Senior Research Engineer - Power Systems

PNNL Energy Systems Engineering Group

At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments that we refer to as Directorates within the Lab, focused on a specific area of scientific research or other function, with its own leadership team and dedicated budget. Our Science & Technology directorates include National Security, Earth and Biological Sciences, Physical and Computational Sciences, and Energy and Environment. In addition, we have an Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus. The Energy and Environment Directorate delivers science and technology solutions for the nation's biggest energy and environmental challenges. Our more than 1,700 staff support the Department of Energy (DOE), delivering on key DOE mission areas including: modernizing our nation's power grid to maintain a reliable, affordable, secure, and resilient electricity delivery infrastructure; research, development, validation, and effective utilization of renewable energy and efficiency technologies that improve the affordability, reliability, resiliency, and security of the American energy system; and resolving complex issues in nuclear science, energy, and environmental management.

The Electricity Infrastructure and Buildings Division, part of the Energy and Environment Directorate, is accelerating the transition to an efficient, resilient, and secure energy system through basic and applied research. We leverage a strong technical foundation in power and energy systems and advanced data analytics to drive innovation, transform markets, and shape energy policy. Learn more about the Electricity Infrastructure and Buildings Division.

The Energy Systems Engineering Group (ESEG) is focused on developing software tools and computing methods to speed-up and scale the design and operations of energy system while maintaining the security of critical assets and buildings. The group is comprised of 30+ research staff organized into 4 teams and applies capabilities in systems architecture, coordination of grid devices, next generation sensing and measurement, advanced computing, and grid edge application development to achieve these results.

Responsibilities

This position focuses on leading and developing new research related to distributed systems that explore integration of new information and communication technologies with advanced distributed controls and coordination schemes. Responsibilities of this position include:

• Researches, develops, designs, and tests large, IoT scale, distributed electrical/electronic, telecommunication, software systems, as well as their operations and control with related optimization techniques.
• Identifies system requirements and develops system architectures of large distributed systems including electric power and telecommunication system components and controls, software and embedded firmware components and their secure management, compute elements spanning cloud to edge, and all associated interfaces.
• Adapts and applies information theory, communication theory, and control theory to design intelligent energy systems with desired behaviors to increase the reliability, capacity, and performance of the nation's electric grid.
• Determines design approaches and parameters. Analyzes equipment to establish operating data, conducts experimental tests, and evaluates results. Oversees all aspects of systems development lifecycle.
• Designs and develops new techniques and methodologies for control and integration, including telecommunications systems and analytics, of diverse energy resources and points of consumption.
• Leads the development of new project opportunities with program managers in sponsoring organizations.
• Ability to communicate concepts and results to peers, sponsors, and the community.
• Applies systems thinking and systems engineering approaches to integrate power systems, software systems, telecommunications systems, or other technical domains in system analysis, design, and implementation.
• Effectively facilitates communication across a multi-disciplinary team, laboratory leadership and external stakeholders.
• Able to select and develop technical approaches to complex challenges.
• Experienced Principal investigator or co-PI on multiple or significantly complex, and/or high-risk projects or tasks and/or involving multiple tasks, capabilities, and organizations.
• Develops, and realizes new significant project opportunities, leading the development of technical sections of large proposals.
• Demonstrated ability to acquire funding for self and task level teams.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS/BA and 7+ years of relevant work experience -OR-
• MS/MA and 5+ years of relevant work experience -OR-
• PhD with 3+ year of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with the design and/or operation of information and communication technology solutions for the electric energy industry across multiple network domains and technologies: core, wide area network (WAN), field area network (FAN), substation and wired, and wireless.
• Knowledge and experience in telecommunications system networks, architecture, operation, electronics, management software, and system modeling and simulation.
• Knowledge and experience with IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) standards, equipment, and application in LAN and WAN environments.
• Knowledge and experience in Position Navigation and Timing (PNT) equipment and requirements as applicable to the electric utility industry.
• Knowledge and experience in power system operations and management.
• Experience with telecommunication systems modeling and analysis tools such as NS3, OPNet, CORE, EDX, Planet.
• Knowledge of power system model and simulation tools.
• Experience with co-simulation, for example, with HELICS or other co-simulation or federated simulation tools to support integrated power and communication systems analysis.
• Experience with developing and applying system architectures for complex systems.
• Experience with software development using Python, C++, Java, MATLAB, etc.
• Knowledge of telecommunication protocols and standards such as IEEE 802.15.4, 802.11, MPLS, carrier ethernet, SONET, 3gpp.
• Knowledge of information models and standards utilized in power system industry such as IEC 61970/61968 common information model (CIM), MultiSpeak, IEEE 1547, IEC 61850, IEEE 2030.5, IEEE 1815, IEC 60255-118-1.

Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment Not applicable.

Additional Information Not applicable.

Referral Eligible

Testing Designated Position This is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP).

About PNNL Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a world-class research institution powered by a highly educated, diverse workforce committed to the values of Integrity, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Courage. Every year, scores of dynamic, driven people come to PNNL to work with renowned researchers on meaningful science, innovations, and outcomes for the U.S. Department of Energy and other sponsors; here is your chance to be one of them!

At PNNL, you will find an exciting research environment and excellent benefits including health insurance, and flexible work schedules. PNNL is located in eastern Washington State—the dry side of Washington known for its stellar outdoor recreation and affordable cost of living. The Lab's campus is only a 45-minute flight (or ~3 hour drive) from Seattle or Portland, and is serviced by the convenient PSC airport, connected to 8 major hubs.

Commitment to Excellence and Equal Employment Opportunity Our laboratory is committed to fostering a work environment where all individuals are treated with fairness and respect while solving critical challenges in fundamental sciences, national security, and energy resiliency. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

Drug Free Workplace PNNL is committed to a drug-free workplace supported by Workplace Substance Abuse Program (WSAP) and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. If you are offered employment at PNNL, you must pass a drug test prior to commencing employment. PNNL complies with federal law regarding illegal drug use. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug. If you test positive for any illegal controlled substance, including marijuana, your offer of employment will be withdrawn.

Security, Credentialing, and Eligibility Requirements As a national laboratory, PNNL is responsible for adhering to the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which require new employees to obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 Personal Identify Verification (PIV) Credential. To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete the applicable tier of federal background investigation post hire and receive a favorable federal adjudication. The tier of federal background investigation will be determined by job duties and national security or public trust responsibilities associated with the job.

Mandatory Requirements Please be aware that the Department of Energy (DOE) prohibits DOE employees and contractors from having any affiliation with the foreign government of a country DOE has identified as a "country of risk" without explicit approval by DOE and Battelle. If you are offered a position at PNNL and currently have any affiliation with the government of one of these countries, you will be required to disclose this information and recuse yourself of that affiliation or receive approval from DOE and Battelle prior to your first day