Principal Research Engineer - Power Systems

Energy Systems Engineering Group Position

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.

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. Expectations for candidates at this level are:

• Nationally recognized expert with demonstrated record of collaboration across national laboratories, academia, industry, and professional societies.
• Collaborates with research organizations in labs, academia, industry and leads multi-organization projects.
• Demonstrated success in conceiving, planning, and executing R&D with considerable influence on scientific and technological developments.
• Demonstrated thought leadership recognized through being sought out as an invited speaker at national forums.
• Significant record of technical products influencing the discipline of electric power systems engineering.

Responsibilities of this position:

• 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.
• Researches, develops, and applies platforms, tools, simulations, and models of communication, control systems and their relation to electric power systems and components addressing problems in planning, operations, economics, resilience, and optimization of overall system performance.
• 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.
• 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.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS/BA and 9+ years of relevant work experience -OR-
• MS/MA and 7+ years of relevant work experience -OR-
• PhD with 5+ years of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with 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, 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.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills displayed in team leadership and external stakeholder interactions.
• 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.

Not applicable.

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

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.

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. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. PNNL considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), protected veteran status, and any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local laws. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures and in employment. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, contact us at careers@pnnl.gov.

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.

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