of predictive models that connect biomolecular and microbial processes with geochemical and materials phenomena, including biomineralization, corrosion, and biofilm behavior.
• Partner with collaborators to test and validate model predictions.
• Publish and present high-impact research findings in leading journals, conferences, and DOE technical reports.
• Contribute to the mentorship of staff, postdoctoral researchers, and students in advanced computational and AI-driven biological analyses.

The selected applicant can work a combination of onsite and offsite work. The selected applicant must live within a reasonable distance for commuting to the assigned work location when necessary.

$117,500 - $235,700

*Salary range is estimated, and actual salary will be determined after consideration of the selected candidate's experience and qualifications, and application of any approved geographic salary differential.

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and five (5) years of directly relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of directly relevant education and engineering or scientific experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform independent research and development.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q security clearance.

The ideal R&D S&E, Biological Sciences and Engineering candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

• Graduate degree in Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biological Engineering, or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Experience in molecular biology, plant biology, biofuels research, including knowledge of modern laboratory research methods and tools.
• Experience planning and conducting research, including the development, submission, and securing of externally funded research through grant proposals.
• Demonstrated ability to provide technical and scientific leadership within multidisciplinary teams, including the ability to communicate effectively, collaborate, and resolve complex issues.
• A record of technical achievement demonstrated through a track record of quality peer-reviewed publications.

Also, for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience:

• Demonstrated expertise in AI/ML approaches for biological or environmental data, such as deep learning, probabilistic modeling, or graph neural networks.
• PhD in a relevant field (e.g., computational biology, bioinformatics, computer science, computational geoscience, data science, systems biology, or biological engineering) and at least five years of post-PhD or equivalent experience.
• Experience applying AI to materials or geoscience challenges, including modeling of biology-materials or biology-environment interfaces.
• Strong understanding of microbiome research in bioenergy and environmental contexts.
• Familiarity with multimodal data fusion, integrating biological, chemical, imaging, and environmental datasets.
• Experience using high-performance computing (HPC) or cloud-based AI infrastructure for large-scale biological data.
• Proficiency in scientific programming and data workflows (Python, R, TensorFlow, PyTorch, or related frameworks).
• Proven record of leading interdisciplinary, federally funded research (DOE, DOD, NSF, or equivalent).
• Strong publication and communication record demonstrating impact in AI, computational biology, or systems science.

The Applied Biosciences and Engineering Group at Sandia National Laboratories is a diverse research group with work encompassing both basic and applied biological research. Our scientists conduct research in cell biology, immunology, microbiology, metabolic engineering, biophysics, biochemistry, and chemistry, and we seek to address problems with strong ties to national security. Our mission spaces include biodefense and health security, environmental impacts, the circular bioeconomy, and energy security. We conduct research for the Department of Energy, National Institutes of Health, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, U.S. Industries, and Sandia's Laboratory Directed Research & Development program

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) calendar days, including the 'posting date'. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

Sandia is required by DOE to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants for employment need to be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Applicants offered employment with Sandia are subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.

If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.

If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.