Full Stack AI Developer

We have an opening for a Full Stack AI Developer to help design, build, and support LLNL’s Enterprise Search and LivChat platforms. LivChat is LLNL’s first AI‑powered conversational assistant, and our group operates multiple AI platforms that deliver secure, scalable, natural‑language access to information and tools across the Laboratory.

As part of the Digital Experience and Search group, you will work in a modern, product‑oriented environment that values teamwork, good engineering practices, experimentation, and continuous improvement. You will turn cutting‑edge AI capabilities into intuitive, high‑impact applications used daily across LLNL. Our team is responsible for mission‑critical services, provides strong mentorship and technical growth opportunities, and plays a central role in shaping how staff discover, access, and interact with information.

This position is in the Digital Experience and Search group within the Information Technology Solutions Division in the Computing Directorate, in support of the LivIT program.

This position offers a hybrid schedule, blending in-person and virtual presence. You will have the flexibility to work from home one or more days per week.

This position will be filled at either 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.

You will

• Provide software application engineering and maintenance for all phases of the software development lifecycle, including analysis, design, implementation, automated testing and support. This includes both frontend and backend development for all aspects of our search and LivChat environments.
• Leverage Elasticsearch, Java, Angular, TypeScript, Node.js, python and other technologies in the support of various facets of the Lab’s enterprise search and LivChat applications including crawling, indexing, query tuning, report building, and updating the search APIs and User Interfaces.
• Create and update CI/CD pipelines to build and test new features and applications.
• Deploy software following an agile design methodology to be secure, free of vulnerabilities, and componentized for ease of maintenance.
• Provide analysis and innovative methods to enhance and extend the product services to customers.
• Provide knowledge sharing with team members and/or mentoring in application design and business processes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the SES.3 level 

• Lead technical direction and architecture for key aspects of the Enterprise Search and LivChat platforms, making decisions on cross-cutting capabilities that impact multiple programs and mission areas across the Laboratory.
• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for Enterprise Search and LivChat, coordinating roadmaps and dependencies across organizations and representing the group on internal technical or advisory committees to advance LivIT and Laboratory information access objectives.
• Drive the adoption of advanced engineering and AI best practices, including scalable, secure-by-design architectures and MLOps/LLMOps techniques, while mentoring developers and guiding project teams so that technical advancements in search and conversational AI have impact beyond the immediate products.

Qualifications

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship. 
• Bachelor’s degree in a computer or engineering related field, or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Broad experience with DML and/or DDL as they relate to one or more relational database management systems (e.g., Oracle, MySQL).
• In-depth knowledge of current trends and best practices in web architecture and design in one or more of the following areas: performance, accessibility, UI/UX design, prototyping, scalability, compliance, and/or usability.
• Broad experience with ML models in the areas of text and image analysis.
• Experience with software development lifecycle, version controls and issue tracking tools.  
• Ability to own projects from beginning to end. This covers research, technical design, and working with others to develop needed components. Able to effectively manage concurrent technical tasks with competing priorities, approach difficult problems with enthusiasm and creativity and ability to change focus when necessary.
• Proficient verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively collaborate in a team environment and present and explain technical information and provide advice to management.

Additional qualifications at the SES.3 level 

• Significant experience developing and optimizing data processing workflows—including chunking, indexing, ingestion, and vectorization—for text and/or non-text data.
• Significant experience implementing and maintaining auto-tagging systems and data/or preparation processes to enhance Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) effectiveness and support accurate, context-aware responses in GenAI applications.
• Advanced knowledge in leveraging prompting techniques to develop, test, and optimize prompts for large language models (LLMs), ensuring high model performance, response quality, and accuracy across various use cases.

Pay Range

$146,340 - $185,544 Annually for the SES.2 level
$175,530 - $222,564 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. 

Additional Information

#LI-Hybrid

Position Information

This is a Career Indefinite position, open to Lab employees and external candidates.

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2026 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.

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