Graduate Internship - Power Grid Operation & Optimization (3-12 months)

Posting Title Graduate Internship - Power Grid Operation & Optimization (3-12 months) Location CO - Golden Position Type Intern (Fixed Term) Hours Per Week 40 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 Grid Automation and Controls Group of the Power Systems and Engineering Center (PSEC) at NLR is looking for an exceptional Graduate or Ph.D. Graduate student to support research in power grid operation and optimization. We are looking for a student intern who has a solid background in power system modeling, operation, and optimization. The ideal candidate is expected to have strong experience in understanding power system operations and energy management topics, and developing optimization models and/or data-driven controls that are related to at least one of the following topics: Developing energy management strategies related to ADMS, DERMS, microgrid controls, home energy management systems Developing optimization schemes or data-driven controls for grid reliability and resilience Developing grid automation and control schemes 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. 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 Relevant Master or Ph.D. candidate in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science or related fields. Experience in power system modeling, optimization, and control Experience in at least one of the power system software tools including OpenDSS, PSCAD, PSS/E Experience in at least one of the optimization solvers and platforms such as CPLEX, CVXPY, Pyomo, GAMS Proficiency in Matlab or Python programming Preferred Qualifications Familiar with demand response, virtual power plant, DER management Familiar with grid resilience Familiar with optimization solvers and packages (e.g., GAMS, Gurobi, CPLEX) Proficiency in programming R&D work related to LLM/agentic AI experience is a plus. Excellent writing and verbal communication skills. 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 Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week) $51,200 - $81,900. 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 medical, dental, and vision insurance 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match* 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. 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 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. Additional Information About NLR The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for critical minerals, energy innovation, and energy security. With locations in Golden and Boulder, Colorado, Fairbanks, Alaska, and a satellite office in Washington, D.C., NLR bridges foundational research with practical applications to develop and bring to scale new energy materials and technologies that lower energy costs, drive economic growth, and deliver abundant and reliable energy. #J-18808-Ljbffr NLR