Research Engineer

Duties & Responsibilities

• Collaborate in a customer-centric and globally distributed team of engineers, scientists, and mathematicians to invent, design, evaluate, and test distributed intelligence applications for electric utility customers
• Design and implement electric grid simulation use cases, supporting innovative research and real-world utility performance needs
• Contribute to software design and development in support of distributed algorithms and analytics
• Support firmware configuration and integration for laboratory and networked systems
• Perform component troubleshooting, maintenance, and system validation in an accountable and safety-focused manner
• Analyze power system voltage behavior and power flow, translating results into meaningful insights
• Assist with the design, analysis, and testing of distributed algorithms operating at scale across AMI networks
• Work effectively in a controlled, access-restricted laboratory environment, following all electrical and laboratory safety protocols
• Demonstrate an agile and innovative mindset, adapting to evolving research priorities and emerging technologies in the Utilities & Energy sector

Required Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field
• Strong technical and theoretical understanding of electrical engineering and power system fundamentals
• Professional, authentic workplace communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across disciplines
• Prominent ability to solve complex problems, ask thoughtful questions, and take accountability for outcomes
• Strong mathematics and analytical skills
• Foundational proficiency with scripting and programming languages such as MATLAB, C/C++, C#, and Python
• Hands-on experience with oscilloscopes, power analyzers, DAQ systems, multimeters, and other electrical test equipment
• Familiarity with medium-voltage components (e.g., switchgear, breakers, transformers) and mains-voltage electrical systems
• Ability to work on location in Santa Barbara, CA, in a laboratory environment supporting critical research systems

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering
• Related professional or research experience in power systems, distributed systems, or utilities
• Advanced proficiency in Python and/or C#
• Knowledge of fundamental electrical safety practices, including lockout/tagout, PPE, and arc-flash basics
• Experience working with ARM-based systems
• Direct laboratory or field experience handling medium-voltage components and performing work on mains-voltage electrical infrastructure

Benefits

Includes a competitive benefit package including; financial, social, health and wellbeing programs, paid vacation, 401k matching, employee stock purchase program, hybrid work schedule, and more!