Senior Software Architect at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Richland, WA
$161,300–$255,000from the description
Jul 14, 2026
Richland, WA
Jul 21, 2026
What this job asks for AI summary
A software engineering role within a national laboratory's computing and data division, focused on designing, building, and deploying software systems that support scientific research. The position combines hands-on development work — spanning requirements analysis, coding, testing, and production deployment — with team leadership responsibilities such as managing developers, delegating tasks, and mentoring staff. It suits experienced software engineers comfortable operating across both agile and non-agile environments.
Senior level · 7+ years · Kennewick-Richland, WA · Full-time
Posted 2 times — it's one opening, so apply once.
We read this from the posting text with AI. Skim the description below before ruling yourself out.
Why we read it this way (9)
The role is a genuine hybrid: it requires hands-on software development (design, code, test, deploy) AND team leadership (guiding developers, delegating tasks, tracking deliverables, mentoring). The primary day-to-day framing leans toward individual-contributor software engineering, so 15-1252 was chosen over 11-3021, but the management duties are substantial enough to flag the runner-up.
The minimum experience requirement is stated as a tiered education/experience ladder. The lowest academic credential that maps to a conventional engineering background is a BS/BA with 7 years, which is used as the overall years minimum. A PhD with 3 years or MS with 5 years would also satisfy the gate.
No specific programming languages, frameworks, or platforms are named anywhere in the posting. The only concrete technical signals are the full software development lifecycle (required) and AI-assisted code development (preferred, listed under Preferred Qualifications).
Agile experience appears under Preferred Qualifications ('Experience with both agile and non-agile software development'), so it is marked preferred.
ASCR (Advanced Scientific Computing Research) sector familiarity is listed as preferred but names no specific technology — omitted from the skills list as it is a domain-knowledge qualifier, not a named tool.
Managing teams of developers is listed under Preferred Qualifications, so it is not a hard gate despite being discussed at length in the responsibilities narrative.
A federal background investigation (HSPD-12 PIV credential) is required post-hire, but no specific security clearance level is pre-required for application — the clearance requirement is set to None.
The posting does not explicitly state full-time, but the benefits package (pension, 401k, vacation accrual, health insurance) and the national-laboratory context make full-time the clear intent.
Ignored 1 non-technology phrase(s) as skills (responsibilities/concepts, not named tools): software development lifecycle.
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