Graduate (3-6 Month) Intern – Production Cost Modeling and Reliability Analysis

Job Description

Graduate (3-6 Month) Intern – Production Cost Modeling and Reliability Analysis

Location: CO – Golden

Position Type: Intern (Fixed Term)

Hours Per Week: 40

About the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR)

The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado, is the nation’s primary laboratory for energy systems research and development. NLR is a mission-driven environment where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts accelerate energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. Committed to an affordable and secure energy future, NLR focuses on solving complex challenges from foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, delivering advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. This work strengthens U.S. industries, supports job creation, and promotes national economic growth.

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

Job Description: Power System Planning Intern

NLR is seeking a motivated Power System Planning Intern to join the Grid Planning and Analysis Center (GPAC) within the Strategic Energy Analysis and Decision Sciences (SEADS) directorate. SEADS leads cutting-edge energy analysis and grid research, applying advanced modeling and simulation to design, plan, and optimize distribution and bulk power systems.

As part of GPAC, you will support applied research in electric power systems planning, primarily focusing on transmission planning and data center integration. This involves using production cost and resource adequacy models, along with statistical and data analysis. You will collaborate with a dynamic team working with utilities, regulators, and government agencies to deliver insights crucial for enabling a reliable, affordable, and resilient grid of the future.

Key Responsibilities

• Run simulations and analyze data related to production cost and resource adequacy models for bulk transmission systems and data center integration.
• Develop modeling and analysis tools, optimization formulation, simulation techniques, and clear, compelling visualizations to communicate research findings.
• Build tools to pull, clean, process, and integrate diverse datasets into existing workflows.
• Strengthen GPAC’s capabilities in transmission planning and data center integration through data processing and visualization.
• Contribute to ongoing projects by delivering technically rigorous and accessible insights for stakeholders.
• Follow all Environment, Safety, and Health policies and procedures to maintain a safe working environment.

Qualifications

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

Additional Required Qualifications

• Must have completed an undergraduate degree and either: be enrolled in or recently graduated from a master’s degree, or be currently enrolled in a PhD program.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with the application of power systems planning concepts including at least one of the following: Production Cost Modeling (PCM), Unit Commitment/Economic Dispatch, Resource Adequacy (RA), Transmission Planning, Data Center Integration, Power Systems Operations.
• Demonstrated experience in script development in languages like Python or Julia, including at least one programming language relevant to simulation, data analysis, visualization, optimization, and/or high-performance computing.
• Strong writing, interpersonal, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong background in power systems.
• Experience with code version control using Git/GitHub.
• Experience with open-source software development in Python.
• Experience with NLR-developed tools for energy modeling, simulation, and analysis.
• Experience with statistic analysis, metrics, etc.

Application Details

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 (based on full-time 40 hours per week): $44,500 – $71,200. NLR considers education, training, experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel, external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining salary. 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 (based on eligibility rules); 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.

Badging Requirement: NLR is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must 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 and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs, including marijuana. If offered employment, you must pass a pre-employment drug test (which may include marijuana, unless prohibited by state or local law) prior to commencing employment. A positive test may result in the withdrawal of the employment offer.

Submission Guidelines: To be considered for any position at NLR, you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.

Equal Opportunity Employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to 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: NLR uses E-Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce. 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.