Posting Title

Graduate (3-6 Month) Intern – Power System Reliability, Dynamics, and Integrated Planning

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Location

CO - Golden

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Position Type

Intern (Fixed Term)

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Hours Per Week

40

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Working at NLR

NLR is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development.

Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NLR stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth.

At NLR, you'll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.

Job Description

The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) is seeking a motivated Power System Planning Intern to join the Grid Planning and Analysis Center (GPAC) within the Strategic Energy Analysis and Decision Sciences (SEADS) directorate. SEADS leads cutting-edge energy analysis and grid research, applying advanced modeling and simulation to design, plan, and optimize distribution and bulk power systems, with a focused emphasis on improving the reliability, resilience, and affordability of the power system.

As part of GPAC, you’ll support applied research in electric power systems planning by utilizing integrated planning modeling techniques that include power-flow modeling, dynamic modeling, and optimized distribution and bulk power systems, with a focused emphasis on improving the reliability, and resilience of the power system. This work aims to address challenges posed by a high percentage of Inverter-Based Resources (IBRs) and Distributed Energy Resources (DER), and to prioritize investments that enhance grid reliability and resilience.

Key Responsibilities:

• Run simulations and analyze data for large-scale power system models

• Develop modeling and analysis tools, optimization formulation, dynamic simulation techniques, and co-simulation frameworks, as well as clear, compelling visualizations to communicate research findings.

• Build and validate large-scale power system models, specifically focusing on dynamic and steady-state generation, transmission, and distribution models.

• Contribute to reliability studies, including examining interactions between DER and bulk grid dynamics, and the impacts of natural hazards on distribution assets.

• Build tools to pull, clean, process, and integrate diverse datasets into existing workflows.

• Strengthen GPAC’s capabilities in transmission and distribution planning, data center integration, and dynamic/reliability analysis through data processing and visualization.

• Contribute to ongoing projects by delivering technically rigorous and accessible insights for stakeholders.

• Follow all Environment, Safety, and Health policies and procedures to maintain a safe working environment.

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Basic Qualifications

Minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.

Undergraduate: Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a bachelor’s degree program from an accredited institution.
Post Undergraduate: Earned a bachelor’s degree within the past 12 months. Eligible for an internship period of up to one year.

Graduate: Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a master’s degree program from an accredited institution.
Post Graduate: Earned a master’s degree within the past 12 months. Eligible for an internship period of up to one year.
Graduate + PhD: Completed master’s degree and enrolled as PhD student from an accredited institution.

Please Note:
• Applicants are responsible for uploading official or unofficial school transcripts, as part of the application process.
• If selected for position, a letter of recommendation will be required as part of the hiring process.
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

• This position will require access to sensitive information, Government facilities, and/or Government information systems restricted to individuals with US citizenship. Only applicants that are US Citizens at the time of application will be considered.

• General knowledge and application of power systems planning concepts including experience with at least one of the following: power-flow/RMS/EMT software tools, PowerWorld, PSS/E, OpenDSS, Plexos, DIgSILENT, PSCAD, or Sienna

• Demonstrated experience in developing solutions in high-level programming languages (e.g., Python or Julia), including at least one programming language relevant to simulation, data analysis, visualization, optimization, dynamic modeling, and/or high-performance computing.

• A foundational understanding of power system dynamics, co-simulation (e.g., HELICS), and modeling for distribution systems, DER & IBR, and natural hazards.

• Strong writing, interpersonal, and communication skills.

• Ability to work independently and in team settings.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with code version control using Git/GitHub.

• Experience with open-source software development in Python.

• Experience with NLR-developed tools for energy modeling, simulation, and analysis.

• Experience with statistic analysis, metrics, etc.

• Experience with DER and IBR interconnection standards, such as IEEE 2800 or IEEE 1547

• Experience automating, conducting, and visualizing engineering analyses for large-scale grids, including N-1/N-k contingencies, frequency response, and stability criteria.

• Experience developing and validating dynamic and transient models for grid-forming and grid-following IBRs.

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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: / Annual Salary Range: $44,500 - $71,200

NLR 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; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; and sick leave (where required by law). NLR 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. Internships projected to be less than 20 hours per week are not eligible for medical, dental, or vision benefits.

* Based on eligibility rules

Badging Requirement

NLR 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. Intern assignments extending beyond six months will be subject to this requirement.

Drug Free Workplace

NLR 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 NLR, 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 NLR 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.

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Equal Opportunity 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.

Reasonable Accommodations

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