Mechanical Engineer Los Angeles, CA

About the position

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to lead research on energy-efficient HVAC, refrigeration, and thermal storage technologies. This role involves working on cutting-edge projects aimed at decarbonizing buildings through innovative technology development and deployment. The successful candidate will collaborate with a diverse team to model, analyze, and commercialize technologies that contribute to a clean energy future.

Responsibilities

• Lead research on energy-efficient HVAC, refrigeration, and thermal storage technologies.
• Model buildings' energy systems using EnergyPlus and OpenStudio.
• Manage building decarbonization stakeholder working groups.
• Model vapor compression cycles and components for HVAC/R systems.
• Conduct computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modeling with Ansys/Fluent.
• Write technical journal articles, conference papers, and reports.
• Present technical work to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Work with the team to bid on funding proposals.

Requirements

• PhD in Mechanical Engineering or relevant field with 4+ years of experience, or a Master's Degree with 7+ years, or a Bachelor's Degree with 9+ years of experience.
• Strong foundation in heat transfer and fluid dynamics modeling.
• Proficient in analyzing and modeling vapor compression cycles and components for HVAC/R systems.
• Excellent technical writing and communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience in project management.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in Matlab/Python or similar scripting languages for data analysis.
• Familiarity with Zero Energy/Carbon building concepts.
• Knowledge of advanced building energy efficiency and decarbonization strategies.
• Licensed Professional Engineer status.
• Experience in designing HVAC/R systems.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Pension benefits
• 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match
• Life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
• Personal time off (PTO) and sick leave
• Paid holidays
• Tuition reimbursement