Researcher III - Material characterization and system development for hydrogen capture, storage, and delivery at scale

Description

The Chemistry & Nanoscience Center at NREL has an opening for a researcher to support R&D within the HyMARC consortium that is dedicated to developing clean, low-cost materials-based hydrogen storage systems that exceed the capabilities of physical storage (700 bar pressurized gas and liquid hydrogen) and meet U.

S. Department of Energy (DOE) targets for stationery and transportation applications (). The position primarily involves designing and executing experiments to evaluate materials for specific hydrogen capture and storage applications at scale, designing and executing experiments to evaluate prototype system designs, and contributing to prototype design and build.

Understanding the complexities of moving materials from lab scale to prototype scale is critical, including challenges with safety, heat management, and engineering systems to meet specific kinetic requirements for sorption processes.

The successful candidate will be able to develop creative solutions to the complex technical challenges and design experiments to robustly evaluate proposed approaches.

Job Duties

• Develop technical approaches for at scale hydrogen capture / storage systems.
• Devise robust experimental approaches for evaluating materials and engineering approaches to hydrogen capture / storage at scale.
• Design and execute Sieverts, thermal conductivity, and calorimetry experiments, including in-depth data analysis, for hydrogen storage projects.
• Experimental design to collect data on material properties under conditions representative of specific hydrogen storage applications.
• Equipment modification to collect data at conditions representative of specific hydrogen storage applications.
• Modification of data analysis software when needed.
• Assist with troubleshooting and repair of equipment.
• Coordinate and monitor the research activities of junior personnel
• Mentor junior personnel
• Contribute to building collaborations with other national labs, industry, and academia and to develop research proposals or secure other funding sources.
• Proven ability to secure funding
• Proven research contributions
• Research experience with materials and systems beyond lab scale for gas sorption processes
• Experience with Sieverts measurements, calorimetry and / or in situ / in operando spectroscopy measurements
• Material characterization experience
• Experience with equipment modification
• Ability to program in at least one language (Python or LabView preferred)
• Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Strong self-motivation, ability to work on collaborative projects, ability to prioritize and balance different types of concurrent tasks, strong organization skills, attention to details
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Strong written, verbal, team, interpersonal and communication skills.

Basic Qualifications

Relevant Master's Degree . Or, relevant Bachelor's Degree and 2 or more years of experience . General knowledge and application of scientific technical standards, principles, theories, concepts and techniques.

Training in team, task or project leadership responsibilities. Intermediate abilities and knowledge of practices and techniques.

Beginning experience in project management. Good technical writing, interpersonal and communication skills.

Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

Candidates should have at least two or more of the following :

• Experience with equipment automation regarding integration of hardware and software
• Experience with thermal management for custom equipment
• Proven skills in troubleshooting and repairing complex mechanical and electrical systems
• Experience with designing instruments for use at cryogenic temperatures
• Materials characterization skills such as BET, TEM, XRD, XRF, TPD, and adsorption measurements using a Sieverts apparatus.
• Experience with vacuum systems
• Experience with high pressure systems (200 bar)
• Experience with gas adsorption instruments
• Experience with mass spectroscopy systems
• Machine shop and / or mechanical design experience
• Experience with complex fluid dynamic modeling
• Experience with cad designs

Job Application Submission Window

The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.

Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)

Job Profile : Researcher II / Annual Salary Range : $73,200 - $120,800

NREL 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 Summary

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short and long-term disability insurance; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*;

life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; paid holidays; and tuition reimbursement*.

NREL 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. Limited-term positions are not eligible for long-term disability or tuition reimbursement.

Based on eligibility rules

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If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana.

If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

Submission Guidelines

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