Resource and Transmission Planning Modeling and Strategy Staff Researcher

Job Title

Resource and Transmission Planning Modeling and Strategy Staff Researcher

EI - Canada Office, Knoxville, TN, Remote/Home Based

EPRI’s transmission operations and planning team has a strong track record tackling renewable and energy systems integration issues with utilities, TSOs and partners around the world. The successful candidate will join a team of passionate power system planners and modelers.

The successful candidate will perform advanced engineering/scientific analysis with minimal direction and supervision while beginning to demonstrate creativity and ingenuity in providing technical solutions. You will work directly with EPRI staff and have high interaction with members and industry. This position will support EPRI teams to identify, create and transfer to action the tools, methods and experience needed by systems to operate effectively into the future.

- Contribute to and lead research in resource adequacy and/or transmission planning

- Lead smaller projects and work on multiple projects, including contributing to larger projects as part of a team.

- Utilize research and analytical skills to develop or apply new methods or approaches to strategic challenges

- Be able to work with light supervision across an international team

- Support other staff in carrying out projects and communicate findings with members and other stakeholders

The ideal candidate would be someone who has research experience in academia, utilities, research institutes or similar, and has experience describing the issues covered to those with less experience (students, junior staff, etc.). Familiarity with the latest development in the field of renewable or energy systems integration is critical. Experience in conducting studies and presenting insights from analyses of these topics, using relevant software tools, is very helpful.

The candidate should have experience in unit commitment and economic dispatch problems, and be very familiar with resource adequacy studies, be familiar with operations under uncertainty, and have experience modeling wind and solar, as well as energy storage, demand response and similar resources.

Experience presenting and explaining complex topics in front of groups with different experience and familiarity levels is helpful, as is the ability to develop work independently on new topics. Having experience working in large, collaborative public projects is desirable.

You will have the opportunity to work with established experts and with collaborators in a stimulating and innovative environment to tackle key research questions in collaboration with multiple stakeholders. You will have autonomy in project work while collaborating with a broader team, and have input over your hours and schedule in a flexible work environment.

- An advanced degree (Masters or PhD) in engineering, economics, operations research, energy resources, computer science, or a related discipline

- Experience supporting long-range resource planning and/or resource adequacy; market design; or performing significant analysis on similar topics

- Experience using capacity expansion, production cost simulation, or other electric system planning models (e.g. PLEXOS, PyPSA, Spine, CrystalSuperGrid, PSO, etc.); experience developing models is a plus

- Experience conducting quantitative analyses to answer market, policy, and/or technology research questions

- Excellent research and writing skills; strong oral communications skills; ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner. Experience with communicating to varied audiences (executives, stakeholders, regulators, technical, etc.) is preferred.

- Experience with project management; experience with managing projects with multiple staffs and viewpoints is a plus.

- A positive attitude, curious, and comfortable working both collaboratively and independently.

- Experience and interest in developing and contributing to cutting-edge research and communicating transfer of knowledge;

Education

- Bachelor’s Degree in a technical field or equivalent experience required

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

- 4-5 years of engineering experience or comparable work/educational experience required.

- Excellent verbal and written communication skills

- Able to identify strategic issues and develop methods, in a team environment, to design projects to solve important challenges.

- Responsible for the success of individual projects

- Able to work closely with contractors or staff to complete project research

- May participate in multiple projects

- Individual contributor

Please note, we encourage applications from individuals who meet some, but not all, of the criteria listed for an ideal candidate.

The salary range for this position is $107,000 USD to $117,000 USD annually.

This salary range is an estimate, and the actual salary may vary based on various factors, including without limitation applicant's education, experience, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data. The salary may also be adjusted based on applicant's geographic location.

This role is eligible to participate in EPRI’s annual incentive program. The amount of incentive varies and is subject to the terms and conditions of the plan.

This role is eligible to participate in EPRI’s standard employee benefit programs, which currently include the following: medical, dental, vision, 401k, STD/LTD and paid family leave, life and accident insurance, paid time off (flexible vacation, sick leave, and holiday pay).

EPRI participates in E-Verify, an online system operated jointly by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration (SSA). EPRI uses the system to check the work status of new hires by comparing information from the employee's I-9 form against SSA and Department of Homeland Security databases.

EPRI is an equal opportunity employer. EEO/AA/M/F/VETS/Disabled

Together . . . Shaping the Future of Energy.

www.epri.com