Posting Title

Postdoctoral Researcher – Control and Optimization of Hybrid Energy Systems

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Location

Remote

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Position Type

Postdoc (Fixed Term)

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Hours Per Week

40

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Working at NLR

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

NLR is seeking a motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Wind-Hybrid Research Group. This group focuses not just on hybrid electricity but also the generation of thermal energy and processing of critical minerals (https://www.nlr.gov/wind/hybrid-energy-systems-research). The successful candidate will contribute to research on hybrid energy systems, with a focus on technical performance modeling, control strategy development, and optimization. This role will involve designing and analyzing systems with various control algorithms to improve operational efficiency and integration.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop technical performance models for controls in hybrid energy systems.
• Investigate and evaluate control strategies for integrated hybrid energy systems.
• Perform optimization and system design considering the impacts of different control algorithms.
• Utilize and advance key software tools, including H2Integrate( https://h2integrate.readthedocs.io/en/latest/intro.html)and HOPP ( https://hopp.readthedocs.io/en/latest/intro.html )as well as contribute to creation of new tools as required.
• Apply model predictive control methods to improve performance and integration of hybrid systems.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals.

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Basic Qualifications

Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.

* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

• Proven track record in research related to hybrid energy systems.
• Expertise in model predictive control for integrated hybrid energy systems.
• Strong analytical, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Background in control systems.
• Experience with key software programs including Python.
• Experience in developing analytical models of hybrid energy systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in Control Systems, preferably with an emphasis on control of hybrid energy systems, and experience developing controllers for hybrid energy systems.

• An understanding of how thermal hybrid systems operate and how thermal energy could best be used to increase system efficacy.

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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: Postdoctoral Researcher / Annual Salary Range: $76,600 - $126,400

NLR 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-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; and paid holidays. NLR 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.

* Based on eligibility rules

Badging Requirement

NLR 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

NLR 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 NLR, 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 NLR 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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Equal Opportunity 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.

Reasonable Accommodations

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