Power Systems Engineer

At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments that we refer to as Directorates within the Lab, focused on a specific area of scientific research or other function, with its own leadership team and dedicated budget.

Our Science & Technology directorates include National Security, Earth and Biological Sciences, Physical and Computational Sciences, and Energy and Environment. In addition, we have an Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus.

The Energy and Environment Directorate delivers science and technology solutions for the nation’s biggest energy and environmental challenges. Our more than 1,700 staff support the Department of Energy (DOE), delivering on key DOE mission areas including: modernizing our nation’s power grid to maintain a reliable, affordable, secure, and resilient electricity delivery infrastructure; research, development, validation, and effective utilization of renewable energy and efficiency technologies that improve the affordability, reliability, resiliency, and security of the American energy system;

and resolving complex issues in nuclear science, energy, and environmental management.

The Electricity Infrastructure and Buildings Division, part of the Energy and Environment Directorate, is accelerating the transition to a efficient, resilient, and secure energy system through basic and applied research. We leverage a strong technical foundation in power and energy systems and advanced data analytics to drive innovation, transform markets, and shape energy policy.

The Energy Systems Resilience Group (ESRG) focuses on advancing modeling, simulation, and integration of emerging power system technologies, including inverter-based resources (IBRs), power electronics, advanced grid controls, and distributed energy systems. ESRG’s capabilities span transmission and distribution modeling, electromagnetic transient studies, dynamic and stability analysis, and systems engineering to support reliability and resilience of an increasingly converter-dominated grid.

Lead and contribute to research, design, modeling, integration, and field validation of power system technologies. This role requires strong analytical skills under uncertainty, the ability to synthesize sparse or incomplete data, and willingness to perform hands‑on installation and commissioning of novel devices in research testbeds (e.g., Power Net).

Responsibilities:

• Analyze, model, and simulate power systems, including protection, stability, reliability, and operational characteristics.
• Evaluate design options and system integration plans.
• Select components and equipment based on technical specifications, reliability, and system-level requirements.
• Develop and apply techniques for integrating diverse energy resources (renewables, storage, conventional generation) and points of consumption.
• Perform risk analysis to assess failure modes, disruption likelihood/consequence, and mitigation strategies.
• Contribute to secure and reliable architectures that incorporate communications systems and grid cybersecurity considerations.
• Plan and execute hands‑on installation of novel devices in laboratory and field testbeds; maintain documentation and safety/compliance practices.
• Model inverter‑based resources and power‑electronics interactions at an awareness level sufficient to inform system design and testing.
• Collaborate across multi-disciplinary teams; communicate progress to sponsors and stakeholders; publish and present research outcomes where appropriate.

This position is onsite and requires onsite work in either Richland, WA or Seattle, WA.

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS/BA degree in Electrical Engineering and 5+ years of relevant work experience; OR
• MS/MA in Electrical Engineering and 3+ years of relevant work experience; OR
• PhD in Electrical Engineering with 1+ year of relevant work experience.

Relevant work experience includes planning or operation of electric utility transmission or distribution systems.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with distribution and/or transmission studies including load flow, short‑circuit, stability, and protection.
• Microgrid field experience (generation, energy storage, renewables) and campus‑scale resilience assessments.
• Knowledge of SCADA and grid communications systems; familiarity with cybersecurity implications.
• Awareness of inverter‑based resources, power electronics, and…