Posting Title

Electrochemical Testing Build and Maintenance Technician II-IV

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Location

CO - Golden

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Position Type

Regular

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Hours Per Week

40

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COVID-19 Safety Protocols

Employment at NREL is contingent upon your compliance with all NREL and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) safety protocols and mitigation efforts directed at the COVID-19 pandemic.

Working at NREL
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

From day one at NREL, you’ll connect with coworkers driven by the same mission to save the planet. By joining an organization that values a supportive, inclusive, and flexible work environment, you’ll have the opportunity to engage through our eight employee resource groups, numerous employee-driven clubs, and learning and professional development classes.

NREL supports inclusive, diverse, and unbiased hiring practices that promote creativity and innovation. By collaborating with organizations that focus on diverse talent pools, reaching out to underrepresented demographics, and providing an inclusive application and interview process, our Talent Acquisition team aims to hear all voices equally. We strive to attract a highly diverse workforce and create a culture where every employee feels welcomed and respected and they can be their authentic selves.

Our planet needs us! Learn about NREL’s critical objectives, and see how NREL is focused on saving the planet.

Note: Research suggests that potential job seekers may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage anyone who is interested in this opportunity to apply. We seek dedicated people who believe they have the skills and ambition to succeed at NREL to apply for this role.

Job Description

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado, is the nation's only dedicated laboratory for research, development, and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. A Technician II-IV position is available in the Materials, Chemical, and Computational Sciences Directorate to lead the build out and maintenance of test stands and supporting equipment to be utilized for electrolysis, fuel cell and CO2 reduction testing. You will be part of a team of scientists, engineers, postdoctoral researchers, and students, working a collaborative team.

NREL is looking for a senior skilled, fully proficient individual with demonstrated knowledge and skills beyond the journeyman level to apply their extensive knowledge and skills to complete a wide range of tasks. Candidate should possess a comprehensive understanding of technical principles, theories, and concepts in the field and have general knowledge of other related disciplines. Strong communication, interpersonal, project management and customer relations skills are required. Candidate should have the ability to develop technical solutions to complex problems as well as coordinate and participate the development of final products.

The job duties of this role include but are not limited to:

• Maintain, trouble shoot, and in some cases build, fuel cell or electrolyzer test stations and electrochemical testing equipment, including electrical and electronic devices and compressed gas and water plumbing 
• Perform equipment validation and calibration activities to ensure that laboratory equipment is operating within standard performance guidelines
• Assist NREL researchers in designing, fabricating and installing specialty equipment related to fuel cell, electrolysis or CO2 reduction research
• Assist NREL researchers in trouble shooting and operating laboratory equipment
• Assist NREL researchers in operating laboratory equipment and performing tasks related to fuel cell, electrolysis or CO2 reduction research
• Prepare for and participate in safety reviews and walkthroughs
• Understand all NREL safety policies relevant to setting up, operating and maintaining fuel cell and electrochemical test equipment
• Understand all NREL safety policies relevant to setting up, operating and maintaining fuel cell and electrochemical test equipment

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Basic Qualifications
For Research Technician II
High School Diploma or equivalent and 4 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant Associate's Degree or certification program of comparable scope and 2 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience.
For Research Technician Level III
High School Diploma or equivalent and 7 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant Associate's Degree or certification program of comparable scope and 5 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience.
For Research Technician IV
High School Diploma or equivalent and 10 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant Associate's Degree or certification program of comparable scope and 8 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience.

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Additional Required Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

• Work independently will little to no direct supervision of NREL research staff
• Maintain, trouble shoot, and in some cases build, fuel cell or electrolyzer test stations and electrochemical testing equipment, including electrical and electronic devices and compressed gas and water plumbing
• Perform equipment validation and calibration activities to ensure that laboratory equipment is operating within standard performance guidelines
• Contribute to management of all aspects related to lab operation
• Keep laboratories organized in a safe and clean fashion
• Experience in maintaining and building laboratory equipment that include electric/electronic components, flowing pressurized gases and electrochemical equipment
• Understanding of basic flow, temperature, pressure, and humidity control devices, such as digital and analog mass flow controllers, thermocouples and heating tapes/pads, solenoid and other valves, pressure gauges and transducers, and PID controllers
• Understanding of plumbing for water and compressed gases
• Understanding of basic electrical wiring and electronic devices
• Basic understanding and experience with NFPA 70, NFPA 70E and NFPA 79
• Basic understanding of laboratory electronics such as power supplies, multimeters, source meters, and electronic loads
• Ability to read and construct basic circuit diagrams and process plumbing diagrams
• Experience in trouble shooting equipment for electrical issues such as interrupted supplied power or signal flow, and mechanical issues such as gas leaks.
• Experience in creating blueprints drawings for prototype workpieces such as sample holders using SolidWorks or other CAD software
• Experience in drilling/punching holes and using hand tools and other machine shop tools.
• Experience in using computers specifically standard office type programs (excel, word, power point, origin) and equipment controlling software (LabVIEW).
• Experience in wet and/or electrochemical laboratory
• Experience with electrochemical equipment such as potentiostat/galvanostat and frequency response analyzers
• Qualified electrical worker status or recent completion of a NFPA 70E training

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Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)
Job Profile: Research Technician IV / Annual Salary Range: $60,400 - $99,700

Job Profile: Research Technician II / Annual Salary Range: $46,600 - $74,600

Job Profile: Research Technician III / Annual Salary Range: $52,500 - $86,600

NREL takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, as well as the position's work location, 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

Submission Guidelines

Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.

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EEO Policy

NREL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

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