AI (Artificial Intelligence) Infrastructure Architect

Company Description

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Are you interested in joining some of the brightest talent in the world to strengthen the United States’ security? Come join Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) where our employees apply their expertise to create solutions for BIG ideas that make our world a better place.

We are dedicated to fostering a culture that values individuals, talents, partnerships, ideas, experiences, and different perspectives, recognizing their importance to the continued success of the Laboratory’s mission.

Pay Range

$140,700 - $178,392 Annually for the SES.2 level
$168,780 - $214,032 Annually for the SES.3 level

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting; pay will not be below any applicable local minimum wage.  An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.

Job Description

We have an opening for an AI (Artificial Intelligence) Infrastructure Architect to design, implement, and support Enterprise AI initiatives that support the Laboratory. You will work as part of a small, collaborative team responsible for AI infrastructure focused initiatives that will benefit LivIT and the entire Lab.  You will collaborate with AI Engineers, Developers, IT Infrastructure and leadership across LivIT and our programmatic customers to drive strategic AI efforts that support innovative needs and operational efficiencies. This position offers the opportunity to work in a dynamic and highly technical environment, supporting critical infrastructure for enterprise-level applications. This position is in the Enterprise Infrastructure Services (EIS) Division within the Computing Directorate and in support of the LivIT Systems Networks & Technologies Program Area.

This position will be filled at either the SES.2 or SES.3 level based on knowledge and related experience as assessed by the hiring team. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if hired at the higher level.

Depending on your assignment, this position may offer a hybrid schedule, blending in-person and virtual presence. You may have the flexibility to work from home one or more days per week. 

You will

• Analyze operational inefficiencies and propose AI-driven solutions.
• Leverage expertise in automation to optimize workflows, monitoring, and configuration management for AI frameworks, tools, and platforms.
• Develop robust AI pipelines and infrastructure that align with organizational goals and business requirements.
• Ensure AI related infrastructure efforts comply with security policy, collaborating with our Cyber Security Program.
• Evaluate and integrate emerging AI technologies and tools in support of infrastructure initiatives, such as MLOps platforms, model optimization frameworks, and other AI services, to enhance infrastructure capabilities.
• Monitor and analyze AI infrastructure performance, identify bottlenecks, and implement solutions to ensure scalability, reliability, and cost efficiency.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the SES.3 Level 

• Oversee and lead the lifecycle of AI systems architectures, including requirements gathering, capacity planning, design, development, testing, documentation, implementation, upgrades, and performance optimization.
• Provide mentoring and knowledge sharing to team members to enhance AI skills and abilities across the organization. 

Qualifications

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship. 
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Management Information Systems, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Broad experience in Python, R, or other programming languages commonly used in AI development, with a strong understanding of scripting for automation and operational workflows.
• Broad experience with NLP tools and techniques for automating tasks such as ticket triage, sentiment analysis, or chatbots, with proficiency in libraries such as SpaCy, NLTK, or Hugging Face.
• Hands-on experience with at least three AI or GenAI tools and frameworks, such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Co-Pilot, Amazon Q, Hugging Face, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Bedrock, RAG solutions, or similar technologies.
• Proficiency with at least two automation tools, frameworks, or Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) platforms, including Ansible, Terraform, Kubernetes, Puppet, Jenkins, or comparable solutions.
• Extensive experience in systems programming to develop, configure, monitor, and automate web applications, cloud services, containers, and COTS infrastructures to ensure high availability and robust security.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with customers, IT teams, developers, database administrators, systems administrators, and security professionals to design and deliver containerized infrastructures and services tailored to business objectives.
• Proficient verbal and written communication skills necessary for preparing and delivering presentations, articulating findings and recommendations, and influencing management decisions using data-driven insights.

Additional qualifications at the SES.3 Level 

• Advanced knowledge of Infrastructure-As-Code (IaC) and CI/CD workflow pipelines t help support GenAI infrastructure modernization efforts.
• Advanced knowledge of APIs, microservices, and cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
• Substantial knowledge of IT Infrastructure, including networks, servers, cloud platforms, and IT Service Management (ITSM) tools.
• Significant hands-on experience building, managing, and scaling data lakes.

Additional Information

#LI-Hybrid

Position Information

This is a Flexible Term appointment, which is for a definite period not to exceed six years.  If final candidate is a Career Indefinite employee, Career Indefinite status may be maintained (should funding allow).

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2025 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Flexible Benefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Our values - visit https://www.llnl.gov/inclusion/our-values

Security Clearance

This position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance.  If you are selected, we will initiate a Federal background investigation to determine if you meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or matter. Also, all L or Q cleared employees are subject to random drug testing.  Q-level clearance requires U.S. citizenship. 

Pre-Employment Drug Test

External applicant(s) selected for this position must pass a post-offer, pre-employment drug test. This includes testing for use of marijuana as Federal Law applies to us as a Federal Contractor.

Wireless and Medical Devices

Per the Department of Energy (DOE), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory must meet certain restrictions with the use and/or possession of mobile devices in Limited Areas. Depending on your job duties, you may be required to work in a Limited Area where you are not permitted to have a personal and/or laboratory mobile device in your possession.  This includes, but not limited to cell phones, tablets, fitness devices, wireless headphones, and other Bluetooth/wireless enabled devices.  

If you use a medical device, which pairs with a mobile device, you must still follow the rules concerning the mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas.  Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities require separate approval. Hearing aids without wireless capabilities or wireless that has been disabled are allowed in Limited Areas, Secure Space and Transit/Buffer Space within buildings.

How to identify fake job advertisements

Please be aware of recruitment scams where people or entities are misusing the name of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to post fake job advertisements. LLNL never extends an offer without a personal interview and will never charge a fee for joining our company. All current job openings are displayed on the Career Page under “Find Your Job” of our website. If you have encountered a job posting or have been approached with a job offer that you suspect may be fraudulent, we strongly recommend you do not respond.

To learn more about recruitment scams: https://www.llnl.gov/sites/www/files/2023-05/LLNL-Job-Fraud-Statement-Updated-4.26.23.pdf

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer that is committed to providing all with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status, age, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

Reasonable Accommodation

Our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates applying and interviewing at the Laboratory.  If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please use our online form to submit a request. 

California Privacy Notice

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants privacy rights to all California residents. The law also entitles job applicants, employees, and non-employee workers to be notified of what personal information LLNL collects and for what purpose. The Employee Privacy Notice can be accessed here.