Posting Title
Researcher IV/V- Power System Analysis Engineer – Transmission Planning & Analysis
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Location
CO - Golden
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Position Type
Regular
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Hours Per Week
40
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Working at NREL
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.
From day one at NREL, you’ll connect with coworkers driven by the same mission to save the planet. By joining an organization that values a supportive, inclusive, and flexible work environment, you’ll have the opportunity to engage through our eight employee resource groups, numerous employee-driven clubs, and learning and professional development classes.
NREL supports inclusive, diverse, and unbiased hiring practices that promote creativity and innovation. By collaborating with organizations that focus on diverse talent pools, reaching out to underrepresented demographics, and providing an inclusive application and interview process, our Talent Acquisition team aims to hear all voices equally. We strive to attract a highly diverse workforce and create a culture where every employee feels welcomed and respected and they can be their authentic selves.
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Job Description
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is seeking an experienced power system analysis
Transmission is one of four groups within GPAC, focused on bulk system planning of both domestic and international power systems. The Grid Systems team consists of power engineers, software developers, modelers, computing experts, systems thinkers, and life-long learners who strive to push the boundaries of innovation, integrated analysis, and computational tool development.
Come join a team that conducts research & analysis on the impact of specific technologies on the evolving grid, including variable generation, energy storage, hydropower, demand response, and transmission. Example types of ongoing research and analysis include:
National and regional transmission planning studies
Offshore wind integration and transmission studies
100% RE grids and other high RE penetration studies
Impact of extreme events on power system planning and operation
Probabilistic methods to assess resource adequacy
Grid impacts of demand electrification
We partner with DOE, other federal agencies, states, utilities, ISO/RTOs, communities, and technology developers on grid planning and analysis. Our work informs policymakers and utilities by developing and analyzing future grid scenarios that answer big questions about how the electric grid is transforming.
This position seeks an experienced power system expert who can guide the development of our transmission planning research, inform how transmission is considered in our Center’s analyses, and help to identify emerging questions about power system planning and operations.
A collaborative, supportive, and fun work environment
Portfolios of research that facilitate a clean, low-carbon energy future
Projects, professional development, and growth opportunities to help you meet your career goals
A professional environment that encourages innovation and imaginative thinking to understand and plan the future electric power system
Adaptable schedule to promote work-life balance.
Job responsibilities may include:
Leading projects and teams that contribute to the advancement of transmission planning and analysis methods and tools
Contributing to large-scale grid planning analyses and projects
Contributing to specification and development of new tools and methods for the analysis of modern power systems
Ensuring high quality outputs from research projects
Collaborating with analysts & researchers across grid and other energy sectors in modeling and analysis
Communicating results within and external to NREL
Writing and publishing results of analyses in peer-reviewed journals and technical reports
Guiding and leading development of proposals for new projects
Fostering relationships with clients and other stakeholders.
Work independently to investigate and/or conduct, test, and document research and experiments.
Provide reports on technical work and input to technical publications and presentations.
Publish research results in top technical journals and conference proceedings.
Present research work at conferences, symposia, and review meetings, effective in-person and virtually.
Follow all Environmental, Safety, and Health policies and procedures to ensure and maintain a safe working environment.
Work with senior research staff and industry partners to develop funding in the power systems related research areas.
Level IV-
- Position typically requires an incumbent who provides leadership in identifying, promoting, and developing appropriate new Laboratory- wide technical capabilities, including influencing and establishing Laboratory strategies to ensure alignment of new programs to priorities and mission. Failure to achieve results or erroneous judgments would normally result in the inability to reach crucial Laboratory objectives and typically will have a prolonged and profound effect.
Level V-
- Position typically requires an incumbent who conducts work that addresses broad national/international issues, influences the "national agenda" for addressing problems, and leads the development of new strategic initiatives and/or expanded technical capabilities that will impact the future of the Laboratory. Failure to achieve results or erroneous judgments would normally have national and possibly international consequences.
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Basic Qualifications
Researcher IV- Relevant PhD and 4 or more years of experience . Or, relevant Master's Degree and 7 or more years of experience . Or, relevant Bachelor's Degree and 9 or more years of experience . Applies extensive engineering technical expertise, and has full knowledge of other related disciplines. Considered a technical resource. Demonstrates leadership in several areas of team, task or project lead responsibilities. Demonstrated experience in management of projects. Excellent writing, interpersonal and communication skills.
Researcher V- Relevant PhD and 9 or more years of experience . Or, relevant Master's Degree and 12 or more years of experience . Or, relevant Bachelor's Degree and 14 or more years of experience . Apply advanced engineering technical principles, theories and concepts. Contributes to the development of new principles and concepts. Considered a national subject matter expert. Demonstrates leadership in a number of areas including all team, task and/or project lead responsibilities (works independently). Demonstrated management of complex and/or impactful projects. Excellent writing, interpersonal and communication skills.
* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
Additional Required Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in power sector regulation and/or planning, preferably with an ISO/RTO, NERC, public utility commission, consulting/engineering firm, or other similar organizations
Experience presenting or contributing to oral or written testimony on transmission plans before a regulatory body
Fluent in emerging approaches to grid integration of variable generation, storage, and hybrid technologies, including but not limited to: system operations, forecasting, market design, planning methodologies, energy policy, and grid reinforcement/expansion.
Familiarity with software development in Python, Julia, or other programming languages, ideally including in collaborative development environments
Experience working directly with clients to understand their needs, translate needs into analytic projects, and execute on those projects
Ability to provide technical management for complex research projects
Familiar with power system analysis and simulation software/hardware tools, including, PSS/E, PowerWorld, DSATools/TSAT, PSCAD, etc.
Hardware-in-the-Loop experience is a plus. (e.g. OPAL-RT, RTDS, etc.)
Good background with EMT modeling and simulation
Broad understanding of :
power system steady-state analysis, including power flow analysis, contingency analysis, short-circuit analysis.
power system dynamics, including small-signal stability analysis, transient and frequency stability analysis, electromagnetic transient analysis.
HVDC, FACTS, IBR and synchronous machines modeling, as well as their interactions in modern power systems.
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Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)
Job Profile: Researcher V / Annual Salary Range: $111,600 - $200,900Job Profile: Researcher IV / Annual Salary Range: $93,100 - $167,600
Benefits Summary
Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short*- and long-term disability insurance; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; paid holidays; and tuition reimbursement*. NREL employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement. Limited-term positions are not eligible for long-term disability or tuition reimbursement.
* Based on eligibility rules
Drug Free Workplace
NREL is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.
If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.
Submission Guidelines
Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.
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EEO Policy
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