Shape cybersecurity for mission-critical operations at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, WA (onsite). This Entry Level Cyber Security Engineer role supports the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Office of Radiological Security (ORS) cybersecurity team under the ORS Prevent mission, with work focused on designing, deploying, and operating cyber defense systems, performing security engineering, and supporting testing and operations.
Salary range: USD 90,600 - 144,700 per year.
Location: Richland, WA (onsite).
What you’ll do
- Design, deploy, and operate cyber defense systems spanning systems, networks, applications, and tools that support cybersecurity operations.
- Integrate hardware, software, and other components to address operational challenges for cyber defenders.
- Carry out data and systems engineering to support cyber operations, including engineering and deploying security and defensive countermeasures and controls.
- Assess and incorporate system security needed for operations into design and development, including security requirements definition, systems analysis, security design, security hardening, security test and evaluation, and certification and accreditation.
- Support operational systems through activities such as vulnerability scanning and network and system security configuration.
- Contribute to the design and architecture of new approaches, methods, and techniques for cyber defense and resiliency across information technology and operational technology systems and networks.
- Coordinate with external entities when needed, including law enforcement, intelligence, and other government organizations and agencies.
- Complete project tasking independently and provide timely updates to project leadership.
- Perform tasking related to software engineering, computing, automation, and cybersecurity infrastructure.
Required qualifications
- BS/BA or higher in cyber, computer science, or mathematics.
- U.S. Citizenship.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.
- Selected applicants 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.
- This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP), requiring pre-employment drug testing and random post-employment drug testing.
- Demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the Questionnaire for National Security Positions (QNSP).
Preferred qualifications
- Implement software components using sound engineering practices such as modular design, consistent coding standards, and maintainable structure.
- Develop automation scripts and tools to improve repeatability and reliability across development, testing, and operational workflows.
- Build event-driven automation pipelines triggered by system or hardware actions, including cron-scheduled execution or device-initiated workflows.
- Create and maintain automated test suites to validate software behavior and system reliability.
- Integrate automated testing frameworks into CI/CD pipelines using object-oriented languages such as Java or Python.
- Improve test coverage and resilience using runtime checks, configuration validation, and environmental readiness tests.
- Apply foundational cybersecurity practices (secure coding, access control, data protection, and environment hardening) across engineering tasks.
- Use static and dynamic analysis tools to identify vulnerabilities and support remediation.
- Support secure configuration management and reliable system-state verification.
Tools and technologies you may work with
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Robust telehealth care options
- Several mental health benefits
- Free wellness coaching
- Health savings account and 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
- Company-funded pension plan* (automatic enrollment) and potential to enroll in a 401(k) with company match*
- Up to 120 vacation hours per year and ten paid holidays per year
Security clearance and drug-free workplace notes
This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance. Background investigations may include review of employment, education, financial, and criminal history, along with interviews to determine trustworthiness, reliability, and loyalty to the United States, as well as review of foreign connections, drug and alcohol use, foreign influence, and overall conduct.
PNNL is committed to a drug-free workplace. If offered employment, you must pass a drug test prior to commencing employment. Marijuana remains illegal under federal law, and a positive test for any illegal controlled substance may result in withdrawal of the offer.
As a national laboratory, PNNL requires compliance with HSPD-12 and DOE Order 473.1A, including obtaining and maintaining a HSPD-12 PIV Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Credential. The applicable background investigation tier and requirements include declarations regarding illegal drug activities, which include marijuana and cannabis derivatives under federal law.
