Department Manager – Agentic AI Systems

Job Description

Position Summary

Idaho National Laboratory is seeking a Department Manager to lead the Agentic AI Systems Engineeringdepartment responsible for architecting and deploying agentic AI systems across the laboratory. This includes multi-agent orchestration, tool-use frameworks, and the integration of INL's scientific and engineering codes into agentic workflows that support nuclear energy research and national mission programs. The Department Manager will guide a multidisciplinary team of computational scientists and AI engineers, develop people and technical capabilities, integrate work across disciplines, and align department priorities with laboratory and Genesis Mission objectives. This leader will foster collaboration, technical excellence, and effective execution while positioning the group to meet the rapidly evolving demands of agentic AI for science.

Job Description

Lead the department in architecting and deploying agentic AI systems, including multi-agent orchestration, tool-use frameworks, and the integration of scientific and engineering codes into agentic workflows.
Establish department direction, priorities, and objectives that strengthen INL's agentic AI capabilities and align with broader laboratory mission needs, including the Genesis Mission and related national initiatives.
Provide leadership and oversight for employees, including performance management, staff development, workforce planning, and effective utilization of personnel.
Build and sustain the technical talent and organizational capabilities needed to design, evaluate, and scale multi-agent systems, tool-calling frameworks, and agent-to-code integration pipelines.
Integrate work across the disciplines to enable effective execution of multidisciplinary research, engineering, software engineering, and technical activities.
Foster collaboration across organizational and technical boundaries to connect agentic AI expertise with INL programs, researchers, and mission needs, embedding autonomous and semi-autonomous agent capabilities into scientific and operational workflows.
Maintain effective relationships with internal organizations, customers, stakeholders, and DOE interfaces, as applicable to department activities.
Support strategic planning and identify opportunities to strengthen the department's capabilities, partnerships, and mission impact as agentic AI matures as a discipline.
Promote technical excellence, innovation, accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and safe, secure execution of work, including responsible deployment of autonomous AI systems.
Develop an inclusive, high-performing organization in which employees have opportunities to grow, contribute their expertise, and advance INL's Scientific Computing and Artificial Intelligence mission.

Required

Requires an advanced degree in Computer Science, Nuclear Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field, a minimum of 5 years' experience in the field of practice with 2 years of leadership experience.
Ability to provide organizational leadership in support of a Scientific Computing and Artificial Intelligence mission, including familiarity with agentic AI concepts such as multi-agent orchestration and tool-use frameworks.
The ability to obtain and maintain a DOE "Q" clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship.

The ideal candidate will possess

Demonstrated ability to lead and develop multidisciplinary technical teams working on AI, software, and computational science.
Ability to integrate diverse technical capabilities and align people, priorities, and resources with organizational objectives.
Familiarity with agentic AI architectures, multi-agent orchestration platforms, tool-use/function-calling frameworks, and integrating domain-specific codes into agent workflows.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this classification, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, bend, and work in an office and field/laboratory environment. The job requires hand/finger dexterity to keyboard or type, handle materials, manipulate tools, and reach with hands and arms. The job requires operation of job-related equipment and driving a vehicle. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds. Sufficient visual acuity and hearing capacity to perform the essential functions and interact with people is required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Job Information

Idaho National Laboratory is hiring a Department Manager – Agentic AI Systems to work on our Agentic AI Systems Engineering team. Our team works a 9x80 schedule located out of our REC facility with every other Friday off.

The target pay range for this position is $158,712- $237,174 annually. The full pay range is $107,844 - $274,980. At Idaho National Laboratory compensation decisions are determined using factors such as education, relevant experience, and other credentials.
TDP: This is a testing designated position; you will be required to submit to a pre-employment drug screen and periodic drug testing throughout the term of your employment.

About Us

Benefits and Relocation

Medical, Dental, Vision, and Flexible Spending Accounts
401(k) with a 4.2% employer contribution and up to 4.8% match (regular positions) or self-contribute access (postdoctoral positions)
Paid time off (personal leave)
Employee Education Program (tuition assistance for eligible positions)
Comprehensive Relocation Package
Benefit eligibility subject to multiple factors, including employment status and position classification.

At this time, BEA will not sponsor any H1-B visas obtained outside of the United States of America (U.S.A.), including consular visas.

INL is a science-based, applied engineering national laboratory dedicated to supporting the U.S. Department of Energy's mission in nuclear energy research, science, and national defense. With mo