Senior Researcher Jobs in Richland, WA
Senior Researcher jobs in Richland, Washington are open across the metro, with employers like Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Planned Systems International hiring at every experience level. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 11+ Senior Researcher jobs
At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments that we refer to as Directorates within the Lab, focused on a specific area of scientific research or other function, with its own leadership team and dedicated budget.
Our Science & Technology directorates include National Security, Earth and Biological Sciences, Physical and Computational Sciences, and Energy and Environment. In addition, we have an Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus.
The Energy and Environment Directorate delivers science and technology solutions for the nation’s biggest energy and environmental challenges. Our more than 1,700 staff support the Department of Energy (DOE), delivering on key DOE mission areas including: modernizing our nation’s power grid to maintain a reliable, affordable, secure, and resilient electricity delivery infrastructure; research, development, validation, and effective utilization of renewable energy and efficiency technologies that improve the affordability, reliability, resiliency, and security of the American energy system; and resolving complex issues in nuclear science, energy, and environmental management.
The Electricity Infrastructure and Buildings Division, part of the Energy and Environment Directorate, is accelerating the transition to an efficient, resilient, and secure energy system through basic and applied research. We leverage a strong technical foundation in power and energy systems and advanced data analytics to drive innovation, transform markets, and shape energy policy.
Employees and their families are offered medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, robust telehealth care options, several mental health benefits, free wellness coaching, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, basic life insurance, disability insurance*, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, tuition assistance, relocation, backup childcare, legal benefits, supplemental parental bonding leave, surrogacy and adoption assistance, and fertility support. Employees are automatically enrolled in our company-funded pension plan* and may enroll in our 401 (k) savings plan with company match*. Employees may accrue up to 120 vacation hours per year and may receive ten paid holidays per year.
- Research Associates excluded.
**All benefits are dependent upon eligibility.
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The individual will work with and provide technical contributions to project teams that conduct research in support of residential/commercial buildings technologies with an emphasis on HVAC equipment and building efficiency. The primary client is the U.S. Department of Energy offices, and secondary clients include other agencies, state government, utilities, regional energy efficiency organizations, and private organizations. This position offers the opportunity for a broad range of involvement in activities including researching and developing efficiency and electricity infrastructure related experiments and technologies. Identifying and helping develop new and improved tools, technologies, and resources for addressing energy efficiency and electricity infrastructure needs; and designing workshops, case studies, programs\training that support the application and use of energy efficiency technologies and best practices. In this role, the key responsibilities of the successful candidate will be to:
- Individual will have the growing ability to apply advanced energy principles, theories and concepts in the fields of efficiency, electricity infrastructure technology and policy, building science, including building energy use, management, and analysis. Individual should be able to demonstrate training and experience in building science with application to residential and/or commercial buildings.
- Serve as the subject matter expert for the environmental chambers and associated systems, responsible for test system setup and modification in accordance with project standards, overall design modifications, system diagnostics, system operation/oversight, system performance testing and evaluation, acceptance testing, condition assessment surveys, work and maintenance planning outage planning, and other facility operation management.
The individual will provide technical contributions to a fast-growing team of energy efficiency engineers, scientists, analysts and other technical professionals developing innovative methods to achieve greater energy efficiency in the Nation’s new and existing homes, commercial buildings, and appliances. This individual will provide technical support to PNNL’s efforts to promote the development, adoption, and implementation of progressive energy efficiency technologies, best practices, protocols, and codes\standards that are designed for clear and consistent interpretation and implementation. The individual will also provide support to PNNL’s on-going test and measurement program for HVAC units in our environmental test chambers. Potential candidates with an interest in residential/commercial buildings energy efficiency, construction, energy codes, renovation, building enclosures, heating and cooling, ventilation, indoor air quality, water heating, control technologies, load shapes, and grid interactions are encouraged to apply.
- BS/BA and 5+ years of relevant work experience -OR-
- MS/MA and 3+ years of relevant work experience -OR-
- PhD with 1+ year of relevant experience
Preferred Qualifications:
- Advanced degree in Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering or closely related field.
- Experience with HVAC testing and performance evaluation.
- Experience operating and conducting tests in an environmental chamber environment.
- Mechanical or Electrical Engineering experience with facilities/building engineering experience.
- Knowledge with the use of the following software: LabVIEW, AutoCAD, JCI Metasys, Tridium Niagara.
Not Applicable.
Testing Designated Position (TDP):This is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP).
About PNNL:At PNNL, you will find an exciting research environment and excellent benefits including health insurance, and flexible work schedules. PNNL is located in eastern Washington State—the dry side of Washington known for its stellar outdoor recreation and affordable cost of living. The Lab’s campus is only a 45-minute flight (or ~3 hour drive) from Seattle or Portland, and is serviced by the convenient PSC airport, connected to 8 major hubs.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. PNNL considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), protected veteran status, and any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local laws.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures and in employment. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, contact us at careers@pnnl.gov.
If you are offered employment at PNNL, you must pass a drug test prior to commencing employment. PNNL complies with federal law regarding illegal drug use. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug. If you test positive for any illegal controlled substance, including marijuana, your offer of employment will be withdrawn.
For foreign national candidates:
At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments that we refer to as Directorates within the Lab, focused on a specific area of scientific research or other function, with its own leadership team and dedicated budget.
Our Science & Technology directorates include National Security, Earth and Biological Sciences, Physical and Computational Sciences, and Energy and Environment. In addition, we have an Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus.
The Energy and Environment Directorate delivers science and technology solutions for the nation’s biggest energy and environmental challenges. Our more than 1,700 staff support the Department of Energy (DOE), delivering on key DOE mission areas including: modernizing our nation’s power grid to maintain a reliable, affordable, secure, and resilient electricity delivery infrastructure; research, development, validation, and effective utilization of renewable energy and efficiency technologies that improve the affordability, reliability, resiliency, and security of the American energy system; and resolving complex issues in nuclear science, energy, and environmental management.
The Electricity Infrastructure and Buildings Division, part of the Energy and Environment Directorate, is accelerating the transition to an efficient, resilient, and secure energy system through basic and applied research. We leverage a strong technical foundation in power and energy systems and advanced data analytics to drive innovation, transform markets, and shape energy policy.
Employees and their families are offered medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, robust telehealth care options, several mental health benefits, free wellness coaching, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, basic life insurance, disability insurance*, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, tuition assistance, relocation, backup childcare, legal benefits, supplemental parental bonding leave, surrogacy and adoption assistance, and fertility support. Employees are automatically enrolled in our company-funded pension plan* and may enroll in our 401 (k) savings plan with company match*. Employees may accrue up to 120 vacation hours per year and may receive ten paid holidays per year.
- Research Associates excluded.
**All benefits are dependent upon eligibility.
Click Here For Rockstar Rewards
The individual will work with and provide technical contributions to project teams that conduct research in support of residential/commercial buildings technologies with an emphasis on HVAC equipment and building efficiency. The primary client is the U.S. Department of Energy offices, and secondary clients include other agencies, state government, utilities, regional energy efficiency organizations, and private organizations. This position offers the opportunity for a broad range of involvement in activities including researching and developing efficiency and electricity infrastructure related experiments and technologies. Identifying and helping develop new and improved tools, technologies, and resources for addressing energy efficiency and electricity infrastructure needs; and designing workshops, case studies, programs\training that support the application and use of energy efficiency technologies and best practices. In this role, the key responsibilities of the successful candidate will be to:
- Individual will have the growing ability to apply advanced energy principles, theories and concepts in the fields of efficiency, electricity infrastructure technology and policy, building science, including building energy use, management, and analysis. Individual should be able to demonstrate training and experience in building science with application to residential and/or commercial buildings.
- Serve as the subject matter expert for the environmental chambers and associated systems, responsible for test system setup and modification in accordance with project standards, overall design modifications, system diagnostics, system operation/oversight, system performance testing and evaluation, acceptance testing, condition assessment surveys, work and maintenance planning outage planning, and other facility operation management.
The individual will provide technical contributions to a fast-growing team of energy efficiency engineers, scientists, analysts and other technical professionals developing innovative methods to achieve greater energy efficiency in the Nation’s new and existing homes, commercial buildings, and appliances. This individual will provide technical support to PNNL’s efforts to promote the development, adoption, and implementation of progressive energy efficiency technologies, best practices, protocols, and codes\standards that are designed for clear and consistent interpretation and implementation. The individual will also provide support to PNNL’s on-going test and measurement program for HVAC units in our environmental test chambers. Potential candidates with an interest in residential/commercial buildings energy efficiency, construction, energy codes, renovation, building enclosures, heating and cooling, ventilation, indoor air quality, water heating, control technologies, load shapes, and grid interactions are encouraged to apply.
- BS/BA and 5+ years of relevant work experience -OR-
- MS/MA and 3+ years of relevant work experience -OR-
- PhD with 1+ year of relevant experience
Preferred Qualifications:
- Advanced degree in Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering or closely related field.
- Experience with HVAC testing and performance evaluation.
- Experience operating and conducting tests in an environmental chamber environment.
- Mechanical or Electrical Engineering experience with facilities/building engineering experience.
- Knowledge with the use of the following software: LabVIEW, AutoCAD, JCI Metasys, Tridium Niagara.
Not Applicable.
Testing Designated Position (TDP):This is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP).
About PNNL:At PNNL, you will find an exciting research environment and excellent benefits including health insurance, and flexible work schedules. PNNL is located in eastern Washington State—the dry side of Washington known for its stellar outdoor recreation and affordable cost of living. The Lab’s campus is only a 45-minute flight (or ~3 hour drive) from Seattle or Portland, and is serviced by the convenient PSC airport, connected to 8 major hubs.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. PNNL considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), protected veteran status, and any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local laws.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures and in employment. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, contact us at careers@pnnl.gov.
If you are offered employment at PNNL, you must pass a drug test prior to commencing employment. PNNL complies with federal law regarding illegal drug use. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug. If you test positive for any illegal controlled substance, including marijuana, your offer of employment will be withdrawn.
For foreign national candidates:
See All 11 Senior Researcher Jobs in Richland
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Find Senior Researcher JobsSenior Researcher Job Market in Richland
Who's Hiring
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory9
- Planned Systems International2
Top Industries Hiring
- Science & Research9
Senior Researcher Jobs in Richland: Frequently Asked Questions
How many senior researcher jobs are there in Richland?
There are 11+ senior researcher openings in Richland, Washington on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. New positions post regularly as Richland employers hire.
Which companies hire senior researchers in Richland?
Companies currently hiring senior researchers in Richland include Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Planned Systems International, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026.
Are there remote senior researcher jobs in Richland?
Yes. About 0% of senior researcher openings tied to Richland are remote or hybrid as of June 2026. The rest are on-site roles based in and around Richland.
Which industries hire the most senior researchers in Richland?
Most senior researcher openings in Richland sit in Science & Research, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026.
Related Jobs in Washington
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