Building Research Engineer/Scientist – Level II

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory • Richland, WA

2d

About The 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 Technology Deployment (ETD) Group applies expertise in program design and management to speed the deployment of technologies that improve energy efficiency and resilience of the built environment. ETD has 53 staff members across 2 capability areas:
Federal Technical Support – Staff apply knowledge of federal agency energy and sustainability performance mandates, missions and operations to support the implementation of institutional changes (e.g. programs, policies, behavior) that enable their achievement.
Market Transformation – Staff design and implement programs that speed market adoption of energy efficient building technologies through stakeholder engagement, training and education, and direct technical assistance.

Requirements

• BS/BA and 2 years of relevant experience -OR-
• MS/MA -OR-
• PhD

Nice To Haves

• BS/MS/PhD in Mechanical, Civil, or Architectural Engineering with 3-4 years of relevant experience.
• Experience leading tasks and small to medium size projects.
• Experience with conducting Field Testing and Research in residential/commercial buildings or willingness to learn.
• Experience with fundamental heat transfer concepts and relevant technologies.
• Comfort interacting with training providers, contractors, technicians, and equipment installers.

Responsibilities

• The position requires the ability to lead tasks under larger projects independently and effectively with limited guidance, taking complete ownership, producing high quality deliverables in a timely manner, and within budget while working harmoniously with other members of the team.
• The position requires solid analytical skills, knowledge and experience related to the analysis of building science and technology concepts, products, and techniques that are focused on building systems and technologies:
• Building systems servicing the residential/commercial sectors including energy efficiency technologies.
• To support the Energy Skilled program at PNNL.
• Building technologies and systems associated with operations, energy efficiency, understanding technology strengths, structures, barriers, supply chain opportunities, and demographics.
• Formulation of interviews and surveys to evaluate consumer and contractor perceptions, opportunities, barriers, and best practices associated with residential and commercial technologies and more.
• Ideally, experience with or knowledge of Institutional review board (IRB) and associated processes, compliance requirements, development of application packet, navigation of IRB reviews.
• Ability to research, collect information, synthesize, analyze, identify and communicate nuanced programmatic implementation to various regional stake holders and sponsors.
• Plan and conduct experiments to understand human centric perspectives on the utility of various researcher- or manufacturer-developed tools for contractors.
• Ability to identify program evaluation metrics, engage and collect necessary data from the appropriate stakeholders, isolating variable influences, decoupling program trends, evaluating long term program success.
• Interaction, and collaboration with a range of stakeholders including manufacturers, supply chain businesses, trade
• Possible development and execution of field research plans in the future to test and measure building systems performance, analyze research results, publish and communicate conclusions and results.
• The position requires strong written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to both lead and work in teams with federal agencies, states, regional energy efficiency organizations, training organizations, trade groups, utilities, and other program providers. The position will also involve working with leading scientists, engineers and managers at DOE and its national laboratories, with consultants and academics, at utility organizations, with manufacturers and trade organizations, and with all facets of the supply chain and market, including consumers.
• Occasionally travel to attend conferences and present results of work in a variety of forums, support relevant education in public forums and webinars, in meetings with DOE and other national laboratories, in PNNL internal meetings, or conferences, and in stakeholder meetings.

Benefits

• Employees and their families are offered medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, robust telehealth care options, several mental health benefits, free wellness coaching, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, basic life insurance, disability insurance, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, tuition assistance, relocation, backup childcare, legal benefits, supplemental parental bonding leave, surrogacy and adoption assistance, and fertility support.
• Employees are automatically enrolled in our company-funded pension plan and may enroll in our 401 (k) savings plan with company match.
• Employees may accrue up to 120 vacation hours per year and may receive ten paid holidays per year.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree