Senior Geospatial Researcher III/IV

National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Colorado; On-site; USD 100,000 - 181,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Pension benefits and 403(b) employer ͏

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, CO seeks a Senior Geospatial Researcher III/IV to advance geospatial modeling and decision-support for energy deployment. You will build scalable workflows, collaborate with industry and DOE partners, and lead innovative research across multiple scales.

The role emphasizes leadership, technical writing, and strong programming with Python and open-source geospatial tools, while contributing to publications and stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent with 4+ years experience for Researcher IV; or Master’s with 7+ years; or Bachelor with 9+ years.
• Strong leadership and project management experience across research initiatives.
• Excellent technical writing and communication skills; ability to publish and present results.

Responsibilities

• Develop spatiotemporal methods for system performance, cost modeling, and site selection optimization.
• Ideate and evaluate novel research strategies for energy deployment insights.
• Integrate data sources, models, and software tools within HPC-enabled workflows.
• Communicate insights through publications and presentations; organize stakeholder workshops.
• Serve as principal investigator and technical lead on key projects.
• Mentor junior staff to grow skills and project portfolios.

Skills

Spatial statistics

Predictive modeling

Data analytics

Complex systems modeling

Scientific programming

Algorithm development

Python

Open-source geospatial tools

Technical writing

Communication skills

Project leadership

Budget & timelines management

Education

PhD in Engineering/Geography/Environmental Science/CS

Master’s in Engineering/Geography/Environmental Science/CS

Bachelor’s in Engineering/Geography/Environmental Science/CS

Tools

Python

Open-source geospatial tools

Job description

Posting Title Senior Geospatial Researcher III/IV . Location CO - Golden . Position Type Regular . Hours Per Week 40 . Working at NLR NLR is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development. 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 Geospatial Data Science (GDS) Group in NLR’s Strategic Energy Analysis Center is seeking an experienced Geospatial Researcher to develop and advance a research portfolio in geospatial modeling and characterization of new electricity generation, impacts of large loads, and infrastructure requirements to meet the needs of the nation. The GDS Group conducts research at the intersection of energy deployment, big data science, and geospatial modeling and visualization. Our team of scientists develops and applies geospatial algorithms and methods to evaluate the resource, technical, and economic potential for energy technologies, including geothermal, hydropower, wind, solar, natural gas, storage, transmission, and large loads. Our scientists work with industry partners, academia, and the Department of Energy (DOE) to develop cutting‑edge solutions to the nation’s greatest energy challenges. Together we put modeling results and actionable insights in the hands of policymakers, private sector stakeholders, and the broader public. Geospatial modeling at NLR enables detailed techno‑economic assessment, capacity expansion and power systems modeling of electricity generation resources under a variety of regulatory, sociopolitical, and environmental factors from local to continental scales. This position will support the growing research portfolio of the GDS Group, creating new capabilities to analyze scenarios and design solutions for complex challenges in energy siting and deployment. The position will support DOE projects and clients external to the laboratory. The successful candidate will develop novel analytical solutions to advance the state‑of‑science in broad geographic scale representation of the spatial drivers of energy deployment and associated infrastructure requirements. This position requires a strong applied and theoretical background in spatiotemporal methods addressing a myriad of considerations including community acceptance, ecological impacts, topographic factors, regulatory frameworks, and topological relationships. Experience with complex systems analysis and scenario modeling frameworks is preferred.

Duties

• Developing innovative spatiotemporal methods in system performance and cost modeling, sensitivity analysis and site selection optimization to help clients, stakeholders, and other researchers understand and synthesize underlying opportunities and challenges for energy deployment.
• Ideating and evaluating novel research strategies and methods to uncover insights and inform sustainable energy solutions at various geographic and temporal scales.
• Integrating multiple data sources, models, and software tools with scientific and engineering workflows for data analysis and decision support. These workflows require distributed parallel computing, utilizing both cloud and on‑premise high‑performance computing (HPC) resources.
• Communicating research insights through journal publications and conference presentations; organizing and participating in stakeholder engagement workshops and seminars; and developing proposals for new research directions.
• Serving as principal investigator and technical lead on critical existing and emerging projects.
• Technical oversight and mentoring of junior staff to ensure the requisite depth and breadth of skillsets and capabilities needed to support a growing portfolio.

Basic Qualifications

Researcher IV: Relevant PhD and 4 or more years of experience. Or, relevant Master's Degree and 7 or more years of experience. Or, relevant Bachelor's Degree and 9 or more years of experience. Applies extensive scientific technical expertise, and has full knowledge of other related disciplines. Considered a technical resource. Demonstrates leadership in several areas of team, task or project lead responsibilities. Demonstrated experience in management of projects. Excellent technical writing, interpersonal and communication skills.

Researcher III: PhD in Engineering, Geography, Environmental Science, Computer Science or related. Or, Master’s Degree in Engineering, Geography, Environmental Science, Computer Science or related and 3 or more years of experience. Or, relevant Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Geography, Environmental Science, Computer Science or related and 5 or more years of experience. Demonstrates complete understanding and wide application of scientific technical procedures, principles, theories and concepts in the field. General knowledge of other related disciplines. Demonstrates leadership in one or more areas of team, task or project lead responsibilities. Demonstrated experience in management of projects. Very good technical writing, interpersonal and communication skills. * Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to form and lead dynamic project teams, manage budgets and timelines, and build strong relationships with stakeholders and sponsors; Strong quantitative background in spatial statistics, predictive modeling, data analytics, and/or complex systems modeling; Strong scientific programming and algorithm development skills and demonstrated use of Python and open‑source geospatial tools for modeling and analysis of large, complex data sets; Demonstrated ability to communicate results effectively through scientific visualizations, publications and presentations.
• To be considered, all candidates must include in their resume and an online code repository such as GitHub with several publicly visible coding projects. Alternatively, please explain in your cover letter why your application does not include a code repository and/or several examples of previous projects.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in uncertainty quantification in relevant research domains.
• Extensive knowledge in energy domains with a particular focus on energy siting.
• Background in capacity expansion modeling, production cost modeling and energy resource assessment.

Job Application Submission Window

The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.

Annual Salary Range

Job Profile: Researcher IV / Annual Salary Range: $100,400 - $180,700

Job Profile: Researcher III / Annual Salary Range: $83,600 - $150,500

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

• 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*.
• 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. Limited-term positions are not eligible for long-term disability or tuition reimbursement. * 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.

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.

E-Verify

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.

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

We welcome and encourage people with disabilities to apply for any available positions. Qualified individuals who require accommodations to perform job duties are encouraged to request assistance. NLR is committed to adding complied accommodations for qualified candidates with disability. Individuals with a disability who are denied right‑to‑work may find additional support under the E‑Verify program and the state and federal laws regarding accommodations. NLR is accessible while continuing to maintain safe facilities for all employees. Our commitment to creating an inclusive workplace includes training and education components on diversity and inclusion. All qualified individuals with disabilities are encouraged to seek engagement, accessibility, and participation in job opportunities that are equitable, supportive, and inclusive. Employment and health benefits are available to individuals who maintain an ability to work and complete schedules in a standard working environment to accommodate a need to adjust. Employees require an accommodation can discuss the process with their department or an HR representative within NLR. For any individuals with disabilities that have missing accommodations, NLR offers accommodations for application support and onboarding support and tracking. This encourages the creation of a positive viewpoint to support this condition. The priority is that adaptation serves a safe, inclusive workplace responsive for disabled employees. NLR employees may request assistance for accommodations or medical documentation via the disability process. Below is how the NLR system will handle requests for as well as instructions on how to report inaccessible equipment or environmental hazards. If individuals are puzzled, they may seek help through their local or local NLR oversight, including outreach for disability and outreach assistance for their local legal assistance partners. For particular support including request for accommodation, local staff and employees have specific resources available to help them navigate a disability obtainment and assistance for disability. For those, and a small number of small individuals, NLR employees include accessible technology and support. In short, the aim is to provide a conducive workplace that ensures all diskrinkmates and companies can accommodate disabilities through NLR uses as a part of that environment. Ideally NLR employees should sign a standard or inpractice kappa according to nonprofit grievance policies and public laws of the US and occupation diversity law. NLR’s legal offerings cover a wide base that encourages application for an unlimited employees there to be accessible for disability support for all Americans. The hotelally house appointment will be set to works in ideas in addition to the House for those ability to access. NCC does not allow for any assistance to do so or additional accommodations to employees with disabilities or the workforce, as of the time this has been issued, however NLR still holds the news. NLR actions are open to individuals and never explicitly unmainbel and all programs that provide inclusive employees respectful of their rights.

Site Access and Security

With locations in Golden and Boulder, Colorado, Fairbanks, Alaska, and a satellite office in Washington, D.C., NLR bridges foundational research with practical applications to develop and bring to scale new energy materials and technologies that lower energy costs, drive economic growth, and deliver abundant and reliable energy. NLR is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All candidates must be authorized to access the facility per DOE rules and guidance within a reasonable time frame for the specified position in order to be considered for an interview and for hiring. DOE rules for site access during the interview process depend on whether the candidate is interviewed on‑site, off‑site, or via telephone or videoconference. 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. Additionally, DOE contractor employees are prohibited from participating in certain Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Programs (FGTRPs). If a candidate is currently participating in an FGTRP, they will be required to disclose their participation after receiving an offer of employment and may be required to disengage from participation in the FGTRP prior to commencing employment. Any offer of employment is conditional on the ability to obtain work authorization and to be granted access to NLR by the Department of Energy (DOE).