Senior/Principal R&D Electrical Engineer - Power Systems, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation's premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting-edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

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• Generous vacation, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

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*These benefits vary by job classification.

The Electric Power Systems Research group at Sandia National Laboratories is currently looking for a Power Systems Electrical Engineer (job title: R&D S&E, Electrical Engineering) with a strong background in electric grid R&D to join our team. The position will focus on making technical contributions and leading projects in the areas of electric power systems, power system protection, and power system modeling. The position will include partnering with multiple external organizations, writing proposals, and publishing peer reviewed conference and journal articles.

On any given day, you may be called on to:

• Demonstrate technical knowledge with a focus on power system protection, grid security, and grid modeling.
• Demonstrate creativity and ingenuity in providing software solutions and analytical solutions.
• Work with colleagues and external collaborators to develop innovative solutions to emerging challenges facing the power industry.
• Publish research outcomes (in peer-reviewed journals, at conferences, etc.).
• Present research findings to sponsors and externally to professional communities (e.g., IEEE, industry workshops).
• Design machining algorithms for power system applications.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.

$114,000 - $227,500

*Salary range is estimated, and actual salary will be determined after consideration of the selected candidate's experience and qualifications, and application of any approved geographic salary differential.

• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and five (5) years of directly relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of directly relevant education and engineering or scientific experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform independent research and development.
  

The ideal R&D S&E, Electrical Engineering candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

• Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Ability to work independently and collaborate well in a multidisciplinary team of designers and test engineers.
• Outstanding verbal and written skills, including the ability to develop and present briefings that are clear and compelling.

Also, for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience:

• PhD in electrical engineering with a focus on power systems plus 2 years or more of directly related experience
• Expertise in electric power systems
• Expertise in power system protection
• A proven track record of peer reviewed power systems publications
• Technical knowledge in power system simulation and analysis
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Strong programming ability and analytical skills, including proficiency with Python or MATLAB
• Experience processing and analyzing real power systems data
• Experience writing proposals
• Experience with Opal-RT or hardware in the loop modeling
• Experience with electric grid hardware testing
• Self-motivated and able to work independently with minimal supervision and ability to work in a team environment

The Electric Power Systems Research Department conducts R&D and advanced analytics to enable the modernization of the nation's electric power grid. This work includes the development of improved planning and operations methodologies from the bulk system down to end users. Our capabilities encompass the development and application of advanced algorithmic and computational methods, grid operations, economics, and policy. Examples of specific core areas include power system dynamics, operational reliability, advanced renewables integration, electricity market development, smart grid technologies and related information analysis, optimal resource expansion, and computationally based decision support. This department is highly inter-disciplinary, working collaboratively with universities, utilities, government agencies, and both national and international research organizations.

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) calendar days, including the 'posting date'. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

This position does not currently require a Department of Energy (DOE) security clearance.

Sandia will conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Furthermore, employees in New Mexico need to pass a U.S. Air Force background screen for access to Kirtland Air Force Base. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause access to be denied or terminated, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment. Under federal law, citizens and agents of the People's Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea, and the Russian Federation are generally prohibited from accessing Sandia National Laboratories. Accordingly, such individuals will not be considered for employment unless they are also a citizen of the United States.

If hired without a clearance and it subsequently becomes necessary to obtain and maintain one for the position, or you bid on positions that require a clearance, a pre-processing background review may be conducted prior to a required federal background investigation. Applicants for a DOE security clearance need to be U.S. citizens. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Members of the workforce (MOWs) hired at Sandia who require uncleared access for greater than 179 days during their employment, are required to go through the Uncleared Personal Identity Verification (UPIV) process. Access includes physical and/or cyber (logical) access, as well as remote access to any NNSA information technology (IT) systems. UPIV requirements are not applicable to individuals who require a DOE personnel security clearance for the performance of their SNL employment or to foreign nationals. The UPIV process will include the completion of a USAccess Enrollment, SF-85 (Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions) and OF-306 (Declaration of for Federal Employment). An unfavorable UPIV determination will result in immediate retrieval of the SNL issued badge, removal of cyber (logical) access and/or removal from SNL subcontract. All MOWs may appeal the unfavorable UPIV determination to DOE/NNSA immediately. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the MOW may try to go through the UPIV process one year after the decision date.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.

If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.

If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.