The National Renewable Energy Laboratory - NREL - is the only federal laboratory dedicated to the research, development, commercialization and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.
IMPORTANT:This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders. Other applicants need not apply.
Scientist III- PV Data Analyst for PV Performance and Reliability
4264BR
Golden, CO
Regular
40
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is a leader in the U.S. Department of Energy’s effort to secure an energy future that is both environmentally and economically sustainable. With locations in Golden, Boulder and Washington D.C., NREL is the primary laboratory for research, development and deployment of renewable energy technologies in the United States. The NREL mission is to develop renewable energy and energy efficient technologies and practices, advance related science and engineering, and transfer knowledge and innovation to address the nation’s energy and environmental goals.
Scientist position responsible for designing, executing, and reporting on studies of the outdoor performance of PV modules, with special emphasis on understanding being able to efficiently and accurately handle large, messy data sets. The position will be in the National Center for Photovoltaics (NCPV). Pushes our scientific understanding of PV performance in the field and the factors that affect that performance, with ability to take on technical leadership responsibilities.
• Design and execute experiments to advance knowledge of photovoltaic module and system reliability and performance in real-world conditions. • Develop analyses on outdoor photovoltaic data to reduce uncertainty and perceived risk in system performance • Advance state of the art photovoltaic diagnostics, including both imaging techniques and analytics using electrical and meteorological measurements. • Manipulate and analyze data from a wide range of sources including but not limited to relational databases. • Build collaborations with external partners to leverage outside facilities and datasets to advance the field of PV reliability. • Work with other facilities, universities, and industry representatives to create standards that utilize what has been learned. • Publish and support publication of results in technical journals/conference proceedings; present work at conferences, symposia, and review meetings. • Follow all Laboratory policies and procedures, including Environmental, Safety, Health and Quality requirements to ensure and maintain a safe working environment. • Work with senior staff to satisfy reporting requirements for the Solar Energy Technology PV program and the Department of Energy.
Relevant PhD or equivalent relevant education/experience.
Or, relevant Master's Degree and 3 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience.
Or, relevant Bachelor's Degree and 5 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience.
Demonstrates complete understanding and wide application of scientific 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 technical writing, interpersonal and communication skills.
Demonstrates broad understanding of physics, data analysis, and related procedures, principles, theories and concepts. General knowledge of related disciplines, including photovoltaic function and chemistry. Has demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Detailed understanding of photovoltaic materials, cells, and modules • Demonstrated ability to connect observations to physics-based models and explanations • Experience with electrical characterization of photovoltaic modules • Experience with infrared, electroluminescence, and photoluminescence imaging of PV modules • Experience with photovoltaic cell electrical characterization • Experience working with multiple PV technologies • Experience working with relational databases, including experience constructing queries in SQL • Ability to work with large datasets programmatically (for example with MATLAB or Mathematica) • Experience combining data from multiple sources for a single analysis and repeating this in an automated fashion so as to be able to process hundreds or thousands of data sets • Experience coordinating activities and resources with external partners • Computer simulation skills for analyzing experimental data and simulating technology performance. • Ability to design experiments and analysis approaches for probing the physics of PV performance or lack of performance. • Ability to apply scientific knowledge to execute standard technology evaluation protocols and suggest improvements to these. • Engage with colleagues in experimental design and analysis to reach conclusions on technology performance; put forth ideas and approaches; and ability to establish rapport for collective solutions. • Demonstrate aptitude for technical problem solving. • Computer skills for creating presentations, word documents, and spreadsheet/project analyses to transfer information to audiences. • Excellent oral and written technical presentation skills to articulate and execute R&D plans towards national goals. • Knowledge and familiarity with PVSyst, SAM, National Instruments LabVIEW data acquisition, control, JMP, Igor. • More experienced or less experienced candidates will also be considered
NREL is dedicated to the principles of equal employment opportunity. NREL promotes a work environment that does not discriminate against workers or job applicants and prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, marital status, ancestry, actual or perceived sexual orientation, or veteran status, including special disabled veterans.
NREL validates right to work using E-Verify. NREL will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. For additional information, please see www.nrel.gov/careers/employment-policies.html.
