Engineer - Energy Efficiency (California)

General Summary

GTI Energy, the nation's leading research, development, and training organization serving energy markets, has an opportunity for an Engineer within the Research & Engineering Group and affiliated with the Heat & Power Business Unit in our California locations.

Why GTI Energy?

GTI Energy offers generous benefits, competitive salaries, career advancement, and the opportunity to work in a professional R&D environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

We are proud of what we do because our work matters. GTI Energy is working toward solving global energy challenges in transitioning to a low-carbon economy. We have a proven track record in producing innovative ideas and commercializing solutions to deliver clean and reliable energy. At GTI Energy, we deliver innovative technology solutions for safe, efficient, and responsible energy.

So, what does that mean for you? You will work in a positive, respectful work culture fostering growth, collaboration, and opportunity. You will be supported by competitive compensation, incentives, and benefits while enjoying purposeful work that drives improvement of delivering clean energy to the world.

Work Location

This position is California-based. While candidates that live in California are preferred, GTI Energy provides relocation assistance for the right candidate.

Primary Responsibilities

The qualified candidate will perform Research, Development, and Demonstration (RD&D) functions under the supervision of senior staff, focused on residential, commercial, and industrial sector technologies. The candidate will be exposed to and work on building envelope technologies, thermal energy storage, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, service water heating, energy-consuming residential appliances, and grid-interactive technologies for residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.

The candidate is expected to take a systematic approach to work on multiple projects, understand and execute individual project goals. The broad exposure will provide the candidate opportunities to develop subject matter expertise in emerging technology areas of their interests. You will assist senior technical staff with new project proposals, support field research and engineering, gather and analyze data, prepare written reports/technical papers, and communicate results to sponsors. The candidate is expected to be able to use spreadsheets, data manipulation tools (for example, Python or R), energy simulation tools, computer aided drawing (CAD) tools and measurement and verification (M&V) data logging tools. Professional development opportunities will be available to learn new software tools, based on project needs and the candidate's interests. The candidate will interact and collaborate with stakeholders from utilities, industry, government agencies, universities, and national laboratories.

The candidate is expected to use existing expertise and develop new skills to perform the following functions:

• Execute experimental and field demonstration work, including designing and implementing field M&V plans, data collection and analysis, and reporting.

• Energy modeling, data reduction, analysis, and visualization, and engineering design/drawing using CAD tools.

• Conduct, coordinate, and report complex research in residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.

• Support efforts to secure new research, development, and demonstration funding.

• Prepare technical documents such as periodic progress reports, project reports, and research publications.

• Communicate technical information and place key results in context for customers, partners, and subcontractors.

• Track and maintain project schedules and budgets at overall and task levels.

• Travel to participate in field site visits, pilot implementations, and industry events.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics

Experience in any of the following areas is a strong plus: (a) hands-on work in a laboratory environment and/or field measurement and verification (b) RD&D experience with residential, commercial and industrial HVAC&R equipment, appliances, water heaters, and/or building envelope technologies, (c) modeling and controls of building equipment, preferable including thermal energy storage, (d) heat exchanger design (heat transfer, fluid flow, and coupled heat and mass transfer), (e) non-vapor compression cooling technologies (e.g., sorption systems), and (f) other areas relevant to developing future building technologies that are efficient and grid-interactive (with onsite power generation and energy storage).

Additional knowledge/skills needed for success include:

• Familiarity with methods of data acquisition, instrumentation, and controls.

• Strong analytical skills and proficiency using tools to perform complex data analysis.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Individuals who are self-motivated and able to work independently with limited guidance.

Education and Experience

• Technical degree in either engineering or science (Mechanical Engineering or related fields are preferred).

• 5+ years of relevant, professional-level work experience after a B.S.; 3+ years of relevant, professional-level experience after a M.S.; 0 years of relevant, professional-level experience after a Ph.D. (Graduate-level research may qualify as relevant work experience).

• Experience with instrumentation, data acquisition, control systems specifications, and data analysis is a plus.

EEO Statement

GTI Energy is committed to developing a barrier-free recruitment process and work environment. If you require any accommodation, please e-mail us at HumanResources@gti.energy and we'll work with you to meet your accessibility needs. You must have legal authorization to work for GTI Energy on your date of hire with no further action required by GTI Energy. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and give consideration to qualified applicants without regard to race, color, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, pregnancy, or genetic information.