Demo

Wind Farm Controls Researcher

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Boulder, CO Full Time
POSTED ON 1/16/2025
AVAILABLE BEFORE 4/13/2025

Posting Title

Wind Farm Controls Researcher

Location

CO - Boulder

Position Type

Regular

Hours Per Week

Working at NREL

NREL's 305-acre Flatirons Campus is the nation's premier wind energy, water power, and grid integration research facility. Nestled south of Boulder, Colorado, and north of NREL's main South Table Mountain campus, Flatirons sits adjacent to the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge and countless acres of open space and parks with stunning views of the Flatirons rock formations.

From day one at NREL, you'll connect with coworkers driven by the same mission to save the planet. By joining an organization that values a supportive, inclusive, and flexible work environment, you'll have the opportunity to engage through our ten employee resource groups, numerous employee-driven clubs, and learning and professional development classes.

NREL supports inclusive, diverse, and unbiased hiring practices that promote creativity and innovation. By collaborating with organizations that focus on diverse talent pools, reaching out to underrepresented demographics, and providing an inclusive application and interview process, our Talent Acquisition team aims to hear all voices equally. We strive to attract a highly diverse workforce and create a culture where every employee feels welcomed and respected and they can be their authentic selves.

Our planet needs us! Learn about NREL's critical objectives, and see how NREL is focused on saving the planet.

We invite all interested candidates to apply for this opportunity. While we recognize that job seekers may hesitate if they don't meet every requirement, we encourage dedicated individuals who meet all the basic and additional required qualifications of the role to submit an application. We value the opportunity to consider those who believe they have the necessary skills and ambition to succeed at NREL.

Job Description

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), nestled at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado, is the nation's leading facility for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. For over 40 years, the National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) and NREL's Flatirons Campus have been at the forefront of advancing wind energy, pioneering innovative turbine components, systems, and modeling methods that have propelled the wind energy industry forward.

The NWTC at NREL is currently seeking a dedicated Researcher to advance cutting-edge methods for wind farm control and wake management strategies.

Responsibilities :

  • Design and analyze advanced wind farm control techniques to optimize performance and efficiency.
  • Use high-performance computing tools to develop and implement wake-mixing controllers in simulation environments.
  • Conduct simulation campaigns to assess the impact of control strategies on wind farm performance, structural loads, and power production.
  • Support field demonstrations of wind farm control methods, such as dynamic induction control and the helix method.
  • Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present results at industry conferences.
  • Collaborate with stakeholders, including the U.S. Department of Energy, other national laboratories, industry partners, and international organizations.

Basic Qualifications

Relevant PhD. Or, relevant Master's Degree and 3 or more years of experience.

  • Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
  • Additional Required Qualifications

  • Exceptional writing, interpersonal, and communication skills.
  • Ability to publish research findings in technical journals and conference proceedings.
  • Experience presenting work at conferences, symposia, and review meetings.
  • Proven ability to contribute to the development, preparation, and review of new project proposals.
  • A strong understanding of engineering principles, theories, and concepts.
  • Expertise in wind energy systems and related disciplines.
  • Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience researching wind farm control methods.
  • Proficiency in analyzing wind farm controllers using high-fidelity simulations, wind tunnel testing, and field trials.
  • Familiarity with key open-source tools such as AMRWind, FLORIS, and OpenFAST.
  • Proficiency in Python programming.
  • Comfort with high-performance computing environments.
  • Job Application Submission Window

    The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.

    Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)

    Job Profile : Researcher III / Annual Salary Range : $81,500 - $146,700

    Job Profile : Researcher III / Annual Salary Range : $81,500 - $146,700

    NREL takes into consideration a candidate's education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee's salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.

    Benefits Summary

    Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short

  • and long-term disability insurance; pension benefits
  • 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match
  • life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; paid holidays; and tuition reimbursement
  • NREL employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement. Limited-term positions are not eligible for long-term disability or tuition reimbursement.
  • Based on eligibility rules
  • Badging Requirement

    NREL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation.

    Drug Free Workplace

    NREL is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.

    If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

    Submission Guidelines

    Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.

    EEO Policy

    NREL is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin / ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

    EEO is the Law | Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination | Reasonable Accommodations

    E-Verify www.dhs.gov / E-Verify For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish.

    E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This business uses E-Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce.

    Salary : $81,500 - $146,700

    If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
    Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

    What is the career path for a Wind Farm Controls Researcher?

    Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Wind Farm Controls Researcher career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
    Income Estimation: 
    $77,212 - $88,935
    Income Estimation: 
    $101,213 - $124,848
    Income Estimation: 
    $90,267 - $107,792
    Income Estimation: 
    $90,926 - $113,495
    Income Estimation: 
    $102,148 - $116,687
    Income Estimation: 
    $68,606 - $89,684
    Income Estimation: 
    $88,975 - $120,741
    Income Estimation: 
    $68,121 - $81,836
    Income Estimation: 
    $71,928 - $87,026
    Income Estimation: 
    $125,958 - $157,570
    Income Estimation: 
    $82,813 - $108,410
    Income Estimation: 
    $120,989 - $162,093
    Income Estimation: 
    $74,806 - $91,633
    Income Estimation: 
    $71,928 - $87,026
    Income Estimation: 
    $145,337 - $174,569
    Income Estimation: 
    $102,775 - $137,396
    Income Estimation: 
    $153,127 - $203,425
    Income Estimation: 
    $139,626 - $193,276
    Income Estimation: 
    $164,650 - $211,440
    Income Estimation: 
    $130,030 - $173,363
    Income Estimation: 
    $208,337 - $274,406
    Income Estimation: 
    $161,172 - $205,272
    Income Estimation: 
    $120,254 - $158,147
    Income Estimation: 
    $225,010 - $318,974
    Income Estimation: 
    $111,914 - $153,865
    View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

    Job openings at The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

    The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
    Hired Organization Address Golden, CO Full Time
    Posting Title Postdoctoral Researcher - Nanomaterials and Autonomous Synthetic Chemistry Location CO - Golden Position T...
    The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
    Hired Organization Address Golden, CO Full Time
    Posting Title Researcher III - Water and Wastewater Treatment Analysis Location CO - Golden Position Type Regular Hours ...
    The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
    Hired Organization Address Golden, CO Full Time
    Posting Title Software Asset Manager Location CO - Golden Position Type Regular Hours Per Week Working at NREL The Natio...
    The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
    Hired Organization Address Golden, CO Full Time
    Posting Title Air Quality Specialist Location CO - Golden Position Type Regular Hours Per Week Working at NREL From day ...

    Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Wind Farm Controls Researcher jobs in the Boulder, CO area that may be a better fit.

    Wind Farm Controls Researcher

    National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Boulder, CO

    Strategic Procurement Manager (Wind)

    Scout Clean Energy, Boulder, CO

    AI Assistant is available now!

    Feel free to start your new journey!