Electrical Engineer 3

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory•UNAVAILABLE, UNAVAILABLE

About The Position

The Operational Systems Engineering group within PNNL’s Earth Systems Science Division seeks a mid-career Electrical Engineer to support research, development, and deployment activities involving power generation, hydropower, and pumped storage technologies. The role supports projects sponsored by federal and state stakeholders, including the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydropower and Hydrokinetics Office, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command. The engineer collaborates with engineers, scientists, project managers, and external partners to address technical and operational challenges in electrical power systems and critical utility infrastructure. The position calls for foundational experience in electrical power systems or industrial control systems, together with hands-on experience in field construction, installation, commissioning, or plant modernization. The successful candidate will work across research and applied engineering projects, balancing technical and project responsibilities and collaborating across disciplines. Responsibilities may include on-site assessments of hydropower and utility electrical and control assets; field support and oversight during construction, upgrades, retrofits, and commissioning; development of modernization roadmaps and technical requirements; and guidance on compatibility of new technologies with plant processes, safety logic, and operational needs. The engineer also prepares and presents technical deliverables, collaborates on research and demonstration projects, contributes to proposals and project planning, supports project execution and stakeholder communications, and coordinates subcontractors and research partners. Some travel may be necessary depending on project needs and candidate interest. The position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance. U.S. citizenship is required. Applicants selected for security-clearance processing are subject to a federal background investigation and pre-employment and random drug testing, with the stated requirements regarding non-use of illegal drugs. The role is a Testing Designated Position.

Requirements

BS/BA and 5 or more years of relevant hydropower systems experience, or MS/MA and 3 or more years, or PhD and 1 or more year.
U.S. citizenship is required based on project and client requirements.
Ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance and meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter in accordance with 10 CFR 710, Appendix B.
Selected candidates must undergo a federal background investigation and pre-employment and random drug testing for illegal drugs.
Demonstrated non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the Questionnaire for National Security Positions, as specified for security-clearance processing.

Nice To Haves

A degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field is preferred.
Practical experience in one or more of the following: design, maintenance, or testing of low-, medium-, or high-voltage distribution, generators, switchgear, or excitation systems.
Experience with protective relays (such as SEL, GE, or ABB), protection and control schemes, or substation equipment.
Experience with industrial control systems, including PLCs, RTUs, DCS, or HMIs from vendors such as Rockwell/Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Schneider Electric, or Emerson.
Experience with turbine governors, plant-level automation, or balance-of-plant control systems.
Ability to read, redline, or draft electrical schematics, one-line/three-line diagrams, P&IDs, and wiring diagrams.
Hands-on experience in industrial, utility, or construction environments, such as electrical/controls installation, point-to-point checkout, factory/site acceptance testing, startup/commissioning, or construction oversight alongside trade crews and contractors.
Experience in hydropower, water/wastewater utilities, power generation, heavy industrial manufacturing, or federal infrastructure such as USACE, Bureau of Reclamation, or NAVFAC.
Knowledge of industrial/utility operational technology communications protocols such as Modbus, DNP3, IEC 61850, or EtherNet/IP, and interest in collaborating with cybersecurity engineers to secure plant assets.
Professional Engineer (PE) license.
Formal project management experience or certification.
Experience with data-oriented programming or scripting languages such as Python or R.

Responsibilities

Support or lead on-site engineering assessments of hydropower and utility electrical/control assets, such as generation and excitation systems, protection and control schemes, switchgear, plant automation, PLCs, and turbine governors.
Provide field technical support and oversight during construction, system upgrades, retrofits, and commissioning; coordinate with crews, operators, subcontractors, and vendors to review drawings and submittals, verify installations, and support safe modernization without disrupting plant operations.
Develop modernization roadmaps and technical requirements for aging electrical or control assets, accounting for hardware lifecycles, constructability, system integration, and operational longevity.
Provide engineering guidance to ensure new technologies, equipment upgrades, and security architectures are compatible with plant processes, safety logic, and operational requirements.
Author and present technical deliverables, including field assessment reports, engineering specifications, test plans, and technical publications.
Collaborate with scientists, cybersecurity specialists, engineers, and external partners on R&D and applied field demonstration projects.
Support research and engineering from early-stage research and development through applied science and technology demonstrations.
Contribute to competitive research proposals and strategic project planning aligned with sponsor priorities and national energy objectives.
Manage or support research project execution, including technical coordination, schedules, deliverables, and stakeholder communications.
Provide oversight and technical coordination for subcontractors and research partners.
Travel as needed for fieldwork, scientific conferences, and client networking, depending on project/program needs and candidate interest.