Power System Research & Development Engineer (Contractor)

Total Energies; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

TotalEnergies invites a Power System Research & Development Engineer to advance the design of the intelligence behind the future power grid. You will operate at the intersection of power systems, data science, optimization, and AI to transform research into practical tools guiding renewables and flexible assets at scale.

With 3+ years in power systems or electricity markets, you will develop algorithms for asset dispatch, portfolio optimization, and market analytics while collaborating with

Qualifications

• MS degree in Electrical Engineering, Energy & Power Systems, Computer Science/Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering, or related field
• 3+ years of experience in power systems or electricity markets (modeling, optimization, forecasting, analytics)
• Strong quantitative background in statistics, data science, and optimization
• Proficiency in machine learning techniques

Responsibilities

• Lead Innovation in Power System Intelligence
• Serve as a subject‑matter expert in power system forecasting, optimization, and market analytics for internal teams
• Develop machine learning, AI, and optimization algorithms to improve asset dispatch, portfolio management, and system efficiency
• Apply advanced statistics, time-series analysis, and data science techniques to unlock insights from complex electricity market data
• Build tools that scale: design and develop automated modeling and analytics tools used across multiple electricity markets
• Support the industrialization and production deployment of research tools in collaboration with cross-functional teams
• Test, maintain, and evolve codebases to ensure research outputs become reliable business solutions
• Collaborate at the frontiers of energy research with internal teams, labs and external partners
• Contribute to joint R&D projects and shape technical direction of future energy solutions
• Translate complex research into clear recommendations and executive briefings

Skills

Power systems

Optimization

Forecasting

Data science

Machine learning

Education

MS in Electrical Engineering / Energy & Power Systems

Tools

Python

Julia

MATLAB

Job description

Context & Environment

Why TotalEnergies? At TotalEnergies, research doesn't live on the shelf - it shapes investment decisions, asset strategies, and the future of energy systems worldwide. You'll work in a fast-paced, multicultural environment. Where innovation is expected, autonomy is valued, and your ideas can scale globally. If you want your research to influence how energy is produced, traded, and delivered - this is where it happens.

Design the Intelligence Behind the Future Power Grid. At TotalEnergies, we see the power grid as the backbone of the energy transition and we're building the tools that will shape its future. We're looking for a Power System Research & Development Engineer who is passionate about electricity markets, data-driven optimization, and advanced modeling. In this role, you'll work at the intersection of power systems, data science, optimization, and AI, helping transform cutting-edge research into real-world tools that guide how renewable energy, storage, and flexible assets operate at scale. Your work will directly support TotalEnergies' ambition to reach 100 GW of renewables and flexible power worldwide by 2030.

Activities

What You’ll Do

• Lead Innovation in Power System Intelligence
• Serve as a subject‑matter expert in power system forecasting, optimization, and market analytics for internal teams
• Develop machine learning, AI, and optimization algorithms to improve asset dispatch, portfolio management, and system efficiency
• Apply advanced statistics, time-series analysis, and data science techniques to unlock insights from complex electricity market data
• Build tools that scale: design and develop automated modeling and analytics tools used across multiple electricity markets
• Support the industrialization and production deployment of research tools in collaboration with cross-functional teams
• Test, maintain, and evolve codebases to ensure research outputs become reliable business solutions
• Collaborate at the frontiers of energy research: work closely with internal business teams, global R&D colleagues, and external partners including national laboratories and universities
• Contribute to joint R&D projects and help shape the technical and scientific direction of future energy solutions
• Translate complex research into clear recommendations, executive briefings, and strategic insights

Candidate Profile

What You Bring

Required

• M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering, Energy & Power Systems, Computer Science/Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering, or related field
• 3+ years of experience in power systems or electricity markets (modeling, optimization, forecasting, analytics)
• Strong quantitative background in statistics, data science, and optimization
• Proficiency in machine learning techniques

Preferred

• Experience in smart grid innovation (renewables, battery storage, demand response, forecasting, optimization)
• Strong programming skills in Python, Julia, and/or MATLAB, including data science and optimization libraries
• Experience with time-series analysis and market or trading signals
• Working knowledge of U.S. electricity markets (ERCOT, PJM, CAISO)
• Experience applying AI or deep reinforcement learning to power system problems
• French proficiency is a plus

Joining TotalEnergies

Joining TotalEnergies means committing to the energy transition and helping provide energy that is more affordable, more available, and more sustainable for as many people as possible. You will grow within an international multi-energy company where every talent matters. You will contribute to ambitious projects and deliver concrete solutions to today's energy challenges. Throughout your career, you will benefit from a wide variety of assignments and tailored learning opportunities. You will fully develop your potential in an environment that fosters innovation and excellence. Join committed and collaborative teams where success is built together.

We place respect and employee well-being at the heart of our performance. That is why TotalEnergies values diversity and promotes equal opportunities for all.