Posting Title
Principal Engineer / Chief Engineer - Distribution Systems Analysis
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.
Note: Research suggests that potential job seekers may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage anyone who is interested in this opportunity to apply. We seek dedicated people who believe they have the skills and ambition to succeed at NREL to apply for this role.
Job Description
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is seeking an accomplished electric distribution systems specialist within the Grid Planning and Analysis Center (GPAC). GPAC contributes to an exciting portfolio of energy analysis, grid futures studies, applying advanced modeling and simulation tools to optimally plan and control for, design, and analyze distribution and bulk power systems.
You would join us in strategizing, supporting, and growing electric distribution systems analysis research with the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Electricity (OE), Office of Policy (OP), and Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) offices, and with strategic partnerships with distribution utilities across the U.S. and internationally. You would help NREL expand critical research areas including; integrated distribution planning, load forecasting, distribution upgrade analysis, electrification grid impacts, distributed energy resource integration, non-wires alternatives, next-generation interconnection practices, holistic planning for distribution systems resilience, and transmission and distribution integrated planning. Example types of ongoing research and analysis include:

• LA100, PR100, and LT100 for holistic distribution system upgrade analysis considering electrification and distribution energy resource integration
• PRECISE - a tool advancing and automating holistic utility DER interconnection study practices
• Nationwide distribution transformer demand forecasts
• Distribution system analysis for the North American Electric Resilience Model (NAERM)
• DISCO - a tool advancing utility hosting capacity and upgrade analysis
• Integrated distribution planning - improving practices for multi-objective investment planning

Our work informs utilities, DER developers, regulators, technology developers, policymakers, and the federal government by developing and analyzing future grid scenarios that answer critical questions about how the electric grid is transforming. This position seeks an experienced and recognized grid expert, with experience working with Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Electricity and EERE offices or with industry, who can strategize and grow distribution systems at NREL.
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
• A dynamic research environment with huge potential for collaborative research leveraging NREL's extensive experience and impact on studying and helping realize a high renewable future

Job responsibilities may include:

• Strategizing growth of the distribution system research portfolio
• Forging relationships with DOE offices with focus on cross-cutting (i.e., electrification, DER integration, and resilience) distribution systems analysis with peer national labs
• Developing innovative research topics that expand the research space for distribution grid technologies and grid modernization
• Developing projects, proposals, and building teams that contribute to the advancement of integrated distribution planning leading to innovating utility and regulator planning practices
• Collaborating with research experts from a wide group of skillsets
• Communicating an inspiring vision of the future across the organization
• Empathizes and actively learns about customer's needs
• Shows a global perspective and cultural awareness of international challenges for modernizing the electric power system
• Ability to work in a multi-stakeholder environment, communicating with utilities, regulators, and policy-makers
• Be an externally facing champion and conduit for the research happening across NREL in distribution system analysis
• Writing and publishing results of analyses in peer-reviewed journals and/or technical reports

Basic Qualifications
Researcher VI:
Relevant PhD in in Engineering (Electrical, Power Systems, Mechanical), Physics, Economics, Applied Energy or related and 15 or more years of experience . Or, relevant Master's Degree in Engineering (Electrical, Power Systems, Mechanical), Physics, Economics, Applied Energy or related and 18 or more years of experience . Or, relevant Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (Electrical, Power Systems, Mechanical), Physics, Economics, Applied Energy or related and 20 or more years of experience .
Researcher V:
Relevant PhD in in Engineering (Electrical, Power Systems, Mechanical), Physics, Economics, Applied Energy or related and 9 or more years of experience . Or, relevant Master's Degree in Engineering (Electrical, Power Systems, Mechanical), Physics, Economics, Applied Energy or related and 12 or more years of experience . Or, relevant Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (Electrical, Power Systems, Mechanical), Physics, Economics, Applied Energy or related and 14 or more years of experience.
* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
Additional Required Qualifications
Researcher VI:

• Exhibits an exceptional degree of ingenuity, creativity and resourcefulness
• Apply and/or develop highly advanced technologies, engineering principles, theories and concepts
• Viewed as an international expert within the field
• Demonstrates leadership of complex technical projects
• Project management competence
• Demonstrated management of complex and/or high impact projects
• Outstanding writing, interpersonal and communication skills

Researcher V:

• Apply advanced engineering technical principles, theories and concepts
• Contributes to the development of new principles and concepts
• Considered a national subject matter expert
• Demonstrates leadership in a number of areas including all team, task and/or project lead responsibilities (works independently)
• Demonstrated management of complex and/or impactful projects
• Excellent writing, interpersonal and communication skills

As well, one or more of the following (regardless of level):

• You have a history of leading significant ($3M or more) and impactful projects funded by DOE in the area of distribution system analysis
• You have long standing relationships with DOE offices and leadership of national labs
• You can influence leadership at DOE and align various stakeholders, with diverging opinions
• You have a history of leading a utility research and development unit with significant technical expertise and future grid investment
• You have a history of working in or at a utility regulator and can demonstrate deep technical expertise with reworking distribution planning and operation
• You have experience with different utility department organizational structures and workflows, and you can use this experience to research the challenges and opportunities associated with Integrated Distribution Planning

In addition to (regardless of level):

• Extensive experience with power systems, distribution modeling, grid planning, emerging technologies, load forecasting tools, and multi-objective planning approaches
• You are a visionary thinker backed by a strong strategic and analytical framing
• You are an innovator and provide creative solutions to complex problems
• You pick up on new concepts quickly, synthesize information and generate insights
• You have strong team-building skills and can drive a research program by cultivating and nurturing talents across the organization
• You have demonstrated passion for NREL's mission

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional experience in research institutions or industry (e.g., electric utility regulators, or electric utilities)
• Professional experience providing decision-supportive analysis to policymakers

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 VI / Annual Salary Range: $137,600 - $247,700
Job Profile: Researcher V / Annual Salary Range: $114,500 - $206,100
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
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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