Posting Title

ARIES Hardware-in-the-Loop Integration Engineer

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Location

CO - Boulder

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Position Type

Regular

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Hours Per Week

40

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Working at NREL

NREL’s 305-acre Flatirons Campus is the nation’s premier wind energy, water power, and grid integration research facility. Nestled south of Boulder, Colorado, and north of NREL’s main South Table Mountain campus, Flatirons sits adjacent to the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge and countless acres of open space and parks with stunning views of the Flatirons rock formations.

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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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 ARIES team and Hybrid Energy Systems group have an exciting opportunity to work on NREL's cutting edge research initiative - ARIES ( https://www.nrel.gov/aries/ )

The Hybrid Energy Systems group performs research to advance the research, integration, and demonstration of thermal, mechanical, wind, solar, battery and other storage technologies as well their end uses in mobility, buildings, and industrial processes involving the orchestration of 1000s of edge devices at individual, local, regional, to national scales. In this pursuit we work closely with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), industry partners, and academic institutions. The group’s work involves the development of modeling, simulation, emulation, control, and optimization approaches for various combinations of energy generation and end use applications.

This role requires hands-on integration of multi-technology and hybrid energy systems, including evaluation of controllers and power devices within a real-time hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) environment. The approach will consist of both physics-based and data-driven methods for real-time simulation of power grids, electrical and thermal energy storage, hydrogen energy conversion, and large-scale controller HIL, employing CHIL and PHIL systems for enhanced analysis. The developed controls will be evaluated and validated using both real-time software and power hardware in loop setups.

This role also demands the ability to set up and perform hands-on experiments on a megawatt-scale HIL setup at NREL ARIES with multiple automation and control platforms for distribution automation, building energy management systems, and electric vehicle service equipment energy management systems.

An ideal candidate would have:

• Hands-on experience with development of controls prototyping, real-time hardware-in-the-loop evaluation using vendor tools such as RTDS, Opal-RT, Typhoon HIL.

• Experience with modeling and simulation for inverter-based resource device controls.

• Experience in system identification techniques, hardware device characterization, and implementation of data-driven controls for power systems and power electronics.

• Experience with standard communication protocols (such DNP3, MODBUS, IEC 61850 GOOSE, C37.118 PMU) for control and automation in multi-technology hybrid energy systems.

• Power hardware-in-the-loop experience of low- or medium-voltage power electronics.

• Evidence of research through peer-reviewed conference and journal publications.

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Basic Qualifications

Relevant PhD and 4 or more years of experience . Or, relevant Master's Degree and 7 or more years of experience . Or, relevant Bachelor's Degree and 9 or more years of experience . Applies extensive engineering technical expertise, and has full knowledge of other related disciplines. Considered a technical resource. Demonstrates leadership in several areas of team, task or project lead responsibilities. Demonstrated experience in management of projects. Excellent writing, interpersonal and communication skills.

* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

• Real-time Software experience with at least one of the following; RTDS, Opal-RT RT-Lab/Hypersim, Typhoon HIL.

• Power System & Power Electronics: PSCAD, Simulink, Power World, PSIM.

• Programming: Python, MATLAB, C, C++, R, OpenMP, MPI, CUDA.

• Automation and Control: Communication protocols such as DNP3, MODBUS, C37.118 PMU and IEC-61850 GOOSE.

• Excellent writing and communications skills.

• Ability to present technical results to a wide audience

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in implementation of real-time control for emulation of energy system technologies.

• Experience with setup of controller hardware platforms and HIL integration in Digital Real Time Simulation (DRTS) enviroment.

• Software setup for protection relays and power converter control configurations

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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 IV / Annual Salary Range: $95,500 - $171,900

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.

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The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is a leader in the U.S. Department of Energy’s effort to secure an environmentally and economically sustainable energy future. With locations in Golden and Boulder, Colorado, and a satellite office in Washington, D.C., NREL is the primary laboratory for research, development, and deployment of renewable energy technologies in the United States.

NREL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All candidates must be authorized to access the facility per DOE rules and guidance within a reasonable time frame for the specified position in order to be considered for an interview. DOE rules for site access during the interview process are the same regardless of whether the candidate is interviewed on-site, off-site, or via telephone or videoconference. Additionally, DOE contractor employees are prohibited from participating in certain Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Programs (FGTRPs). If a candidate is currently participating in an FGTRP, they will be required to disclose their participation after receiving an offer of employment and may be required to disengage from participation in the FGTRP prior to commencing employment. Any offer of employment is conditional on the ability to obtain work authorization and to be granted access to NREL by the Department of Energy (DOE).

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.

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