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This position has closed. Argonne National Laboratory removed this listing from their careers page on Oct 6, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

AI Operations Engineer

Argonne National Laboratory · Lemont, IL · $69,750–$108,810 a year · Full time

Posted Oct 1, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 4, 2026

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Describe a time you changed how people worked. How did you get them to adopt it?

What they are checking: Whether they can drive change management across a matrixed organization where they have no direct authority.

Tell me about a project you managed with several stakeholders and a tight timeline.

What they are checking: Whether they bring the project management skills this role blends with technical work.

What would you do

How would you find the best AI and automation opportunities in an operations group handling things like procurement, HR support and facilities requests?

What they are checking: Whether they start with real workflows and pain points rather than with the technology.

A functional lead is worried AI will make errors that land on their team. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they can address real concerns with safeguards and human review instead of dismissing them.

How would you help shape an AI strategy for PSE Operations in your first six months?

What they are checking: Whether they can balance quick wins with a longer-term plan that leadership can support.

How would you explain an AI workflow to an executive and to a front-line administrator, and how would those explanations differ?

What they are checking: Whether they communicate effectively across levels of the organization, as the posting requires.

An automation you built starts giving wrong results after a system upstream changes. How do you catch and handle that?

What they are checking: Whether they build monitoring and ownership into automations so failures do not go unnoticed.

About the work

Tell me about an agent-based workflow you built. What did it automate and how did you keep it reliable?

What they are checking: Whether they have hands-on experience building agents that hold up in daily use, not just demos.

How do you decide whether a process needs AI, plain automation, or just a better form?

What they are checking: Whether they have the judgment to pick the simplest tool that solves the problem.

How would you measure whether an automation actually reduced manual touchpoints and saved time?

What they are checking: Whether they set a baseline and measure results, so the AI strategy is based on evidence.

What data privacy or security issues would you watch for when using AI tools on operations data at a national lab?

What they are checking: Whether they think about sensitive information, export control and approved tools before deploying anything.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Argonne National Laboratory.

We are seeking an operational expert to drive the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities within Argonne’s Physical Sciences and Engineering Operations division. This new role will be responsible for partnering with functional leads and SMEs to deploy AI-driven technologies that reduce manual touchpoints across the operational functions. These solutions should power automation and innovation, increase productivity, improve scalability, and support scientific and operational teams. We are looking for someone with experience with optimizing business processes and who is passionate about technology, including AI and automation. A successful candidate will strive to understand a variety of operational workflows, collaborate to get things done across a matrixed organization, and communicate effectively across multiple levels of the organization. Blending an understanding of operational workflows, project management, AI tooling, and business acumen, the ideal candidate will effectively utilize their diverse skillset to transform PSE Operations through AI and automation. Key Responsibilities: • In partnership with functional leads, identify and prioritize AI and automation opportunities within PSE Operations • Play a key role in defining PSE Operations’ AI strategy • Build and maintain agent-based workflows that automate or augment manual processes • Organize teams of knowledge workers and builders to create workflows, skills, and agents within approved platforms • Develop the end-to-end delivery of AI and automation solutions • Coordinate the operational rollout of AI solutions, including development, user training, and adoption measurement • Provide hands-on technical support when teams encounter issues with AI tools or need help adapting workflows to new use cases • Act as a liaison to PSE’s IT organization to leverage training, accelerators, and best practices while contributing to broader AI enablement initiatives Success in this role means: • PSE Operations has a prioritized pipeline of AI and automation opportunities • High-value workflows move from concept to production quickly • Operational teams actively adopt the solutions • Manual work and administrative touchpoints measurably decrease • Reusable AI/automation patterns emerge across PSE Operations • Teams develop greater capability and confidence in using AI Position Requirements • Bachelors and 2+ years of experience, or equivalent • Experience identifying and delivering complex operational, process improvement, or automation projects initiatives • Demonstrated ability to influence product roadmaps and align cross-functional stakeholders • Strong proficiency in workflow documentation, technical analysis, project management, and product roadmaps • Experience working in an operational support or administrative support position • Deep, practical familiarity with LLMs and AI tools • Working knowledge of Microsoft tools like Power Automate, Forms, Lists • Demonstrated ability to assess AI solutions for reliability, security, data sensitivity, appropriate use, and operational risk • Ability to connect APIs, work with databases, and build lightweight integrations. Candidates do not need to be a software engineer, but should be comfortable working with APIs, and using no-code/low-code platforms to get things done • Ability to model Argonne’s core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork Preferred Qualifications: • Experience having improved operational or administrative workflows • Experience working in an operational support role • Experience with project management and workflow systems and tools Job Family Professional Technical (PT) Job Profile IT Multi-Functional 2 Worker Type Regular Time Type Full time The expected hiring range for this position is $69,750.00 - $108,810.00. Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package. Click here to view Argonne employee benefits! As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law. Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department. All Argonne offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes an assessment of criminal conviction history conducted on an individualized and case-by-case basis. Please be advised that Argonne positions require upon hire (or may require in the future) for the individual be to obtain a government access authorization that involves additional background check requirements. Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.