Research Agricultural Engineer/Mechanical Engineer/Electrical Engineer/Physicist

$72,553 - $186,854/Yr

Agricultural Research Service - Las Cruces, NM

Part-time,Full-time - Entry Level

Las Cruces, NM

Administration of Economic Programs

About the position

This position is located with the USDA, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Plains Area, Cotton Gin Research Unit in Las Cruces, NM. The role involves serving as a Research Agricultural Engineer, Research Mechanical Engineer, Research Electrical Engineer, or Research Physicist, focusing on applied research to develop systems-level concepts and tools for agrivoltaics in agricultural settings.

Responsibilities

• Lead and collaborate on personal research to design and develop optimized agrivoltaic installations, best management practices, and decision support tools for renewable power generation and agricultural production.
• Conduct collaborative research to improve energy utilization and efficiency in agricultural processing systems.
• Develop a stakeholder base and collaborations with scientists and industry professionals to enhance the research program.
• Create research plans and conduct tests in various environments, transferring technical solutions to meet stakeholder needs.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret scientific research to develop new knowledge and report findings at conferences and meetings.
• Prepare written manuscripts to document scientific research for publication in professional articles and peer-reviewed journals.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship or U.S. National status is required.
• Degree in physics or related field with at least 24 semester hours in physics, or equivalent education and experience.
• Specialized experience in engineering or physical science research, with increasing levels of responsibility for GS-11 to GS-15.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in agrivoltaics or renewable energy systems.
• Familiarity with agricultural processing systems and energy efficiency practices.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package as a federal employee.
• Eligibility for telework up to four days per week based on position duties.
• Potential for flexible work arrangements.