Computing and Information Technology Intern

Job Description

About Company

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a world-class research institution powered by a highly educated and diverse workforce. Its core mission revolves around conducting meaningful science, innovations, and outcomes for the U.S. Department of Energy and other sponsors, focusing on critical challenges in fundamental sciences, national security, and energy resiliency.

PNNL’s capabilities are organized into major departments called Directorates, each focused on a specific area of scientific research or function, with its own leadership and budget. Key Directorates related to Mission Support & Operations include the Office of General Counsel, Business Services, Communications and External Engagement, Operational Systems, Communications and Information Technology, and Performance Management.

The Computing and Information Technology organization at PNNL is at the forefront of redefining work and innovation by reimagining the digital workplace. This organization empowers research and streamlines operations, making them faster, smarter, and more efficient. Their experts in AI, cybersecurity, design, and engineering collaborate using real-time insights and human-centered design.

Within Computing and Information Technology, Research Computing specifically aims to empower researchers by removing technical barriers to discovery. It provides access to cutting-edge resources such as high-performance computing (HPC), GPU-accelerated compute, scientific software, research data management (including the PNNL Research Library), and cloud computing. PNNL fosters a vibrant culture of computing and interdisciplinary collaboration through events like TechFest, which showcases projects and discusses new research possibilities.

PNNL is committed to the values of Integrity, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Courage. It offers an exciting research environment and excellent benefits, including health insurance and flexible work schedules. Located in eastern Washington State, it boasts stellar outdoor recreation and an affordable cost of living, with convenient access to Seattle and Portland.

The laboratory is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, committed to fostering a work environment where all individuals are treated with fairness and respect. It considers applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, and any other protected status. Reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities are provided. PNNL also maintains a drug-free workplace and requires new employees to obtain and maintain a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation and a HSPD-12 Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Credential. U.S. Citizenship is generally required for positions involving sensitive systems and information.

Job Description: Intern Projects (Computing and Information Technology)

This description outlines opportunities for interns within PNNL’s Computing and Information Technology organization, specifically in research computing and related IT fields.

Overview of the Role:
Interns will engage with multidisciplinary groups across the Lab, exploring various computing career options. Assignments are flexible, typically lasting 10-12 weeks, with potential for extension. Interns will tackle challenging projects, working in teams with fellow interns, and paired with dedicated mentors and project stewards. They are expected to be active contributors, playing a central role in the design and development of critical solutions.

The Intern Program Includes:
• Strategically important and challenging projects in a collaborative team environment.
• High-level exposure through briefings and final presentations with the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and weekly meetings with senior leadership team members.
• Numerous personal and career development opportunities, suchalling a full-time mentor, coaching sessions, workshops, lab tours, and collaboration with a diverse range of PNNL staff, from senior leadership to research scientists and junior engineers.
• Active social events planning to ensure an engaging experience.

Examples of Previous Intern Projects:
• Implementing an open-source Machine Learning (ML) workflow tool to enable research projects to leverage ML platforms and automate ML workflows, including demonstration and onboarding of projects.
• Implementing a private Generative AI environment to prototype examples of how these technologies may transform research processes.
• Accelerating science by optimizing scientific codes and parallelizing them for supercomputers, involving a high-performance coding bootcamp and collaboration with researchers.
• Implementing pre-defined cloud ‘blueprint’ templates to facilitate scientists and engineers in leveraging cloud services on Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform.
• Building CI/CD pipelines and working with software engineering teams to migrate applications to these new pipelines.

Desired Candidate Profile:
The ideal candidate is a software developer, User Experience (UX), data, cyber, or IT engineer driven by a passion for continuous learning and growth. Teams will be given project ownership, and creativity is encouraged. Interns will collaborate extensively across the Lab, including with executive management.

Specific Skill Preferences based on Role:
• Software Developer or Data Engineer: Experience in C#, C, JavaScript, SQL, JSON, React, R, or Python.
• UX/Human Centered Design Engineer: Strong and demonstrable visual, interaction, and graphic design skills with a design portfolio. Ability to thrive in ambiguity, design solutions in undefined spaces, and overcome constraints to provide the best user experience.
• Cyber or IT Engineer: Knowledge of cloud migrations, cybersecurity practices, and computing infrastructure management. Foundational knowledge of configuration management and testing tools.

Qualifications:

• Minimum Qualifications:
• High school diploma / GED or higher.
• Degree-seeking undergraduate student currently enrolled at an accredited college or university.
• Taking at least 6 credit hours.
• Overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Preferred Qualifications:
• Degree in Computer Science, Human Centered Design, Data Science, Cyber Security, Information Technology, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, or a related field.
• GPA of 3.25 or higher.

Additional Requirements:
• U.S. Citizenship is required due to access to sensitive systems and information.
• Successful completion of a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation for a PIV Credential. This includes a declaration regarding illegal drug activities (including marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are illegal under federal law) within the last year.
• Candidates who have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years may initially receive a Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) risk determination but will need to obtain a PIV credential once the residency requirement is met.
• DOE and Battelle prohibit employees and contractors from having affiliations with “country of risk” foreign governments without explicit approval.

Compensation:
• Minimum Salary: USD $16.25/Hr.
• Maximum Salary: USD $26.00/Hr.
• Starting pay is determined based on an individual’s relevant job-related skills, qualifications, and experience, calculated from the minimum of the pay range. Current or past salaries are not considered in compensation offers.
• Temporary Hourly employees are offered an employee assistance program and business travel insurance.