Principal Research Engineer

NextEra Analytics offers energy consulting services using industry-leading scientific analysis for planning, siting, forecasting and optimizing all forms of energy projects. Our optimization and analytics platforms integrate open-source technologies to leverage massive, diverse sets of utility operating data. This enables rapid development of operational solutions. Applying expertise in advanced mathematics, data and physical sciences, we solve some of the hardest problems facing the energy industry.

Position Specific Description

We are seeking a Principal Research Engineer to lead transformative R&D initiatives. This role combines deep technical expertise with curiosity, judgment, and leadership. You’ll explore emerging technologies, run rapid experiments, and help scale validated concepts that shape the clean energy future.

As a senior technical leader, you’ll set direction, mentor researchers, and ensure our team continues to operate at the intersection of innovation and impact.

What You’ll Do

- Lead short-cycle, hypothesis-driven experiments to test and validate new ideas.

- Design, prototype, and evaluate emerging technologies, tools, and business models.

- Translate ambiguous, high-potential opportunities into validated concepts for scale.

- Collaborate across disciplines to explore new markets, methods, and energy solutions.

- Use sound judgment to balance exploration with business constraints.

- Mentor engineers and researchers, fostering a culture of curiosity, humility, and responsibility.

- Represent the R&D team internally and externally through thought leadership, publications, and partnerships.

What We Value

- Explore Boldly: See around corners, chase emerging trends, and learn through iteration.

- Build Responsibly: Operate with initiative and independence, but know when to pull others in.

- Work with Judgment: Use common sense, break through blockers, and focus on impact.

- Embrace the Mindset: Thrive in ambiguity, value humility, and collaborate without ego.

Qualifications

- Advanced degree or work experience in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Applied Math, or related field.

- Experience in research and development, with proven leadership in innovative projects.

- Strong expertise in one or more areas relevant to clean energy and analytics (e.g., AI/ML, optimization, power systems, advanced simulation, renewable integration).

- Track record of impactful prototypes and successful product launches.

- Demonstrated ability to work in high-trust, high-autonomy teams.

- Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

Why Join Us

- Be part of a team that explores at the edges of what’s possible in clean energy.

- High-trust, high-autonomy culture where innovation thrives.

- Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits.

- A chance to shape technologies that will accelerate the world’s transition to a sustainable energy future.

Job Overview

This position is responsible for leading the development of algorithms, modeling techniques, and optimization methods that support many aspects of NextEra and FPL business. Employees in this role use knowledge of machine learning, optimization, statistics, and applied mathematics along with abilities in software engineering with a focus on distributed computing and data storage infrastructure (i.e., “Big Data”).

Job Duties & Responsibilities

- Provide thought leadership, set technical strategy, and identify possible uses of data science methods

- Explain methods and results to upper-level executives

- Develop machine learning, optimizations or other modeling solutions

- Oversee related employee work, learn new techniques being developed

- Prepares comprehensive documented observations, analyses and interpretations of results including technical reports, summaries, protocols and quantitative analyses

- Works with big data and distributed computing platforms

- Develops software and contributes to product development

- Performs other job-related duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

- Bachelor’s Degree

- Experience: 6+ years

Preferred Qualifications

- Master’s Degree

- Doctoral Degree

NextEra Energy offers a wide range of benefits to support our employees and their eligible family members. Click here to learn more.

Employee Group: Exempt

Employee Type: Full Time Job Category: Science, Research, and Technology Organization: NextEra Analytics, Inc Relocation Provided: Yes, if applicable

NextEra Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, age, national origin, religion, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetics, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by law.

NextEra Energy provides reasonable accommodation in its application and selection process for qualified individuals, including accommodations related to compliance with conditional job offer requirements, consistent with federal, state, and local laws. Supporting medical or religious documentation will be required where applicable and permitted by applicable law. To request a reasonable accommodation, please send an e-mail to recruiting-coordinator.sharedmailbox@nexteraenergy.com, providing your name, telephone number and the best time for us to reach you. Alternatively, you may call 1-844-694-4748. Please do not use this line to inquire about your application status.

NextEra Energy will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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