Senior Director National Security Artificial Intelligence (NSAI) (Senior Director)
- Req. Number: IRC139640
- Organization : AI Office
- City, State: Los Alamos, New Mexico
- Salary: $206,400 - $411,900
What You Will Do
Join Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and lead the transformation of national security through the responsible and visionary advancement of artificial intelligence. As Senior Director of the National Security Artificial Intelligence (NSAI) Office, you will serve as the senior-most leader for LANL's AI strategy across the national security enterprise, setting the vision, influencing external ecosystems, and guiding integration across mission spaces.
Reporting to the Deputy Laboratory Director for Weapons, the NSAIO Director will operate at the forefront of AI's evolution for defense, deterrence, and intelligence applications. The role will be highly externally focused, shaping partnerships, influencing national policy, and leading AI engagements across the DOE, DoD, Intelligence Community, and industry.
The successful candidate will:
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
Strategic and Technical Leadership
AI and Systems Thinking
National Security Integration
Leadership and External Communication
Team Building and Collaboration
Compliance and Security
Education/Experience: Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a related technical field and 15 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Desired Qualifications:
Work Environment:
Work Location:
The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.
Position commitment:
Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position in order to be eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the time required, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. The position commitment for this position is 1 year.
Note to Applicants:
Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China-including the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau-as well as citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and the Russian Federation, who are not Lawful Permanent Residents ("green card" holders) are prohibited from accessing facilities that support the mission, functions, and operations of national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, which includes Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Please include a resume and a detailed cover letter explaining how your background aligns with the strategic leadership and technical depth described above.
Where You Will Work
Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:
§ PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network
§ Dental and vision insurance
§ Free basic life and disability insurance
§ Paid childbirth and parental leave
§ Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
§ Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
§ Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)
§ Onsite gyms and wellness programs
§ Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)
Additional Details
Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.
Clearance: Q or Q/SCI (Position will be cleared to this level). Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government, and must meet eligibility requirements* for access to classified matter. This position requires a Q clearance. and obtaining such clearance requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Dependent upon the position, additional authorization to access classified information may be required, which may or may not be available to dual citizens. Receipt of a Q clearance and additional access authorization ultimately is a decision of the Federal Government and not of Triad.
*Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order 472.2 for additional information.
New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.
Regular position: Term status Laboratory employees applying for regular-status positions are converted to regular status.
Internal Applicants: Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy Policy P701 for applicant eligibility requirements.
Incentive Compensation Program: Position is eligible to participate in the Triad Incentive Compensation Program. You must be in an eligible position for a minimum of 3 months, before July 1st and remain in an eligible position as of the end of the fiscal year, September 30th. The annual distribution is prorated based on the number of months in the eligible position.
Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to protected categories such as race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to applyhelp@lanl.gov or call (505)-664-6947 opt. 3.
Join Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and lead the transformation of national security through the responsible and visionary advancement of artificial intelligence. As Senior Director of the National Security Artificial Intelligence (NSAI) Office, you will serve as the senior-most leader for LANL's AI strategy across the national security enterprise, setting the vision, influencing external ecosystems, and guiding integration across mission spaces.
Reporting to the Deputy Laboratory Director for Weapons, the NSAIO Director will operate at the forefront of AI's evolution for defense, deterrence, and intelligence applications. The role will be highly externally focused, shaping partnerships, influencing national policy, and leading AI engagements across the DOE, DoD, Intelligence Community, and industry.
The successful candidate will:
- Represent LANL as a national peer to AI leads at SNL, LLNL, and beyond.
- Serve as the strategic face of LANL AI, communicating progress and vision to high-level government and industry leaders.
- Shape and recommend the institutional sequencing of national efforts in alignment with external partners, focusing on trusted agentic systems, RAG and interface enhancements, cloud-complemented architectures, and emerging use cases in SRD, SCI, and Yellow system domains.
- Guide LANL's position on scalable AI services in secure and classified environments.
- Coordinate closely with a future Chief Operating Officer (COO)-like function-such as a Chief Data Officer in ALDSCT-to ensure operational execution complements external strategy.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
Strategic and Technical Leadership
- Demonstrated leadership of complex, high-impact technology programs in AI/ML, data science, or national security innovation.
- Ability to define and execute transformative strategic direction across institutions and missions.
- Strong track record of influencing external partnerships and national-level initiatives.
AI and Systems Thinking
- Deep expertise in artificial intelligence and its applications in defense, intelligence, or critical infrastructure.
- Familiarity with frontier AI models and their implications for trust, governance, and secure operations.
- Vision for AI system integration across unclassified, SRD, SCI, and Yellow environments.
National Security Integration
- Experience aligning research and operational efforts with DOE, NNSA, DoD, or IC stakeholders.
- Ability to define AI policy roadmaps that reflect mission priorities and future cloud/hybrid computing architectures.
Leadership and External Communication
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; adept at engaging senior leaders in government and industry.
- Demonstrated credibility as a peer among AI leaders across the national lab system and beyond.
- Demonstrated leadership experience and demonstrated impact in national security innovation.
Team Building and Collaboration
- Capacity to foster strategic coordination with internal execution roles (e.g., Chief Data Officer), helping enable full lifecycle program development.
Compliance and Security
- Understanding of federal regulations surrounding classified computing, information assurance, and emerging AI guidelines.
Education/Experience: Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a related technical field and 15 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience collaborating with external AI providers, major cloud providers, or national AI testbeds.
- Record of engagement in national AI policy, assurance frameworks, or interagency working groups.
- Active DOE Q or Q/SCI clearance.
Work Environment:
Work Location:
The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.
Position commitment:
Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position in order to be eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the time required, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. The position commitment for this position is 1 year.
Note to Applicants:
Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China-including the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau-as well as citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and the Russian Federation, who are not Lawful Permanent Residents ("green card" holders) are prohibited from accessing facilities that support the mission, functions, and operations of national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, which includes Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Please include a resume and a detailed cover letter explaining how your background aligns with the strategic leadership and technical depth described above.
Where You Will Work
Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:
§ PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network
§ Dental and vision insurance
§ Free basic life and disability insurance
§ Paid childbirth and parental leave
§ Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
§ Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
§ Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)
§ Onsite gyms and wellness programs
§ Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)
Additional Details
Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.
Clearance: Q or Q/SCI (Position will be cleared to this level). Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government, and must meet eligibility requirements* for access to classified matter. This position requires a Q clearance. and obtaining such clearance requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Dependent upon the position, additional authorization to access classified information may be required, which may or may not be available to dual citizens. Receipt of a Q clearance and additional access authorization ultimately is a decision of the Federal Government and not of Triad.
*Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order 472.2 for additional information.
New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.
Regular position: Term status Laboratory employees applying for regular-status positions are converted to regular status.
Internal Applicants: Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy Policy P701 for applicant eligibility requirements.
Incentive Compensation Program: Position is eligible to participate in the Triad Incentive Compensation Program. You must be in an eligible position for a minimum of 3 months, before July 1st and remain in an eligible position as of the end of the fiscal year, September 30th. The annual distribution is prorated based on the number of months in the eligible position.
Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to protected categories such as race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to applyhelp@lanl.gov or call (505)-664-6947 opt. 3.
