HVAC Test & Evaluation Research Engineer/Scientist

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory•Richland, WA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Energy and Environment Directorate at PNNL delivers science and technology solutions for the nation’s biggest energy and environmental challenges. The Electricity Infrastructure and Buildings Division, part of this directorate, is focused on accelerating the transition to an efficient, resilient, and secure energy system through basic and applied research. This role involves contributing to projects focused on residential/commercial buildings technologies, with a specific emphasis on HVAC equipment and building efficiency. The primary clients are U.S. Department of Energy offices, with secondary clients including other agencies, state government, utilities, regional energy efficiency organizations, and private organizations. This position offers the opportunity for broad involvement in research and development of efficiency and electricity infrastructure related experiments and technologies, identifying and developing new tools and resources, and designing training programs to support energy efficiency technologies and best practices.

Requirements

BS/BA and 5+ years of relevant work experience -OR- MS/MA and 3+ years of relevant work experience -OR- PhD with 1+ year of relevant experience
Demonstrated training and experience in building science with application to residential and/or commercial buildings.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering or closely related field.
Experience with HVAC testing and performance evaluation.
Experience operating and conducting tests in an environmental chamber environment.
Mechanical or Electrical Engineering experience with facilities/building engineering experience.
Knowledge with the use of the following software: LabVIEW, AutoCAD, JCI Metasys, Tridium Niagara.
Interest in residential/commercial buildings energy efficiency, construction, energy codes, renovation, building enclosures, heating and cooling, ventilation, indoor air quality, water heating, control technologies, load shapes, and grid interactions.

Responsibilities

Provide technical contributions to project teams researching and developing efficiency and electricity infrastructure related experiments and technologies.
Identify and help develop new and improved tools, technologies, and resources for addressing energy efficiency and electricity infrastructure needs.
Design workshops, case studies, and training programs that support the application and use of energy efficiency technologies and best practices.
Apply advanced energy principles, theories, and concepts in the fields of efficiency, electricity infrastructure technology and policy, and building science, including building energy use, management, and analysis.
Serve as the subject matter expert for environmental chambers and associated systems, responsible for test system setup and modification, design modifications, system diagnostics, system operation/oversight, system performance testing and evaluation, acceptance testing, condition assessment surveys, work and maintenance planning, outage planning, and other facility operation management.
Review, estimate, and procure project costs including equipment, installation, labor, materials, preparation, operation, and other related life cycle costs.
Inspect or direct the inspection of construction and project progress to ensure conformance to established drawings, specifications, and schedules.
Work with other service departments to coordinate work.
Provide technical contributions to a team developing innovative methods to achieve greater energy efficiency in the nation’s new and existing homes, commercial buildings, and appliances.
Provide technical support to PNNL’s efforts to promote the development, adoption, and implementation of progressive energy efficiency technologies, best practices, protocols, and codes/standards.
Provide support to PNNL’s on-going test and measurement program for HVAC units in environmental test chambers.