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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 National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) Bioenergy Science and Technology (BEST) directorate performs a full range of research from exploring biomass at the molecular level through biorefinery process optimization to bring biofuels and bio-products to market. The directorate’s research encompasses multiple areas including analysis & characterization, biochemical processes, bioenergetics, and thermochemical processes. The primary goal of the BEST research operations team is to provide researchers with the facilities and support necessary to achieve their cutting-edge research safely.
The BEST directorate is seeking Research Operations Technicians to support fabrication, preventative maintenance, and general repair of research equipment. The research equipment ranges from standard “off-the shelf” to custom built systems. This range covers a wide variety of systems high pressure and/or high temperature chemical reactors, chillers, vacuum systems, fermenters, and standard lab analytical equipment.
The Research Operations Technicians will support research through a variety of activities including:
- Installing stainless steel tubing, fittings, and other components. Swagelok parts are commonly used.
- Assembly and installation of custom electrical enclosures.
- Control wiring ranging from connecting a solenoid valve to a gas detector to constructing complex control boxes from wiring diagrams.
- Fabricating custom parts including 80/20 assemblies.
- Installing heaters, heating tape, and insulation on equipment and tubing.
- Assists in the development and implementation of safety practices, manufacturing processes, and training documentation. Improve overall facility functionality.
- Preventative maintenance on common equipment, such as vacuum pumps.
- Reviewing designs of new equipment, P&IDs of new systems, and changes to existing equipment and systems.
- Electrical wiring of up to 480V components such as heaters and motors.
- Calibration and testing of scientific measuring devices (flowmeters, pressure gauges/transducers, temperature indicators, controllers, and gas detection).
Basic Qualifications
Level IV:
High School Diploma or equivalent and 10 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant Associate's Degree or certification program of comparable scope and 8 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Extensive knowledge in specialized focused support functions. A comprehensive acquaintance with and understanding of both general and detailed aspects of technical support activities, and their practical application to a wide variety of problems and situations specific to the discipline or field supported. Strong research techniques and practices. Strong communication, interpersonal, project management and customer relations skills.
Level III:
High School Diploma or equivalent and 7 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant Associate's Degree or certification program of comparable scope and 5 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Full knowledge of specialized focused support functions. Complete acquaintance with and understanding of the general and detailed aspects of the supported activities, and their practical applications to problems and situations ordinarily encountered. Proficient in research techniques and practices. Solid communication, interpersonal, project management and customer relations skills.
Additional Required Qualifications
- Be customer oriented.
- Be adaptable and demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning.
- Be self-motivated.
- Embody a strong safety culture.
- Work well with a variety of personality types.
- Have excellent troubleshooting and problem solving skills.
- Be able to interpret P&IDs and build systems to spec.
- Have prior experience fabricating, using, and/or maintaining research equipment.
- Demonstrate high mechanical aptitude.
- Have experience with electrical safety and lock-out tag-out.
Preferred Qualifications
Level III and/or IV:
- Demonstrated stainless steel tubing experience. Swagelok training certification preferred.
- General machining experience and the ability to communicate technical system modifications to the Machine Shop as needed.
- Supports development of safe operating procedures.
- Welding experience (TIG, MIG, Orbital).
- Prior experience working with or building systems for flammable gases, pure oxygen, or toxic gases.
- Knowledge of tubing components, including pressure relief valves, pressure regulators, check valves, etc.
- Pressure system design experience and ASME certification preferred.
- Some knowledge of safety codes, such as NFPA, ASME, OSHA. Knowledge and application of NFPA 70 (with an emphasis on 70E), 79, and 45 preferred.
- Design of circuitry and wiring of electrical control panels and module interconnections for systems, including monitoring hardware-completing one line and as-built documentation within Visio or AutoCAD.
- Experience with industrial process operations.
- Experience assembling custom electrical enclosures including PLC and VFD panels and associated system wiring to meet area classification standards (NEMA4, etc).
- Design and assembly of ‘touch-safe’ control panels with separate, higher voltage electrical enclosures that power equipment.
- EPA Section 608 certification a plus.
- Knowledge and use of pressure gauges, manometers, ammeters, voltmeters, and wattmeters. potentiometers, pulse and signal generators, and oscilloscopes for testing and troubleshooting scientific devices preferred.
- HVAC and experience with refrigeration systems preferred.
Level IV:
- Senior skilled level, demonstrated skills and knowledge beyond journeyman level.
- Strong communication, interpersonal, project management and customer relations skills.
- Work is performed without appreciable direction Completed work is reviewed from a relatively long-term perspective.
- Develop technical solutions to complex problems Contributions have some impact on outcome of project.
Job Application Submission Window
The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.
