Electrical Engineer 3

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Richland (WA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, WA seeks a mid-career Electrical Engineer to support research, development, and deployment activities focused on power generation, hydropower, and pumped storage technologies.

The role involves collaboration with engineers, scientists, project managers, and external partners to address complex electrical power system challenges in critical utility infrastructure.

Qualifications

• Mid-career Electrical Engineer with focus on power generation, hydropower, and pumped storage technologies.
• Hands-on field construction, installation, commissioning, or plant modernization experience.
• Adaptable problem-solvers with strong understanding of electrical and control systems in utility infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Support research, development, and deployment activities focused on power generation, hydropower, and pumped storage technologies for federal and state stakeholders.

Job description

Overview

At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments that we refer to as Directorates within the Lab, focused on a specific area of scientific research or other function, with its own leadership team and dedicated budget.

Our Science & Technology directorates include National Security, Earth and Biological Sciences, Physical and Computational Sciences, and Energy and Environment. In addition, we have an Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus.

The Energy and Environment Directorate delivers science and technology solutions for the nation’s biggest energy and environmental challenges. Our more than 1,700 staff support the Department of Energy (DOE), delivering on key DOE mission areas including: modernizing our nation’s power grid to maintain a reliable, affordable, secure, and resilient electricity delivery infrastructure; research, development, validation, and effective utilization of renewable energy and efficiency technologies that improve the affordability, reliability, resiliency, and security of the American energy system; and resolving complex issues in nuclear science, energy, and environmental management.

The Earth Systems Science Division, part of the Energy and Environment Directorate, provides leadership and solutions that advance Earth system opportunities for energy systems and national security. We are a multidisciplinary division connected by a shared commitment to innovate and collaborate towards solving complex problems in the dynamic Earth system.

Responsibilities

The Operational Systems Engineering group within the Earth Systems Science Division seeks a mid-career Electrical Engineer to support research, development, and deployment activities focused on power generation, hydropower, and pumped storage technologies. This position supports projects sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydropower and Hydrokinetics Office, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, and other federal and state stakeholders. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with engineers, scientists, project managers, and external partners to address the complex technical and operational challenges facing electrical power systems in critical utility infrastructure.

We are looking for a versatile engineer with strong foundational experience in either electrical power systems or industrial control systems (ICS), paired with hands‑on experience in field construction, installation, commissioning, or plant modernization. You do not need to be an expert in every domain; rather, we value adaptable problem-solvers who understand how electrical and control