Job Description

Posting Title

Senior Marine Energy Engineer and Modeler

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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

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.

We invite all interested candidates to apply for this opportunity. While we recognize that job seekers may hesitate if they don’t meet every requirement, we encourage dedicated individuals who meet all the basic and additional required qualifications of the role to submit an application. We value the opportunity to consider those who believe they have the necessary skills and ambition to succeed at NREL.

Job Description

A full-time job as a senior engineer and modeling tool developer supporting NREL’s marine energy numerical modeling portfolio is available in the Marine Energy R&D Group. NREL’s Marine Energy research is focused on developing numerical and experimental methods that accelerate the development of marine energy technologies towards commercialization. The NREL team works closely with other national labs and university and industry partners to support the development of the marine energy industry. The person hired for this position will work with a group of approximately 5-10 researchers who are focused on (1) developing numerical modeling tools for marine energy technologies and (2) using the tools to design, analyze, and optimize marine energy systems. Because numerical modeling projects are often closely tied with laboratory and in-water testing, the person hired for this role will also be expected to contribute to experimental and validation efforts. We are looking for an experienced researcher and code developer who has a demonstrated ability develop marine energy modeling tools, execute projects, write winning proposals, and provide strategic guidance across the numerical modeling portfolio. NREL’s Marine Energy Team is primarily funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO), and the person in this role will be expected to coordinate their work with WPTO, other national laboratories, and industry partners. JOB IS FROM: italents.netVIEW

Job Duties - This researcher will contribute to NREL’s numerical modeling, simulation, and analysis efforts, including:

• Work with NREL and DOE leadership to develop and execute a marine energy modeling strategy that meets the needs of the industry and R&D community
• Develop existing and new modeling, simulation, and optimization tools for wave, tidal/river current, and other marine energy technologies.
• Lead and contribute to the design of marine energy technologies and systems with marine energy applications; including but not limited to, hydrodynamic design exploration, drivetrain designs, structural assemblies, mooring configurations, electric generator designs, and control system design
• Publish research in technical journals, present work at conferences, lead proposals, and being a subject matter expert to sit on workings groups such as IEC TC114, Ocean Energy Systems Modeling Groups, etc.
• Contribute to technoeconomic modeling of marine energy technologies by leveraging modeling tools
• Lead code development projects and mentor junior researchers

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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

• Excellent writing, organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Experience coding within engineering coding languages (e.g., Python, Julia, C++, MATLAB/Simulink)
• Experience and/or knowledge of reduced order numerical modeling of marine energy systems using frequency domain approaches (e.g., WAMIT, Nemoh or AQWA) and time domain (i.e. Cummins Equation) simulation methods.
• Experience and/or knowledge of high-fidelity CFD methods and software tools (e.g., OpenFOAM, StarCCM+ ANSYS Fluent, or Smoothed-particle hydrodynamics models), particularly in the area of modeling of wave and floating body interaction.
• Demonstrated success at leading proposals and being awarded grants to pursue research

Preferred Qualifications

• Passion for renewable energy technology with a specific interest in marine energy technologies.
• Experience developing wave energy converter modeling and design tools
• Experience and/or knowledge on the development of control systems
• Experience with and/or knowledge of computer-aided design software (e.g., Autocad, Solidworks, Rhino)
• Experience and/or knowledge of modeling the fluid-structure interactions (e.g., offshore wind turbines, marine energy systems)
• Experience with the Project Chrono multi-physics modeling software

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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

Badging Requirement

NREL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation.

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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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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