Electrical Engineer, Power Generation

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory•UNAVAILABLE, UNAVAILABLE

7h•Onsite

About The Position

The Operational Systems Engineering group within the Earth Systems Science Division seeks a mid-career Electrical Engineer to support research, development, and deployment activities focused on power generation, hydropower, and pumped storage technologies. This position supports projects sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydropower and Hydrokinetics Office, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, and other federal and state stakeholders. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with engineers, scientists, project managers, and external partners to address the complex technical and operational challenges facing electrical power systems in critical utility infrastructure. This position offers a diverse range of technical and project-oriented responsibilities. The successful applicant will need to be adaptable, collaborative, and capable of balancing multiple priorities across research and applied engineering efforts.

Requirements

BS/BA and 5+ years of relevant experience -OR- MS/MA and 3+ years of relevant experience -OR- PhD with 1+ year of relevant experience
U.S. Citizenship
Ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.
Ability to pass a pre-employment drug test.
Ability to demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the requisite Questionnaire for National Security Positions (QNSP).

Nice To Haves

Preferred degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field.
Deep, hands-on expertise in the design, operation, and maintenance of electrical power systems. This includes protection and control (P&C) design, protective relays (e.g., SEL, GE), SCADA systems, and substation automation.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively in the field with crews, vendors, sponsors, and customers during system assessment, deployment, and troubleshooting.
Direct experience in the hydropower, utility, or power generation industries, with strong, practical knowledge of OT communication protocols (e.g., DNP3, Modbus, IEC 61850).
A strong aptitude and willingness to partner with cybersecurity experts is key. Direct cyber expertise is not a prerequisite, but a desire to learn and apply new security concepts is essential.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a proactive and collaborative approach to problem-solving on interdisciplinary teams.
A Professional Engineer (PE) license is considered a plus.
Formal project management experience or certification is beneficial but not required.
Experience with data-oriented programming/scripting languages (e.g., Python, R) is considered a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead and support engineering assessments of hydropower electrical systems, including generation, excitation, protection schemes, and grid-interconnection assets, to identify opportunities for improved performance, reliability, and resilience.
Develop engineering-focused modernization roadmaps for aging electrical power assets, defining technical requirements for upgrades that enhance system integrity and operational longevity.
Serve as the electrical engineering subject matter expert, providing critical guidance to ensure that new technologies and modern security architectures are compatible with the operational and safety requirements of power automation and protection systems.
Provide technical leadership and direct oversight in the field during system upgrades, coordinating with facility operators and vendors to validate that modernization efforts are implemented correctly, safely, and without compromising plant reliability.
Author and present high-quality technical products—including engineering analyses, documentation, reports, and publications—to effectively communicate project findings to sponsors, partners, and the broader technical community.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary technical teams to identify engineering challenges, assess risks, and develop innovative solutions supporting reliable and sustainable hydropower generation.
Support research and engineering activities spanning early-stage research and development through applied science and technology demonstration projects.
Contribute to the preparation of competitive research proposals and strategic project planning activities aligned with sponsor priorities and national energy objectives.
Manage or support research project execution, including coordination of technical activities, schedules, deliverables, and stakeholder communications.
Provide oversight and technical coordination for subcontractors and research partners supporting project activities and deliverables.