Grid-Edge and Demand Flexibility Researcher

Location

CO – Golden

Position Type

Regular

Hours Per Week

40

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 enthusiastic and driven grid-edge and demand flexibility researcher within the Strategic Energy Analysis and Decision Sciences (SEADS) directorate.  The SEADS directorate plays a vital role in a dynamic range of energy analyses and grid futures studies, utilizing advanced modeling and simulation tools to effectively plan, design, and analyze both distribution and bulk power systems. Our work informs technology developers, policymakers, and utilities by developing and analyzing future grid scenarios that answer critical questions about how the electric grid is transforming. This position seeks an enthusiastic and driven graduate student who can advance and grow distribution systems research at NREL.

You would join us in researching, supporting and advancing electric distribution systems research, using bottom-up and top-down demand modeling, grid modeling, optimization, machine-learning, forecasting techniques, statistical analysis, and data analysis among other research techniques.

Activities include modeling, simulation, and analysis of grid-edge resources, including residential and commercial buildings, electric vehicles, industrial loads, distributed generation, and battery storage. Forward-looking research focuses on load forecasting, demand flexibility, non-wires alternatives, bridge-to-wires solutions, and electrification.

It’s essential to grasp how shifting load patterns affect grid reliability, resilience, customer costs and comfort, and carbon emissions. You’ll engage with various topics, such as grid planning and operations, virtual power plant/DER program design, rate structures, and wholesale market design.

Examples Of Ongoing Research And Analysis Include

• Bottom-up modeling for demand flexibility
• DER and demand-side technology adoption modeling
• Load forecasting and impact analysis from electrification
• Virtual power plant and aggregator grid services for bulk and distribution systems
• Demand-side non-wire alternatives

Basic Qualifications

Researcher II- elevant Master’s Degree . Or, relevant Bachelor’s Degree and 2 or more years of experience . General knowledge and application of engineering technical standards, principles, theories, concepts and techniques. Training in team, task or project leadership responsibilities. Intermediate abilities and knowledge of practices and techniques. Beginning experience in project management. Good writing, interpersonal and communication skills.

Researcher III- 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 . Demonstrates broad understanding and wide application of engineering technical procedures, principles, theories and concepts in the field. General knowledge of other related disciplines. Demonstrates leadership in one or more areas of team, task or project lead responsibilities. Demonstrated experience in management of projects. Very good writing, interpersonal and communication skills.

• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

Experience in at least one area of the energy transition is required, including:

• Renewable integration
• Energy storage
• Building and vehicle electrification
• Flexible loads
• Time-varying rates
• Wholesale markets
• Utility demand-side programs
• Virtual power plants
• Distribution systems
• Degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, data science, or related discipline
• Exceptional written and oral communication and interpersonal skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with high performance computing, large data analysis, co-simulation, open-source software development, control and optimization methods, and/or other programming languages
• Experience with NREL’s grid, building, and/or transportation tools and datasets
• Experience with scientific programming languages (e.g., Python, Julia, R, etc.)
• Experience developing innovative research topics that expand the research space
• Experience contributing to projects and teams that contribute to the advancement of science and lead to innovations in power grid operations and planning
• Experience collaborating with research experts from wide group of skillsets
• Communicates an inspiring vision of the future across the organization
• Empathizes and actively listens in client-relationships
• Experience writing and publishing results of analyses in peer-reviewed journals and/or technical reports
• Experience communicating energy modeling results to a wide range of audiences including policymakers and other decision makers.

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

Job Profile: Researcher II / Annual Salary Range: $73,200 – $120,800

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.

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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