Post Undergraduate (Fixed term) Intern – Electrical Engineering

National Laboratory of the Rockies; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 40,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

National Laboratory of the Rockies in Boulder, CO invites applicants for a fixed-term Undergraduate Intern position in Electrical Engineering. The 40-hour workweek provides hands-on exposure to marine energy research, power electronics, and control methods at a premier energy research facility.

The intern will assist in simulations, perform design calculations for passive components and converter solutions, and implement control methods including MPPT.

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a masters degree or PhD in power electronics or power systems.
• Some experience with MATLAB and MATLAB SimuLink or relevant real-time simulation software.
• Fundamental knowledge of power electronics design or electric drivetrain technology.
• Fundamental knowledge of typical control methods and implementation thereof.

Responsibilities

• Assist in developing simulations for power electronic converter topologies.
• Perform design calculations for component sizing of passive circuit elements, operating specifications.
• Implement control methods for power capture and power conditioning, e.g., maximum power point tracking.

Education

Masters or PhD in power electronics or power systems

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Job description

Posting Title

Post Undergraduate (Fixed term) Intern – Electrical Engineering

Location

CO - Boulder

Position Type

Intern (Fixed Term)

Hours Per Week

40

Working at NLR

NLR’s 305-acre Flatirons Campus is the nation’s premier wind energy, water power, and grid integration research facility. Nestled south of Boulder, Colorado, and north of NLR’s main South Table Mountain campus, Flatirons Campus sits adjacent to the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge and countless acres of open space and parks with stunning views of the Flatirons rock formations.

Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NLR stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth.

At NLR, you'll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.

Job Description

The Water Power Technology Validation group performs research to advance wave energy, tidal energy, ocean current energy, riverine energy, and ocean thermal gradient energy technologies (i.e., marine energy technologies) - see https://www.nlr.gov/water/marine-energy for more information. In this pursuit we work closely with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), industry partners, and academic institutions. The group’s work involves the development of numerical design, control, and optimization software tools, developing new and innovative methods of capturing marine energy, performing laboratory testing, and supporting open-ocean testing.

• Assist in developing simulations for power electronic converter topologies.
• Perform design calculations for component sizing of passive circuit elements, operating specifications and evaluating off-the-shelf converter solutions.
• Implement control methods for power capture and power conditioning, e.g., maximum power point tracking.

The hired candidate will have the opportunity to work on- and familiarize themselves with a wide range of marine energy applications, while developing their core skillset and gaining practical experience. There is also the potential for publishing their contributions and work done during the internship.

Basic Qualifications

Minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.

Undergraduate: Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a bachelor’s degree program from an accredited institution.

Post Undergraduate: Earned a bachelor’s degree within the past 12 months. Eligible for an internship period of up to one year.

Graduate: Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a master’s degree program from an accredited institution.

Post Graduate: Earned a master’s degree within the past 12 months. Eligible for an internship period of up to one year.

Graduate + PhD: Completed master’s degree and enrolled as PhD student from an accredited institution.

Please Note

• Applicants are responsible for uploading official or unofficial school transcripts, as part of the application process.

• If selected for position, a letter of recommendation will be required as part of the hiring process.
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a masters degree or PhD in power electronics or power systems.
• Some experience with Matlab and Matlab SimuLink or relevant real-time simulation software.
• Fundamental knowledge of power electronics design or electric drivetrain technology.
• Fundamental knowledge of typical control methods and implementation thereof.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hardware-in-the-loop software and testing experience would be advantageous, e.g., Typhoon HIL, RSCAD (RTDS) etc.

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

Job Profile: / Annual Salary Range: $39,600 - $63,400

NLR 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; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; and sick leave (where required by law). NLR 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. Internships projected to be less than 20 hours per week are not eligible for medical, dental, or vision benefits.

• Based on eligibility rules

Badging Requirement

NLR is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation. Intern assignments extending beyond six months will be subject to this requirement.

Drug Free Workplace

NLR is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.

If you are offered employment at NLR, 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.

Equal Opportunity 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, domestic partner 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.

Reasonable Accommodations

E-Verify www.dhs.gov/E-Verify For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish. E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This business uses E-Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce.