Real-time power system modeling and simulation internship

About the Role

The Power Systems Engineering Center (PSEC) at the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) is inviting applications for internship positions to work in the area of modern power systems with high-level of inverter-based resources (IBR). This position will perform power system real-time modeling and simulation and use NLR's large-scale digital real time simulation capability. This work will be conducted at NLR's Flatiron Campus. The researcher should have knowledge of power system real-time simulation using RTDS and IBR modeling.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical analysis related to power electronics and power systems control of inverter-based resources, such as battery energy storage systems, and large industrial drives.
• Work under supervision to build power system with real-time EMT simulation considering the integration of GTFPGA or GTSOC units.
• Integrating, testing, and using user-written "black box" models in PSCAD and RSCAD for solar inverters, battery energy storage systems (BESS), or other advanced power electronic based systems.
• Evaluate studies that examine the impact of high percentage of inverter-based resources on power systems.
• Writing and publishing results of analysis in peer-reviewed journals and technical reports.
• Follow all Environmental, Safety, and Health policies to ensure and maintain a safe working environment.

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
• Undergraduate: Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a bachelor's degree program from an accredited institution.
• Post Undergraduate: Earned a bachelor's degree within the past 12 months. Eligible for an internship period of up to one year.
• Graduate: Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a master's degree program from an accredited institution.
• Post Graduate: Earned a master's degree within the past 12 months. Eligible for an internship period of up to one year.
• Graduate + PhD: Completed master's degree and enrolled as PhD student from an accredited institution.

Applicants are responsible for uploading official or unofficial school transcripts, as part of the application process. If selected for position, a letter of recommendation will be required as part of the hiring process. Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Attributes

• Experience with power system EMT software tools such as PSCAD, RSCAD, MATLAB/Simulink, or other EMT simulation tools.
• Solid knowledge using RSCAD for power system modeling, ideally experience with using GTFPGAs and GTSOCs.
• Solid knowledge on the modeling and control of inverter-based resources.
• Knowledge of co-simulation between PSCAD-RSCAD and PSS/E-PSCAD.
• Understand RTDS modeling and HIL testing.
• Ability to present technical results to multi-stakeholder audiences.

Pay and Benefits

• Annual Salary Range (full-time 40 hours/week): $51,200 – $81,900. NLR takes into consideration a candidate's education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee's salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.
• Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; and sick leave (where required by law). NLR employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement-based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement. Internships projected to be less than 20 hours per week are not eligible for medical, dental, or vision benefits. Based on eligibility rules.