Energy/Environmental Technology Researcher

The Building Technologies and Urban Systems (BTUS) department at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) is a global leader in developing building technologies that increase energy efficiency, shift load, reduce energy bills, and improve occupant health. BTUS leverages this innovative and creative research to support industry partners deploying advanced solutions, and governmental organizations crafting policy supporting progress towards our decarbonized future. Within BTUS a team of researchers specializes in advanced controls, data analytics applied to buildings, grid-responsive load shifting controls, and improvement of thermal systems. The group specializes in 1) developing simplified control approaches designed for industry adoption, and 2) advances in thermal system design which facilitate adoption of critical decarbonization technologies.

The Energy/Environmental Technology Researcher (EETR) will apply methods of conducting energy, market, and/or engineering research that informs the development and/or deployment of clean energy technologies. Working with an interdisciplinary team of researchers, the EETR will conduct research including gathering and processing data, performing analyses, developing advanced analytical and modeling tools, and performing laboratory tests on novel technologies. The EETR will apply principles and concepts from energy/market/engineering analysis and provide technical support to applied research activities advancing clean energy technology development, deployment, and adoption. The open position focuses on developing and evaluating control algorithms designed to shift electric load in response to time-varying electricity prices. Current project focuses include 1) developing and demonstrating controls for water heating systems, pool pumps, and large building thermal energy storage systems that sync building electricity consumption with renewable power production, yielding lower utility bills, lower carbon emissions, and a more stable electricity grid, and 2) performing grid-level analysis on the demand flexibility potential of various technologies. Future projects may include topics such as improving the performance or cost of heat pumps, integrating heat pumps with thermal energy storage, performing customer discovery to understand the energy technology market, and coordinating with industry partners to deploy LBNL developed technologies.

What You Will Do

• Develop control algorithms that respond to price signals, carbon emission signals and occupant behavior to minimize operation impacts.
• Perform a combination of simulations, lab tests, and field monitoring projects evaluating the performance of the developed control approaches.
• Perform programming development tasks using tools including but not limited to Python and Functional Mockup Units.
• Collaborate with private industry partners to ensure the designed solutions meet the needs of the market.
• Use energy use/market analysis/engineering principles & concepts to conduct energy/market/engineering research & analysis.
• Utilize and/or improve modeling tools used to evaluate the potential of widespread adoption of demand flexibility technologies.
• Develop analytical and computational methods and/or tools for analyzing energy/environmental equipment and/or systems.
• Exercise judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate analytical methods.
• Provide resolutions to problems of moderately complex scope.
• Develop written technical support documentation detailing the analysis methods and results.
• Prepare presentation material on technical analysis for market and research stakeholders.
• Contribute to research projects, tasks and organizational objectives of moderate scope with oversight from senior staff.

Additional Responsibilities As Needed

• Present research findings to internal and external audiences.
• Organize and work with large amounts of data using various types of software (such as simulation tools, spreadsheets, and database programs) to perform analyses.
• May supervise the activities of nonexempt personnel.

What Is Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent knowledge) in engineering, physics, statistics, or related field, with extensive professional technical experience or additional education related to the position duties, typically minimum 2 years.
• Strong experience in developing analytical methods and numerical models.
• Experience with development of computational tools in Python, R, Excel/VBA, or other languages.
• Experience with control techniques such as but not limited to rule-based control, load shifting control, and model predictive control.
• Experience with simulation tools such as Modelica or Functional Mockup Units.
• Knowledge of some combination of the following: heat pumps, thermal energy storage, water heaters, price-responsive control, domestic hot water consumption patterns, pool pumps, single family buildings, multifamily buildings.
• Knowledge of time-varying electricity prices such as time of use rates, P-node prices, or highly dynamic prices.
• Ability to adjust work plans based on the needs of various stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of concepts and methods relevant to energy, environmental, market and/or technical research and analysis of energy/environmental equipment or systems.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including a demonstrated ability to present analytical methods and results to a non-specialist audience.
• Ability to function well in meeting tight deadlines and adapting to rapidly changing work demands.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work well in both a team environment and independently.

Desired Qualifications

• Advanced degree (e.g., M.S.) in engineering, physics, statistics, or related field.
• Experience in research and analysis of energy/environmental equipment, electric grid stability challenges, or load shifting controls.
• Experience applying data management tools in the context of energy, environmental, market, and/or technical research and analysis.
• Experience developing price-responsive controls that automatically adapt system operation to minimize operating costs.
• Understanding of building occupant behaviors, the impact those behaviors have on building equipment operation, and ability to adapt research projects accordingly.
• Experience with some combination of heat pump water heaters, pool pumps, large building thermal energy storage systems, single family residential buildings, and multifamily residential buildings.
• Familiarity with energy conservation policies, practices, and technologies.
• Familiarity with renewable energy production, electricity demand characteristics, utility carbon emissions, and grid stability challenges.
• Familiarity with basic principles and tools for data management.

Notes

• This is a full time, 1 year, term appointment with the possibility of extension or conversion to Career appointment based upon satisfactory job performance, continuing availability of funds and ongoing operational needs.
• The full salary range for this position is $93,696.00 – $140,568.00. The budgeted salary range that the Lab reasonably expects to pay for this position is $98,918.00 – $109,330.00 Salary offers will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualification and experience, including skills, knowledge, relevant education, and certifications, and also aligned with the internal peer group.
• This position may be subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
• This position is eligible for a flexible work mode, with onsite or hybrid work being the preferred modes. Hybrid work is a combination of teleworking and performing work on-site at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA. Individuals working a hybrid schedule must reside within 150 miles of Berkeley Lab. Work schedules are dependent on business needs.

Want to learn more about working at Berkeley Lab? Please visit: careers.lbl.gov

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