Physics Computer Science Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is hiring a Scientific Engineering Associate within the Physics division. The position will contribute to advanced software development efforts supporting the ATLAS Experiment and DUNE Experiment. The Associate will contribute to ongoing experiment-driven development efforts and participate in forward-looking R&D projects targeting future upgrades such as the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider and next-generation computing architectures.

This position has an anticipated start date of June 1, 2026.

You will:

• Design, develop, test, and maintain high-performance software for particle physics experiments, particularly ATLAS and DUNE.
• Contribute to the architecture and core development of the Phlex framework, emphasizing scalable, multi-threaded, and heterogeneous (CPU/GPU) computing models.
• Collaborate with physicists, computer scientists, mathematicians and engineers across LBNL divisions to define software requirements, implement robust solutions, and develop software for high-energy particle physics.
• Optimize software for performance, scalability, and efficiency on modern computing architectures, including HPC and distributed systems.
• Participate in research and development activities supporting future experimental and computational upgrades (e.g., HL-LHC and beyond).
• Develop and maintain documentation, testing frameworks, and code validation procedures.
• Contribute to code reviews, software integration, and release processes.
• Present and discuss technical work at internal meetings, workshops, and relevant international scientific conferences.
• Support deployment and operation of software in production environments for large-scale data processing.
• Contribute to one or more of the ongoing projects within the ATLAS group, including the development of software for high-performance computing systems, the development of new algorithms and adaption of existing software for accelerators at heterogeneous system architectures, and the preparation of data for use in AI/ML systems.
• Supervise post-doctoral researchers and graduate students working on related projects.
• Write scientific papers describing developments in software workflows that are accessible to a HEP audience.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in physics, computer science, engineering, or a closely related field (or equivalent experience).
• Demonstrated experience in software development using languages such as C++, Python, or similar. Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git) and collaborative software development workflows.
• Familiarity with Linux/Unix environments and modern development tools.
• Basic understanding of parallel programming concepts (e.g., multi-threading, concurrency).
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, interdisciplinary team environment.

Preferred background: 

• Ph.D. (or equivalent degree) in physics, applied physics, computer science, or related fields.
• At least four years of relevant postdoctoral research experience.

Desired skills/knowledge:

• Knowledge of high-performance computing concepts, including parallelization, memory management, and performance optimization.
• Familiarity with heterogeneous computing technologies (e.g., GPUs, accelerators) and related frameworks (e.g., CUDA, HIP, SYCL) is desirable.
• Understanding of software design principles, modular architectures, and scalable systems.
• Ability to write clean, maintainable, and well-documented code.
• Effective communication skills, including the ability to convey technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities in a research-driven environment.
• Familiarity with particle physics computing workflows or large-scale scientific data processing is a plus.
• Experience with HEP software development.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare research results for publication and presentation at seminars and scientific meetings.

We're here for the same mission, to bring science solutions to the world. Join our team and YOU will play a supporting role in our goal to address global challenges! Have a high level of impact and work for an organization associated with 17 Nobel Prizes!

Why join Berkeley Lab?

We invest in our employees by offering a total rewards package you can count on:

• Exceptional health and retirement benefits, including pension or 401K-style plans
• A culture where you'll belong - we are invested in our teams! 
• In addition to accruing vacation and sick time, we also have a Winter Holiday Shutdown every year.
• Parental bonding leave (for both mothers and fathers)

Additional information:

• Application date: Priority consideration will be given to candidates who apply by 04/20/2026. Applications will be accepted until the job posting is removed.
• Required Travel: 
  • The position will require some travel, predominantly to CERN and FNAL, to aid in DUNE core software framework development efforts and for discussions with ATLAS software development teams.
• Appointment type:
  • This is a full-time, 1 year, term appointment with the possibility of extension or conversion to Career appointment based upon satisfactory job performance, continuing availability of funds and ongoing operational needs.
• Salary range: 
  • The expected salary for this position is $84,552-$105,720, which fits into the full salary of $84,500- $142,700 depending upon the candidate's skills, knowledge, and abilities. This includes education, certifications, and years of experience.
• Background check: This position is subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
• Work modality: Work will be primarily performed at: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA. A REAL ID or other acceptable form of identification is required to access Berkeley Lab sites (for more information click here).
   

Want to learn more about working at Berkeley Lab? Please visit: careers.lbl.gov
 

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: 

The foundation of Berkeley Lab is our Stewardship Values: Team Science, Service, Trust, Innovation, and Respect; and we strive to build community with these shared values and commitments. Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We heartily welcome applications from all who could contribute to the Lab's mission of leading scientific discovery, excellence, and professionalism. In support of our rich global community, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories under State and Federal law.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.