Technical Professional - Better Plants Diagnostic Equipment Program

Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, TN seeks a Technical Professional to support the Better Plants Diagnostic Equipment Program, combining hands-on instrumentation with partner-facing technical assistance. The role includes inventory, calibration, field measurement support, and documentation to help partners collect reliable energy data.

The position involves collaboration with ORNL researchers, DOE staff, and manufacturing partners, with periodic travel to industrial facilities and

Qualifications

• BS in instrumentation and controls, electrical, mechanical, industrial, energy systems engineering or a closely related technical discipline.
• 0–2 years of hands-on engineering measurements, sensors, data logging, setup, calibration, and troubleshooting.
• Working knowledge of energy and industrial systems (motors, pumps, HVAC, steam, etc.).
• Ability to translate measurement needs into practical equipment recommendations and plans.
• Proficiency with Excel for data reduction, visualization and quality checks.
• Strong communication and organizational skills; able to travel periodically.

Responsibilities

• Program operations and partner support for the Better Plants Diagnostic Equipment Program.
• Provide measurement planning, instrument setup guidance, data collection approaches, and troubleshooting.
• Develop measurement plans, test protocols, and data collection templates.
• Review data for completeness and quality; assist with data reduction and interpretation.
• Maintain inventory, calibration schedules, shipping/receiving and partner support workflows.

Skills

Instrumentation

Data acquisition

Troubleshooting

Excel

Technical communication

Travel readiness

Education

BS in engineering or closely related technical discipline

Tools

Power BI

Python

MATLAB

Job description

Technical Professional - Better Plants Diagnostic Equipment Program

The Manufacturing Energy Efficiency Research and Analysis (MEERA) Group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking a Technical Professional to support the U.S. Department of Energy's Better Buildings, Better Plants Program. This position will operate and continuously improve the Better Plants Diagnostic Equipment Program, which provides industry partners with access to energy measurement and diagnostic tools that support energy efficiency, reliability, and competitiveness goals.

The selected candidate will serve as the primary technical and operational point of support for diagnostic equipment requests. The role will combine hands‑on instrumentation, partner-facing technical assistance, inventory and calibration management, equipment readiness, field measurement support, and documentation. The candidate will work closely with ORNL researchers, technical account managers, DOE program staff, energy system experts, and manufacturing partners to help partners collect reliable energy and operational data and apply those data to identify practical improvement opportunities.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

Program operations and partner support

• Serve as the day‑to‑day coordinator for Better Plants Diagnostic Equipment Program requests, including intake, request clarification, equipment selection, scheduling, shipment, return, closeout, and follow‑up.
• Communicate with Better Plants partners to understand measurement objectives, facility constraints, safety requirements, schedule needs, and required equipment capabilities.
• Support partners in selecting appropriate diagnostic tools for common industrial energy systems, including compressed air, steam, process heating, pumps, fans, motors, refrigeration, HVAC, electrical systems, and water/wastewater systems.
• Develop and maintain user guides, quick‑start instructions, checklists, request forms, frequently asked questions, and other partner‑facing resources that improve safe and effective equipment use.
• Track program activity and prepare periodic summaries of equipment utilization, partner requests, response times, calibration status, lessons learned, and program improvement opportunities.

Engineering measurement and technical assistance

• Provide basic engineering support to partners before, during, and after equipment loans, including measurement planning, instrument setup guidance, data collection approaches, and troubleshooting.
• Help partners define measurement objectives, select measurement points, estimate required measurement duration, identify data quality concerns, and document assumptions and limitations.
• Support development of simple measurement plans, test protocols, and data collection templates for partner use and for ORNL technical assistance activities.
• Review collected data for completeness, reasonableness, and quality; assist with basic data reduction, visualization, and interpretation using Excel and other engineering tools.
• Provide on‑site or virtual support for selected partner measurement activities, in‑plant trainings, energy bootcamps, field validation efforts, and other Better Plants technical assistance activities as needed.

Equipment inventory, calibration, and quality management

• Manage the diagnostic equipment inventory, including asset records, availability, loan status, location, accessories, manuals, firmware/software, replacement parts, and consumables.
• Establish and maintain a calibration and verification schedule for applicable instruments; coordinate calibration services and maintain calibration certificates and records.
• Inspect, test, clean, configure, and package equipment before shipment and after return to ensure instruments are complete, functional, calibrated, and ready for use.
• Troubleshoot equipment issues, coordinate repairs, evaluate replacement needs, and support procurement of new or upgraded diagnostic tools.
• Maintain standard operating procedures for equipment checkout, shipping, return inspection, calibration, damage/loss reporting, data security, and partner support workflows.
• Promote safe equipment handling and use in accordance with ORNL requirements, partner facility requirements, manufacturer instructions, and applicable electrical and industrial safety practices.

Team coordination, documentation, and continuous improvement

• Collaborate with ORNL researchers, engineers, technical account managers, system experts, technicians, administrative staff, DOE sponsors, and partner organizations in a fast‑paced, multi‑project environment.
• Contribute to Better Plants training and outreach activities by preparing equipment demonstrations, measurement examples, case studies, and supporting materials.
• Identify opportunities to improve the diagnostic equipment catalog, request workflow, partner guidance, calibration practices, inventory tracking, and program metrics.
• Assist with technical reports, presentations, sponsor briefings, program impact summaries, and proposal materials related to industrial energy efficiency measurement and technical assistance.
• Maintain a strong commitment to scientific integrity, data quality, safety, partner confidentiality, and high‑quality customer service.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

• BS in instrumentation and controls engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, energy systems engineering, or a closely related technical discipline and 0‑2 years of relevant experience.
• Hands‑on experience with engineering measurements, sensors, data acquisition, data logging, instrument setup, calibration practices, and troubleshooting in laboratory, industrial, commercial, or field environments.
• Working knowledge of common energy and industrial systems such as motors, pumps, fans, compressed air, steam, process heating, refrigeration, HVAC, electrical distribution, or water/wastewater systems.
• Ability to translate partner measurement needs into practical equipment recommendations and basic measurement plans.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel for engineering data reduction, visualization, and quality checks.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts clearly to manufacturing partners, DOE sponsors, researchers, and non‑specialist audiences.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, especially for maintaining inventory records, calibration schedules, request logs, shipping records, and technical documentation.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to an interdisciplinary team.
• Willingness to travel periodically to industrial facilities, DOE meetings, ORNL training events, conferences, workshops, and partner sites.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MS in instrumentation and controls, electrical measurement, industrial controls, test engineering, metrology, energy engineering, or industrial energy systems.
• Experience with diagnostic equipment such as power meters/analyzers, current transducers, ultrasonic flow meters, pressure and temperature sensors, data loggers, infrared cameras, combustion analyzers, compressed air leak detectors, tachometers, vibration meters, steam trap testing tools, and related field instruments.
• Experience managing technical equipment inventories, calibration programs, laboratory or field instrumentation, shipping/receiving workflows, or asset management databases.
• Familiarity with measurement and verification concepts, uncertainty, data quality assurance, DOE energy assessment tools, and industrial energy efficiency best practices.
• Experience supporting manufacturing facilities, energy assessments, in‑plant trainings, field demonstrations, technology validation activities, or industrial projects.
• Familiarity with data acquisition software, Python, MATLAB, Power BI, SharePoint/List‑based tracking tools, CMMS/asset systems, or other tools for organizing equipment and measurement data.
• Professional certifications or credentials such as Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Certified Measurement and Verification Professional (CMVP), Engineer in Training (EIT), Professional Engineer (PE), ISA‑related training, or relevant safety/instrumentation certifications.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust with external partners, provide responsive technical support, and manage multiple concurrent requests with competing schedules.

Special Requirements:

• This position may require periodic work at industrial facilities and training locations where personal protective equipment, site‑specific safety training, and compliance with partner facility access requirements may be required.
• The successful candidate should be comfortable handling, packing, transporting, and setting up portable diagnostic equipment and accessories consistent with ORNL safety requirements.
• This position is expected to require periodic domestic travel. The frequency of travel will depend on partner requests, training schedules, sponsor meetings, and project needs.
• No security clearance is anticipated for this position, unless subsequently required by project or site access needs.

For employment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a Real ID compliant form of identification will be required. Additionally, ORNL 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 mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD‑12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which requires a favorable post‑employment background investigation.

To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation. This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last year. This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.

For foreign national candidates:

If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) risk determination to maintain employment. Once you meet the three‑year residency requirement, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment.

About ORNL:

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well‑being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on‑site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.

Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT‑Battelle is an E‑Verify employer.