Autonomous Laboratories, Robotics & Artificial Intelligence – Postdoctoral Researcher

Company Description

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has turned bold ideas into world-changing impact advancing science and technology to strengthen U.S. security and promote global stability. 

Our mission spans four critical national security areas nuclear deterrence, threat preparedness, energy security, and multi-domain defense empowering teams to take on the toughest challenges of today and tomorrow. With a culture built on innovation and operational excellence, LLNL is a place where your expertise can make a real impact.

Job Description

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to contribute to the design, development, and deployment of autonomous laboratories that accelerate scientific discovery through the integration of artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, data infrastructure, and experimental capabilities across advanced manufacturing, materials science, chemistry, and biology. This position offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of hands-on laboratory automation, robotics, and AI-enabled experimentation across a broad portfolio of application areas. This role is well suited for a researcher who is excited by both scientific investigation and platform development. You will help translate research questions into experimental workflows, prototype and troubleshoot automated and robotic systems, analyze data from active research campaigns, and contribute to the development of next-generation autonomous laboratories.   This position is within the Materials Engineering Division (MED) in the Engineering Directorate.

You will 

• Design and validate autonomous experimental workflows for materials science, chemistry, advanced manufacturing, biology, or related scientific domains, transforming research questions and bench-scale procedures into reproducible automation protocols.
• Integrate instruments, robotics, sensors, and software systems into coordinated autonomous or semi-autonomous laboratory platforms that enable safe, reliable, and scalable experimentation.
• Develop software and data infrastructure in support of research campaigns for instrument control, data acquisition, experiment orchestration, workflow automation, metadata capture, traceability, and integration with laboratory information or data management systems.
• Apply AI/ML methods to experimental discovery, including experiment planning, adaptive experimentation, predictive modeling, optimization, and analysis of experimental and instrument data.
• Contribute to multidisciplinary research campaigns by troubleshooting platform performance, documenting and communicating results, publishing in peer-reviewed journals, presenting at conferences, and collaborating with scientists, engineers, roboticists, automation engineers, and AI/ML researchers.
• Present research findings at seminars, conferences, and technical meetings; contribute to research design and project execution; collaborate in a multidisciplinary team environment; and publish results in peer-reviewed journals.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics, Physics, or a related field.
• Experience performing research in materials science, chemistry, laboratory automation, robotics, AI/ML, or autonomous experimentation.
• Ability to design, execute, analyze, and communicate scientific or engineering research.
• Experience developing software for scientific computing, experimental control, data analysis, automation, or instrument integration.
• Familiarity with one or more programming languages commonly used in research or automation environments, such as Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, C/C++, or similar.
• Ability to work hands-on with experimental systems, laboratory equipment, instruments, sensors, or robotic platforms.
• Proficient verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment and present and explain technical information.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to collaborative research teams.

Qualifications We Desire 

• Experience developing or operating autonomous laboratories, self-driving labs, high-throughput experimentation platforms, or closed-loop experimental systems.
• Experience integrating robotic systems, laboratory instruments, sensors, vision systems, synthesis or characterization tools, and other automated workcells.
• Experience with instrument control, vendor APIs/SDKs, data acquisition, experiment orchestration software, laboratory information systems, or scientific data infrastructure.
• Experience applying AI/ML methods to experimental science, such as Bayesian optimization, active learning, reinforcement learning, generative models, agent-based systems, computer vision, or predictive modeling.
• Experience or interest in agentic AI, physical AI, embodied AI, vision-language-action models, or autonomous decision-making systems for planning, coordinating, and executing experiments on robotic, instrumented, or hardware-based laboratory platforms.
• Experience with materials science, chemistry, advanced manufacturing, biology, or related experimental workflows, along with a demonstrated interest in developing autonomous discovery platforms for mission-relevant research.

Pay Range

$122,028 - $143,328 Annually

Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. Many factors are taken into consideration when setting starting pay including education, experience, the external labor market, and internal equity.

Additional Information

#LI-Onsite

Position Information

This is a Postdoctoral appointment with the possibility of extension to a maximum of three years, open to those who have been awarded a PhD at time of hire date.

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

None required.  However, if your assignment is longer than 179 days cumulatively within a calendar year, you must go through the Personal Identity Verification process.  This process includes completing an online background investigation form and receiving approval of the background check.  

National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)

The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Section 3112, generally prohibits citizens of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea without dual US citizenship or legal permanent residence from accessing specific non-public areas of national security or nuclear weapons facilities.  The restrictions of NDAA Section 3112 apply to this position.  To be qualified for this position, Candidates must be eligible to access the Laboratory in compliance with Section 3112.

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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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.

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