Integrated Grid Planning and Dynamics - Modeler/Analyst

Posting Title

Integrated Grid Planning and Dynamics - Modeler/Analyst .

Location

CO - Golden .

Position Type

Regular .

Hours Per Week

40 .

Working at NLR

NLR is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development.

Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NLR stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth.

At NLR, you'll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.

Job Description

Are you passionate about improving the reliability, resilience, and affordability of the electric grid with improved integrated planning techniques, including power flow, dynamics, and related analyses? Do you enjoy modeling distribution and transmission systems for a range of timescales, spatial resolutions and use cases? The Transmission and Distribution Interactions (T&D) group in the Grid Planning and Analysis Center (GPAC) at NLR is looking for exceptional candidates to join our team to help connect bulk/transmission power flow, dynamic, and related contingency modeling within integrated grid planning frameworks and studies. Specifically, this role will work closely with NRL research engineers to build dynamic and steady-state G&T&D models, conduct power flow and dynamics studies for both existing and future grids, help develop co-simulation frameworks, and perform natural hazard and multi-hazard modeling. These will be used in collaboration with a range of partners to understand and propose solutions to 1) managing a high percentage of IBRs and DER, and 2) prioritizing investments to improve the reliability and resilience of the grid.

The ideal candidate would bring solid knowledge on bulk power system dynamics, co-simulation, along with experience modeling of distribution systems, DER & IBR, and natural/man-made hazards.

We are researchers, engineers, software developers, modelers, physicists, product managers, thought leaders, system thinkers, and life-long learners. We strive to push the boundaries of innovation, integrated analysis, and computational tool development. You would join us in developing innovative modeling approaches, collaboratively applying them with a wide-range of research and industry partners to conduct high-impact analysis and working to articulate current trends and chart future needs in integrated grid systems. A sample of on-going research include reliability studies examining interactions between DER and bulk grid dynamics; interactions between generation dispatch during black-sky days; and impacts of natural and human-caused threats on the grid.

Come join a team whose mission is to innovate, inform, and create value for energy systems transitions, including renewable energy, distribution systems, transmission systems, energy storage, markets, and economics and much more.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• •Build, troubleshoot, and validate large-scale bulk/transmission power system models
• •Conduct AC power flow, dynamics, and contingency simulations across scales ranging from smaller island and regional-scale systems up to national and international interconnections
• •Design, develop and maintain co-simulation frameworks
• •Apply best-practice code development techniques
• •Perform analysis demonstrating the importance of technical capabilities.
• •Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams of developers, engineers, and analysts

• •Present work at conferences, symposia, and project meetings.
• •Contribute to journal articles, conference papers, and technical reports
• •Work with other staff to develop proposals and partnerships for funding opportunities

What we can offer:

• •A collaborative, supportive, flexible, and fun work environment
• •Training, mentoring, and collaboration to build upon or learn new technical skills
• •Interesting work where you don’t do the same thing every day
• •Projects, professional development, and growth opportunities to help you meet your career goals
• •A professional environment that encourages innovation and imaginative thinking to understand and plan the future electric power system
• •Adaptable schedule to promote work-life balance.

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Basic Qualifications

This role can be hired as an RIV or an RIII:

• Researcher IV:
• 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 .

• 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 .

* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

Researcher IV:

Must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q Security Clearance. Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age and a U.S. citizen. See DOE O 472.2A for additional information.

Experience with commercial power system power flow software such as Powerworld, PSS/E, or similar

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

Ability to work independently and in team settings

Researcher III:

Must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q Security Clearance. Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age and a U.S. citizen. See DOE O 472.2A for additional information.

Experience with commercial power system power flow software such as Powerworld, PSS/E, or similar

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

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

• •Proven expertise with developing, modeling, troubleshooting, and in-depth analysis with power system dynamics (phasor, RMS) and large-scale EMT simulations using widely-used commercial software tools including Powerworld, EMTP, PSS/E, PSCAD, and DIgSILENT
• •Experience with production cost modeling tools, such as PLEXOS-LT or Sienna, and their interactions with power flow models
• •Experience automating, conducting, and visualizing engineering analyses for large-scale grids, including N-1, N-1-1, and N-k contingencies; frequency response; and multiple stability criteria for both strong and weak grids
• •Experience developing and validating dynamic and transient models for both grid-forming and grid-following IBRs with a variety of energy sources, including solar, wind, and storage
• •Experience troubleshooting and adapting system-scale models for convergence, particularly for future scenarios with extensive changes to t