Working at NLR

NLR is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development.

Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NLR stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth.

At NLR, you'll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.

Job Description

As a member of the Architect and Engineering Support (AES) team, this Facilities Electrical Engineer will work on multiple projects concurrently at NLR's two main research campuses: South Table Mountain Campus (STM) and Flatirons Campus (FC). The engineer will provide power distribution designs, use associated electrical modeling software, and assist other engineers, project managers, and the facilities CAD team to ensure that the project electrical design and associated construction documentation conform to NLR's requirements and applicable building codes. The primary role of the Facility Electrical Engineer is to be the subject matter expert for all infrastructure electrical systems at NLR.

The engineer will work collaboratively with stakeholders across NLR on a portfolio of electrical projects ranging from substations, to laboratory space, to traditional office space. The AES team consists of professional architects; mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and controls, and civil engineers; CAD operators; and cost estimators providing in-house support for NLR as part of the larger Site Operations center.

While project work on both research campuses is anticipated, this position is based in Golden at the STM Campus. The successful candidate can expect a hybrid work environment with the expectation of 50% on-site work at STM, and 50% work from home.

Responsibilities:

Campus Planning

• Collaborate with project stakeholders to develop scope definition, statements of work, and cost estimates for projects requiring electrical engineering review and other assistance.
• Contribute to the electrical engineering team with regular updates to Design Guidelines, Master Construction Specifications, and engineering best practices related to electrical engineering.
• Collaborate with researchers to define project scope and budget for future project requests.
• Stop work where necessary to protect users, NLR personnel, Subcontractors, and the facility itself.

Project Support

• Review external and internal project drawings, specifications, and calculations at designated progress intervals or as needed for project requirements.
• Interpret and apply codes, job procedures, standards, and specifications.
• Review RFIs, ASIs, shop drawings, product submittals and coordination drawings related to electrical engineering.
• Attend construction meetings, site observations, and final punch walks, providing technical guidance as needed.
• Maintain knowledge of legal and ethical engineering issues, practices, governing laws, regulations, codes, and standards.
• Respond to common inquiries from stakeholders, regulatory agencies, and members of the research community.
• Provide internal design related to electrical engineering through work orders.
• Prepare internal project electrical specifications and summaries for front end design packages.
• Perform commissioning of internal design on the field.
• Perform construction field surveys of electrical conditions and redline documents
• Interface with other engineering design disciplines.
• Provide field assistance as required.
• Work with the facility electrical engineers to develop project drawings for electrical layouts, schematics and installation details.
• Review vendor drawings and support construction, project checkout and startup.

Campus Operations

• Assist personnel with the development of lab level procedures and hazard assessments where needed.
• Maintain/update the campus electrical model.
• Assist in maintaining NLR’s electrical studies using the existing databases.
• Perform minor system updates to short circuit, arc flash, coordination studies using SKM, and may include field surveys.
• Provide CAD assistance including record keeping and organization of electrical drawings and as built drawings using AutoCAD and or Revit.
• Follow all ESH&Q policies and procedures to ensure and maintain a safe working environment.
• Assist with onsite electricians to review infrastructure electrical systems operations. 

Basic Qualifications

Relevant Bachelor's Degree and 5 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant Master's Degree and 3 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant PhD or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant JD or equivalent relevant education/experience. Complete understanding and wide application of technical principles, theories and concepts in the field. General knowledge of other related disciplines. Considerable knowledge of laws, regulations, principles, procedures and practices related to specific field. Strong leadership, project management and problem solving skills. Ability to use various computer software programs.

Eligibility requirements: This position will require access to Controlled Unclassified Information which may include restricted dissemination requirements based on citizenship. As a result, applicants may be excluded from consideration based on citizenship in accordance with DOE O 471.7, Controlled Unclassified Information.

Additional Required Qualifications

• Prior experience related to facility engineering work including design, construction, observation, utility coordination, stakeholder management for R&D, commercial, or industrial facilities. Prior experience working on projects in a laboratory, hospital, and/or research setting is a plus.
• Experience managing electrical engineering designs.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of Colorado or ability to obtain registration within 12 months.
• Broad knowledge of facility and building systems and structures, relevant building codes, and supporting facility and site infrastructure (utility distribution systems, site improvements, etc.) for commercial and industrial facilities.
• Knowledge of standard electrical construction techniques and practices including experience with field observation of construction activities, engineering technical procedures, principles, theories, and concepts.
• Knowledge of laws, regulations, principles, procedures, and practices of electrical engineering.
• Strong critical thinking, decision making and problem solving/conflict resolution skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to effectively present information to internal and external project stakeholders.
• Ability to use standard workplace and specialized software applications, including computer aided design systems (e.g. AutoCAD, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, etc.).
• Demonstrated experience in campus planning, design, and electrification.
• 5+ years of professional experience as an electrical engineer at a private engineering firm or as in-house engineering support, or similar experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience working on government projects or in federal spaces.
• Prior experience with substation design and operation.