Electro-magnetic transient (EMT) modeling, laboratory verification, and stability analysis for power systems Researcher

National Laboratory of the Rockies•Golden, CO

42d•$76,600 - $150,500•Onsite

About The Position

The Integrated Devices and Systems (IDS) Group of the Power Systems and Engineering Center (PSEC) at the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) is seeking an exceptional researcher to support research in the modeling and simulation of modern power grids and the integration of advanced technologies such as inverter-based resources (IBRs). The successful candidate will work on cutting-edge projects in power system modeling, simulation, and stability analysis, bringing expertise to address the stability and reliability challenges of the future grid. The IDS group focuses on developing and applying state-of-the-art energy system modeling techniques, software, and simulations for the engineering and techno-economic analysis of the emerging future electric grid and broader interconnected energy systems. PSEC supports the U.S. Department of Energy's science and technology goals for an affordable, reliable, and secure energy future, working with the electricity industry and research community to provide practical solutions to grid design and integration challenges.

Requirements

Relevant PhD, or relevant Master's Degree, or relevant Bachelor's Degree and 2 or more years of experience (for Researcher II).
Relevant PhD, or relevant Master's Degree and 3 or more years of experience, or relevant Bachelor's Degree and 5 or more years of experience (for Researcher III).
Demonstrates broad understanding and wide application of engineering technical procedures, principles, theories and concepts in the field.
General knowledge of other related disciplines.
Demonstrates leadership in one or more areas of team, task or project lead responsibilities.
Demonstrated experience in management of projects.
Very good writing, interpersonal and communication skills.
Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE security clearance at the Q/TS/SCI level. A polygraph may be required.
Relevant candidate in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science or related fields.
Solid background in power systems dynamics and modeling including load flow, short-circuit, and contingency analysis.
Experience with power system simulation tools in EMT environment (e.g., PSCAD, RTDS, OPAL-RT, ParaEMT, etc.).
Strong understanding of inverter-based resource (IBR) modeling and integration challenges, and power system stability concepts.

Nice To Haves

Hands-on modeling experience with EMT simulation tools (e.g., PSCAD, RSCAD, OPAL-RT or EMTP).
Strong understanding of small-signal, transient, and voltage stability.
Familiarity with EMT modeling of IBRs, such as data centers, advanced pumped-storage hydro, batteries, wind and solar, grid forming inverters, etc.
Experience in modeling and simulation of inverter-based resources (IBRs) and stability analysis of high-IBR-dominated power systems.
Hands-on experience with data center modeling is a plus.
Experience with software development in Python, C++, or other programming languages.
Hands-on experience developing automated tools for accelerating contingency analysis is a plus.
At least one paper on inverter stability/modeling.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to process, interpret, and present technical results clearly.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Interest in AI/ML applications for power system modeling and analysis.

Responsibilities

Develop high-fidelity EMT models for various inverter-based resources (such as advanced pumped storage hydro, data center, grid-forming/grid-following inverters, etc.) for large-scale power grids studies.
Design ride-through controls of IBRs and implement and validate models in EMT simulation environments such as PSCAD, RTDS, or ParaEMT.
Contribute to the development of advanced simulation tools, platforms, and testbed development for large-scale EMT analysis.
Conduct large-scale transient analysis including (small-signal stability, transient stability, and voltage stability) for high IBR-dominated systems.
Lead laboratory experiments to validate models and specific equipment, inform model development, and answer critical questions regarding the integrated operation of complete systems.
Support development of AI-assisted tools for grid stability monitoring, scenario generation, and digital twin applications.
Support large-scale power system studies (e.g., national-scale scenarios) using commercial tools (e.g., PSSE, PSLF, PSCAD) or open-source tools (e.g., ParaEMT, ANDES and others).
Support interconnection studies, grid impact assessments, and compliance studies.
Prepare the results in form of reports and presentations.
Write and publish results of analyses in peer-reviewed journals, transactions, conference proceedings, and/or technical reports.