Nrel - Golden, CO
posted 3 days ago
About the position
NREL's Power Systems Engineering Center (PSEC) works on all aspects of grid integration of advanced energy technologies. Within PSEC, the Integrated Devices and Systems group focuses on fast timescale challenges related to integration of high levels of inverter-based resources (IBRs), using techniques including power hardware-in-the-loop experimentation, power electronics, phasor-domain dynamic modeling, electromagnetic transient (EMT) modeling, grid integration standards, advanced protection, and advanced controls including grid-forming inverter controls, etc. We often lead research in NREL's power labs including the Energy Systems Integration Facility and the Flatirons Campus. We work closely with industry partners and leading academic researchers to identify solutions for the rapidly evolving power system.
Responsibilities
- Contribute to advancing grid-connected converter design and control technologies
- Develop control techniques for high-power converters in renewable energy applications, such as cascaded multilevel grid-connected converters (CHB-DAB and MMCs) and conventional two or three-level converters
- Analyze novel grid-forming control followed by software and hardware validation
- Develop module-level control and converter-level control, as well as plant-level control for grid supports and additional functionalities, such as droop control and grid-forming control
- Design grid-forming inverter controls for non-ideal operating conditions, such as unbalanced network/grid or fault conditions
- Collaborate with research team and industry stakeholders
Requirements
- Minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average
- Must be a Ph.D. Student in electrical engineering or related field
- Demonstrated knowledge or experience in Power Electronics Design and Control (research experience in microgrids, cascaded multilevel converters, or multiple inverter coordination is highly preferred)
- Software skills: MATLAB/Simulink SimPowerSystems, PLECS, PSIM, or other power electronics circuit software simulation tools
- Excellent writing and communications skills and ability to present technical results to wide audience
Nice-to-haves
- Experience in power converter hardware prototyping and debugging
- Power electronics converter firmware development experience
- Texas Instruments DSP experience including Code Composer Studio and/or Code Generation Environment
- Experience in hardware-in-the-loop testing
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match
- Sick leave (where required by law)
- Performance-, merit-, and achievement-based awards that include a monetary component
- Potential eligibility for relocation expense reimbursement
