Posting Title
Researcher III - Material characterization and system development for hydrogen capture, storage, and delivery at scale
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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
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.
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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 Chemistry & Nanoscience Center at NREL has an opening for a researcher to support R&D within the HyMARC consortium that is dedicated to developing clean, low-cost materials-based hydrogen storage systems that exceed the capabilities of physical storage (700 bar pressurized gas and liquid hydrogen) and meet U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) targets for stationery and transportation applications (https://www.hymarc.org/). The position primarily involves designing and executing experiments to evaluate materials for specific hydrogen capture and storage applications at scale, designing and executing experiments to evaluate prototype system designs, and contributing to prototype design and build. Understanding the complexities of moving materials from lab scale to prototype scale is critical, including challenges with safety, heat management, and engineering systems to meet specific kinetic requirements for sorption processes. The successful candidate will be able to develop creative solutions to the complex technical challenges and design experiments to robustly evaluate proposed approaches.
Job Duties
- Develop technical approaches for at scale hydrogen capture/storage systems.
- Devise robust experimental approaches for evaluating materials and engineering approaches to hydrogen capture/storage at scale.
- Design and execute Sieverts, thermal conductivity, and calorimetry experiments, including in-depth data analysis, for hydrogen storage projects.
- Experimental design to collect data on material properties under conditions representative of specific hydrogen storage applications.
- Equipment modification to collect data at conditions representative of specific hydrogen storage applications.
- Modification of data analysis software when needed.
- Assist with troubleshooting and repair of equipment.
- Coordinate and monitor the research activities of junior personnel
- Mentor junior personnel
- Contribute to building collaborations with other national labs, industry, and academia and to develop research proposals or secure other funding sources.
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Basic Qualifications
Relevant PhD. Or, relevant Master's Degree and 3 or more years of experience. Or, relevant Bachelor's Degree and 5 or more years of experience.
Eligibility requirements: This position will require access to Controlled Unclassified Information // No foreign dissemination (CUI//NOFORN) and only applicants that are US Citizens at the time of application will be considered in accordance with DOE O 471.7, Controlled Unclassified Information. https://www.directives.doe.gov/news/new-doe-o-471-7-controlled-unclassified-information
* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
Additional Required Qualifications
- Proven ability to secure funding
- Proven research contributions
- Research experience with materials and systems beyond lab scale for gas sorption processes
- Experience with Sieverts measurements, calorimetry and/or in situ/in operando spectroscopy measurements
- Material characterization experience
- Experience with equipment modification
- Ability to program in at least one language (Python or LabView preferred)
- Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Strong self-motivation, ability to work on collaborative projects, ability to prioritize and balance different types of concurrent tasks, strong organization skills, attention to details
- Strong problem-solving skills
- Strong written, verbal, team, interpersonal and communication skills
Preferred Qualifications
Candidates should have at least two or more of the following:
- Experience with equipment automation regarding integration of hardware and software
- Experience with thermal management for custom equipment
- Proven skills in troubleshooting and repairing complex mechanical and electrical systems
- Experience with designing instruments for use at cryogenic temperatures
- Materials characterization skills such as BET, TEM, XRD, XRF, TPD, and adsorption measurements using a Sieverts apparatus.
- Experience with vacuum systems
- Experience with high pressure systems (200 bar)
- Experience with gas adsorption instruments
- Experience with mass spectroscopy systems
- Machine shop and/or mechanical design experience
- Experience with complex fluid dynamic modeling
- Experience with cad designs
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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 III / Annual Salary Range: $79,600 - $143,300
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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