Research Engineer - Machine learning applications to power system operations

Overview Posting Title: Research Engineer - Machine learning applications to power system operations. Location: CO - Golden. Position Type: Regular. Hours Per Week: 40. NLR (National Laboratory of the Rockies) is a leading energy systems research laboratory. The Grid Automation and Controls Group of the Power Systems and Engineering Center (PSEC) seeks a researcher with a solid background in machine learning (ML)/artificial intelligence (AI) and knowledge of power systems. The role focuses on research projects using ML/AI to solve power system problems, with emphasis on Large Language Models (LLM) and agentic AI. Strong programming and software development skills are preferred. Knowledge of power systems is a plus. The successful candidate will conduct research with limited guidance and collaborate with project PIs and other researchers. Responsibilities Perform research on ML/AI methods applied to power system problems, with emphasis on LLMs and agentic AI. Develop and validate software and modeling approaches; contribute to project goals with limited supervision. Collaborate with project PIs and other power system researchers within the project team. Basic Qualifications Relevant Master’s Degree or relevant Bachelor’s Degree with 2+ years of experience. General knowledge of engineering technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, and techniques. Experience in team, task or project leadership responsibilities and in project management. Good writing, interpersonal, and communication skills. Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date. Additional Required Qualifications MS in computer science, electrical engineering, computer engineering, or related fields (as applicable). Experience in natural language processing, generative AI, large language models, foundation models, etc. Strong programming skills; experience with high performance computing and Linux systems. Preferred Qualifications In-depth knowledge of graph neural networks and reinforcement learning. Proven research experience related to power systems and power system optimization. Fundamental knowledge of neural networks and state-of-the-art learning algorithms applied to complex systems. Proficiency in Python and ML/RL packages; strong publication record. Job Application and Salary The anticipated application submission window is up to 30 days. Job Profile: Researcher II; Annual Salary Range: $76,600 - $126,400. NLR considers education, training, experience, and other factors when determining salary. As required, the organization complies with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. Benefits and Standards Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; disability and life insurance; 403(b) with employer match; PTO and sick leave; paid holidays; and tuition reimbursement (where eligible). NLR is a Drug Free Workplace. Pre-employment drug testing is required and may include marijuana in certain jurisdictions. Badging requirement: ability to obtain/maintain a federal PIV card per DOE/HSPD-12; background investigation. Application Submission Guidelines Applicants must submit an application form for each position. Please include a cover letter and resume with each application. Equal Opportunity Employer statements apply; accommodation requests are available as needed. #J-18808-Ljbffr SwiftCruit