What You Will Do
This position is a unique opportunity to operate at the center of execution for the Capital Construction Project Portfolio supporting plutonium pit production facilities at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). This role is critically important to the safe, secure, and efficient execution of mission-essential infrastructure programs.
This is a unique opportunity to operate at the center of mission-critical infrastructure execution while shaping and advancing AI capabilities across a complex, multi-year portfolio of strategic programs.
The Artificial Intelligence R&D Manager will provide strategic and technical leadership for the development and deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) solutions that enhance business systems, optimize operations, and strengthen infrastructure execution performance. The selected candidate will provide both technical AI leadership and strategic program management for a portfolio of related activities that support infrastructure modernization and operational excellence.
You will:
Conduct analysis of intelligent systems and develop AI/ML models and algorithms to deliver effective business and technical solutions.
Partner closely with application developers, product owners, integrated project teams, project managers, and senior leadership to enable AI-enhanced business applications.
Ensure timely and successful delivery of innovative digital solutions aligned with Laboratory priorities.
Build cross-organizational collaborations to support the plutonium pit production mission.
Help establish and execute a long-term vision and strategic direction for AI-enabled production delivery.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
Mission Execution & Program Support
Support senior leadership in execution of AI-enabled capabilities that advance infrastructure and capital project portfolio objectives.
Monitor and report progress against Artificial Intelligence R&D objectives, including scope, technical performance, schedule, and budget.
Contribute to budget planning, resource alignment, and strategic partnerships to ensure cost-effective and mission-aligned outcomes.
AI Research, Development & Deployment
Design, develop, and deploy advanced AI/ML solutions and data analytics capabilities that optimize business processes, enhance capital project execution, and improve operational performance.
Develop and maintain Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) pipelines by integrating large language models (LLMs) (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic) with enterprise document repositories and vector databases; leverage project management and operational data to support AI-enabled insights.
Build connectors, middleware, APIs, and backend/frontend services to access, transform, and deliver real-time operational data for LLMs, analytics platforms, and user-facing applications.
Orchestrate multiple models and tools into reliable, multi-step AI systems; build and maintain the internal infrastructure required to power, monitor, and scale these solutions.
Implement and optimize AI-driven tools for forecasting, modeling, safety analytics, quality control, and workflow automation.
Define, track, and communicate key performance indicators (KPIs); develop automated dashboards and visualization tools; translate complex technical data into executive-level insights while ensuring enterprise data integrity and consistency.
Evaluate emerging AI technologies and guide secure, mission-aligned integration across enterprise systems in a high-consequence environment.
Communication
Consultative experience in developing and nurturing effective high-level external and internal customer relationships
Collaborate with data engineering teams to integrate virtualized data sources into AI workflows
Collaboration
Partner with application developers and stakeholders across operational areas to help identify opportunities to leverage AI tools that reduce manual workflows.
Consultative experience in interacting effectively with all levels of external and internal personnel; building trust, gaining consensus, and resolving conflicts
Strategic Foresight
Use independent judgment to identify strategic shifts relevant to the institutional mission and position resources accordingly
Track-record of building reliable project management AI driven data with attention to quality and detail
Risk Management
Identify portfolio risks, develop mitigation strategies, and recommend acceptance or avoidance actions
Design and maintain a suite of evaluations and benchmarks to measure AI agent accuracy, reliability, and cost-effectiveness
Program Oversight
Partner with project and line management to ensure performance, monitoring cost, schedule, and milestones
Clearance
Active U.S. DOE Q Clearance or ability to obtain a U.S. DOE Q clearance (U.S. Citizenship Required)
Strategic Leadership & Organizational Oversight
Assist in developing and executing the long-term strategic vision and technical roadmap aligned with Laboratory priorities and evolving national security missions.
Implement Integrated Safety Management (ISM) responsibilities by integrating safety, security, quality, environmental stewardship, and worker health into all activities; model exemplary behavior and exercise stop-work authority when necessary.
Ensure compliance with DOE contract requirements and Laboratory policies; recommend and implement process improvements as appropriate.
Education/Experience:
Position requires a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and 5 years related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.
Desired Qualifications:
Advanced technical expertise in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, data analytics, or digital engineering, including experience integrating AI capabilities into enterprise systems and operational environments.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification strongly preferred, reflecting formal training in project management best practices.
Demonstrated experience developing or overseeing Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) architectures, LLM integrations, secure data pipelines, or enterprise AI infrastructure within a regulated environment.
Proven ability to define and track key performance indicators (KPIs), develop executive-level dashboards, and translate complex technical data into strategic insights for senior leadership.
Strong record of strategic planning, organizational development, and aligning emerging technologies with evolving institutional and national priorities.
Advanced experience managing construction projects including proactively managing project scope, schedule and budget including use of Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS). Demonstrated successful experience identifying potential project risks, developing risk mitigation strategies and corrective actions, and recommending risk acceptance/avoidance for all aspects of a project
Expert knowledge of regulatory requirements related to programmatic work of assigned portfolio(s)
Experience or knowledge in management of projects (including capital line-item projects) at a Department of Energy and/or National Nuclear Security Administration Contractors' facility
Work Location: The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.
Position commitment: Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position in order to be eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the time required, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. The position commitment for this position is 1 year.
Note to Applicants:
For full consideration, applicants should submit a cover letter addressing how their knowledge, skills and abilities meet the minimum requirements along with a resume.
Occasional travel may be required
Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China-including the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau-as well as citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and the Russian Federation, who are not Lawful Permanent Residents ("green card" holders) are prohibited from accessing facilities that support the mission, functions, and operations of national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, which includes Los Alamos National Laboratory. Where You Will Work
Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:
§ PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network
§ Dental and vision insurance
§ Free basic life and disability insurance
§ Paid childbirth and parental leave
§ Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
§ Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
§ Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)
§ Onsite gyms and wellness programs
§ Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)
Additional Details
Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2 (https://int.lanl.gov/org/ddops/oma/prime-contract-management/applicable-directives/_assets/docs/DOE-O-206.2-Chg-2-LtdChg-Identity,-Credential,-and-Access-Management-ICAM-1.pdf) . Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.
Clearance: Q (Position will be cleared to this level). Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government, and must meet eligibility requirements* for access to classified matter. This position requires a Q clearance. and obtaining such clearance requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Dependent upon the position, additional authorization to access classified information may be required, which may or may not be available to dual citizens. Receipt of a Q clearance and additional access authorization ultimately is a decision of the Federal Government and not of Triad.
*Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order 472.2 (https://www.directives.doe.gov/directives-documents/400-series/0472.2-border-a-chg1-ltdchg/@@images/file) for additional information.
New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.
Regular position: Term status Laboratory employees applying for regular-status positions are converted to regular status.
Internal Applicants: Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy Policy P701 (https://int.lanl.gov/policy/documents/P701.pdf) for applicant eligibility requirements.
Incentive Compensation Program: Position is eligible to participate in the Triad Incentive Compensation Program. You must be in an eligible position for a minimum of 3 months, before July 1st and remain in an eligible position as of the end of the fiscal year, September 30th. The annual distribution is prorated based on the number of months in the eligible position.
Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to protected categories such as race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to applyhelp@lanl.gov or call (505)-664-6947.
