Build Your Career in Statistics
At Los Alamos National Laboratory, the Statistics Group (CAI-4) develops and applies rigorous statistical methods to some of the nation’s most consequential science, technology, engineering, and security challenges.
Our team collaborates across the Laboratory and with external partners to turn complex data, simulations, and measurements into defensible decisions. We work at the intersection of mathematical innovation, advanced computation, and high-impact applications—supporting national and global security missions while advancing the science of uncertainty, inference, and prediction.
Whether you are an early-career researcher, an experienced statistician, or a student exploring your next opportunity, CAI-4 offers the chance to do meaningful work alongside multidisciplinary experts.
What We Do
CAI-4 develops and applies statistical methods to complex scientific and engineering challenges. We help mission partners understand uncertainty, improve system performance, design efficient studies, and make informed decisions using limited or complex data.
Our capabilities include:
- Uncertainty quantification of computer models: Characterizing, propagating, and reducing uncertainty in large-scale scientific and engineering simulations.
- Sampling and data planning: Developing efficient approaches for collecting information when data are costly, limited, heterogeneous, or high-dimensional.
- Design and analysis of experiments: Designing experiments that maximize learning, identify important factors, and support reproducible conclusions.
- Reliability: Modeling system performance, degradation, failure mechanisms, and lifetime under uncertainty.
- Advanced predictive modeling and AI: Developing, deploying, and evaluating models and AI tools that enable precise prediction with confidence.
- Bayesian methods: Combining prior knowledge, model-based reasoning, and observed data to support inference and decision-making.
- Statistical computation: Creating scalable algorithms and computational tools for modern statistical analysis.
- Statistical graphics and visualization: Designing clear, effective visualizations that help scientists and decision-makers explore data and communicate uncertainty.
- Analysis of measurement systems: Evaluating measurement quality, calibration, variation, and error so that data can be trusted and used effectively.
Your Work Has Mission Impact
In CAI-4, you will apply statistical methods to complex, high-stakes challenges. Our researchers collaborate with experts in physics, engineering, environmental science, cybersecurity, biology, advanced manufacturing, and national security.
You will contribute to projects that:
- Improve the credibility and predictive capability of complex computer models.
- Guide experiments when time, materials, or observations are limited.
- Assess the reliability and safety of critical systems.
- Develop computational methods for large, complex, or sensitive datasets.
- Create decision-support tools that clearly convey uncertainty.
- Help scientific teams distinguish meaningful signals from noise.
Collaboration is central to our work. We partner with scientists and engineers to define challenges, develop and implement solutions, and communicate results clearly to both technical and nontechnical audiences.
Who Thrives Here
CAI-4 is looking for curious, collaborative people who want to use statistical thinking to solve difficult real-world problems. Successful candidates often bring expertise in one or more of the following areas:
- Statistics, applied mathematics, data science, machine learning, operations research, or a related field.
- Bayesian modeling, experimental design, reliability analysis, uncertainty quantification, or statistical computing.
- Programming and scientific computing, including languages such as Python, R, Julia, C++, or related tools.
- High-performance computing, numerical methods, simulation, optimization, or data visualization.
- Clear technical communication and the ability to collaborate across disciplines.
- A commitment to rigorous, reproducible, and responsible scientific practice.
We welcome candidates with diverse technical backgrounds and perspectives. The most important qualities are intellectual curiosity, sound scientific judgment, a willingness to learn, and an interest in contributing to mission-driven work.
Opportunities for Growth
A career in CAI-4 offers more than a position—it provides an environment for long-term technical growth and scientific leadership.
You can expect opportunities to:
- Lead or contribute to innovative statistical-methodology research.
- Publish in peer-reviewed journals and present at technical conferences.
- Collaborate with leading scientists, engineers, and computational researchers.
- Build expertise in advanced computing and mission-focused applications.
- Mentor students, postdoctoral researchers, and early-career staff.
- Pursue professional development, technical training, and leadership opportunities.
- Move between foundational research and applied projects with direct operational relevance.
Explore Opportunities
We hire statisticians, applied mathematicians, data scientists, postdoctoral researchers, and students at all career stages. If you are interested in applying statistical methods to challenging problems with real-world impact, explore current opportunities at Los Alamos National Laboratory and consider a career with CAI-4.
Help solve the problems that matter—using data, models, and statistical rigor to strengthen our understanding of a complex world.