Posting Title
Senior Transmission Engineer – Grid Planning and 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 ten 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.
Our planet needs us! Learn about NREL’s critical objectives, and see how NREL is focused on saving the planet.
We invite all interested candidates to apply for this opportunity. While we recognize that job seekers may hesitate if they don’t meet every requirement, we encourage dedicated individuals who meet all the basic and additional required qualifications of the role to submit an application. We value the opportunity to consider those who believe they have the necessary skills and ambition to succeed at NREL.
Job Description
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is seeking an accomplished power sector professional within the Grid Systems Group of the Grid Planning and Analysis Center (GPAC).
GPAC research staff contribute to an exciting portfolio of energy analysis, applying advanced modeling and simulation tools to optimally plan for, design, and analyze distribution and bulk power systems.
Grid Systems is one of seven groups within GPAC, focused on bulk system planning and operations 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.
You would join us in developing innovative modeling approaches to analyze 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:
- Grid flexibility and integration studies
- 100% RE grids and other high RE penetration studies
- Impact of extreme events
- Advance probabilistic methods to assess resource adequacy
- Revenue sufficiency and market structures
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 inform how transmission is considered in these types of analyses and help to identify emerging questions about transmission system planning and operations.
What we can offer:
- A collaborative, fast-paced, and fun work environment
- Endless opportunities to both mentor and learn from experienced professionals in renewable and efficient electric power systems, as well as software development and computation
- Portfolios of research that facilitate a clean, low-carbon energy future
- Fostering a life-long desire to understand, analyze, and plan the future electric power system
Job responsibilities may include:
- Developing projects and teams that contribute to the advancement of transmission planning methods and tools
- Overseeing large grid planning analyses
- Executing quality control methods
- Collaborating with analysts on other modeling teams to translate results and knowledge across models
- Preparing and storytelling around results for reports and presentations
- Communicating results within and external to NREL
- Writing and publishing results of analyses in peer-reviewed journals and/or technical reports
- Guiding development of proposals for new work
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Basic Qualifications
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.
* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
Additional Required Qualifications
- Extensive experience with design of high-voltage direct current transmission system, reconductoring, and grid-enhancing technologies
- Extensive experience with power system, transmission modeling, and grid planning tools (e.g., capacity expansion, production cost, power flow and system stability simulations, others)
- Extensive experience designing transmission grid studies and leading teams of modelers and analysts
- 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 communicating energy modelling results to a wide range of audiences including policymakers and other decision makers
- Experience working directly with clients to understand their needs, translate needs into analytic projects, and execute on those projects
- Exceptional written and oral communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to provide technical management for complex research projects
- Customer and solution-oriented problem-solving
- Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships internally to NREL and externally with sponsors and research partners
- Demonstrated ability to organize and motivate teams to identify and resolve complex technical problems
Preferred Qualifications
- PhD in Engineering (Electrical, Power Systems, Mechanical), Physics, Economics, Applied Energy, Geospatial Science or related field
- Professional experience in research institutions or industry
- Professional experience providing decision-supportive analysis to policymakers
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Job Application Submission Window
The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.
Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)
Job Profile: Researcher IV / Annual Salary Range: $95,500 - $171,900
NREL takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.
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
Badging Requirement
NREL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation.
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
NREL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.
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