We have an opening for a Controls Software Engineer to design, implement, test, deploy, and commission front-end and embedded controls software for the National Ignition Facility (NIF), the largest and most energetic laser in the world. The NIF Integrated Computer Control System (ICCS) is a large-scale, highly distributed, data-driven control system spanning hundreds of front-end processors, supervisory servers, framework services, and hardware interfaces. ICCS directly controls and coordinates laser, target-area, diagnostic, sensor, and facility equipment to safely, reliably, and repeatably execute the more than two million operations required for each NIF experiment. You will work in a multidisciplinary team environment to develop ICCS applications for a unique, large-scale experimental physics facility. This position is in the National Ignition Facility Computing (NIFC) Division within the Computing Directorate.

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 the SES.1 or SES.2 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

• Design, implement, test, deploy, commission, and maintain controls software used by operators to control NIF equipment, while adhering to established design and development conventions.
• Perform software engineering using object-oriented analysis, design, and programming techniques, and actively participate in design and code reviews.
• Execute the full software development lifecycle from requirements definition through implementation, manual and automated testing, deployment and commissioning.
• Apply configuration management on all development artifacts.
• Develop, analyze, and troubleshoot software that interfaces directly with hardware devices, sensor systems, diagnostics, control-system infrastructure, and vendor-provided APIs.
• Work closely with physicists, engineers, technicians, operations staff, and software team members to translate experimental, operational, and facility requirements into reliable deployed controls software.
• Deliver assigned software scope on schedule to support facility operations, commissioning activities, and program milestones.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the SES.2 level

• Independently collaborate with physicists, engineers, technicians, operations staff, and software leads to gather requirements, identify dependencies, resolve interface questions, and support deployed controls applications.
• Provide solutions to moderately complex hardware/software integration problems across distributed controls, diagnostics, timing, data acquisition, device coordination, and facility operations.
• Contribute to technical direction for assigned controls-software components, lead focused design or code review activities.

• Eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a related field, or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Experience with object-oriented design and development of multi-threaded and distributed applications in Java, C++, or comparable object-oriented languages.
• Experience implementing algorithms, control logic, or device-state models
• Skilled in all aspects of software project life cycle: requirements, design, implementation, integration, test and deployment.
• Familiarity with software configuration management tools, version control systems, and defect tracking tools (e.g., Git, Jira).
• Ability to effectively manage concurrent technical tasks with competing priorities.
• Experience applying creativity and sound technical judgment to difficult problems.
• Effective interpersonal skills necessary to interact with all levels of personnel with the ability to work independently in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills to prepare, present, and document technical information.

Additional qualifications at the SES.2 level

• Familiarity with designing, developing, and deploying software that interfaces with a variety of hardware controls such as motors, actuators, sensors, digitizers, and oscilloscopes.
• Broad experience working effectively under limited direction with customers to gather requirements and support deployed applications in a collaborative multidisciplinary team environment.
• Broad experience applying effective analytical and problem-solving skills to moderately complex problems.

Qualifications We Desire

• Master’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or related field.
• Understanding of computer networking and electrical engineering concepts relevant to sensors, actuators, instrumentation, signal interfaces, and industrial control circuits, with hands-on experience developing and troubleshooting control systems software that interfaces with laboratory or industrial hardware through network, serial, fieldbus, instrument-control protocols, or vendor-specific APIs.
• Experience developing, testing, or deploying software in Linux-based environments, using instrumentation, logs, protocol analyzers, vendor diagnostic tools, and measurement equipment to isolate hardware/software interface issues.

Pay Range

$121,830 - $154,500 Yearly at the SES.1  level

$146,340 - $185,544 Yearly at the SES.2 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.

#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.

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