Argonne National Laboratory

Associate Research Electrical Engineer

Argonne National Laboratory$94K — $147K *
Energy & Utilities
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related field with 5+ years of experience; or Master's with 3+ years; or PhD with 1+ year.
  • Understanding of DC power distribution systems and electrical protection principles.
  • Experience with battery energy storage systems, including management and integration.
  • Proficiency in power electronic converters and associated control strategies.
  • Experience with electrical modeling tools such as MATLAB/Simulink or similar.
  • Familiarity with electrical instrumentation and laboratory testing methods.
  • Knowledge of common electrical communication protocols in energy systems.

Responsibilities

  • Lead research on DC electrical distribution systems and battery energy storage technologies.
  • Design and evaluate advanced electrical power systems through simulations and experimental validation.
  • Develop integration solutions for grid-connected energy resources across various applications.
  • Serve as primary technical contact for external partners to foster collaborative solutions.
  • Contribute to experimental research planning, documentation, and technical publications.
  • Identify new research opportunities to advance electrification and resilient power systems.
  • Manage multiple research projects and align with strategic initiatives of the laboratory.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health insurance plans including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • Retirement savings plan with generous employer contributions.
  • Generous paid time off policies including vacation and holidays.
  • Professional development opportunities and workshops.
  • Access to state-of-the-art laboratory and research facilities.
Full Job Description
Argonne National Laboratory is seeking to hire an Associate Research Electrical Engineer in the within the Grid Integration Technology group of the Transportation and Power Systems Division.

The successful candidate will lead and support research and development activities, with a focus on DC power distribution systems, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and grid-interactive energy technologies. The candidate will play a key role in developing, integrating, and evaluating advanced electrical power systems through modeling, laboratory experimentation, hardware integration, and field demonstrations.

Responsibilities include leading technical tasks involving DC electrical distribution architectures, battery energy storage systems, power conversion technologies, and grid-connected energy resources. The candidate will contribute to the design, implementation, and evaluation of advanced electrical infrastructure that improves efficiency, resilience, interoperability, and operational flexibility across a variety of applications, including transportation, buildings, industrial facilities, and data centers.

The successful candidate will serve as a primary technical interface with external partners, including government sponsors, industry collaborators, utilities, and equipment manufacturers-to develop innovative research solutions and ensure successful project execution.

Performance activities include designing and integrating laboratory testbeds; developing electrical system architecture; conducting experimental validation and system performance evaluations; analyzing electrical measurements and operational data; and contributing to project planning, technical documentation, publications, and proposal development. The candidate is expected to identify new research opportunities while supporting the laboratory's strategic initiatives in electrification, energy storage, and resilient power systems.

Position Requirements
  • Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, cybersecurity, computer science, or a related field with 5+ years of relevant experience; or Master's degree with 3+ years of relevant experience; or Ph.D. with 1+ years of relevant experience in electric vehicle systems, grid integration, or networked infrastructure.
  • Understanding of electrical power systems, including DC distribution architectures, power conversion equipment, and electrical protection principles.
  • Experience with battery energy storage systems (BESS), including battery technologies, battery management systems (BMS), power conversion systems (PCS), and system integration.
  • Working knowledge of power electronic converters, DC-DC converters, inverters, rectifiers, and associated control strategies.
  • Experience designing, integrating, and troubleshooting laboratory-scale or field-deployed electrical systems.
  • Familiarity with electrical modeling and simulation tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, PSCAD, PLECS, ETAP, OpenDSS, or similar software.
  • Experience with electrical instrumentation and laboratory testing, including oscilloscopes, power analyzers, data acquisition systems, and programmable power supplies.
  • Knowledge of electrical communication protocols commonly used in energy systems (e.g., Modbus, CAN, Ethernet/IP, IEC 61850, DNP3, or OPC UA) is desirable.
  • Understanding grid integration concepts, including distributed energy resources (DERs), microgrids, flexible loads, demand response, or vehicle-grid integration (V2G), is highly desirable.
  • Familiarity with applicable electrical codes, standards, and safety practices related to medium- and low-voltage electrical systems
  • Ability to lead technical tasks and coordinate contributions from multidisciplinary research teams.
  • Experience designing and executing experimental research, analyzing electrical system performance, and documenting technical findings.
  • Ability to contribute to proposal development through technical writing, concept formulation, and identification of emerging research opportunities.
  • Ability to translate complex electrical engineering challenges into practical research solutions.
  • Strong organizational skills to manage multiple concurrent research projects while meeting technical and programmatic milestones.
  • Experience collaborating with government sponsors, utilities, manufacturers, universities, or industry partners.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present technical results to diverse audiences.
  • Demonstrated initiative, independence, and accountability in managing work streams.
  • Ability to mentor junior staff and contribute to team development.
  • Commitment to safety, security, and quality in all research operations.
  • Ability to model Argonne's Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork.
  • This position requires an on-site presence at the Argonne campus in Lemont, Illinois.


Job Family
Research Development (RD)

Job Profile
Electrical/Electronics Engineering 2

Worker Type
Regular

Time Type
Full time

The expected hiring range for this position is $94,486.00 - $147,398.94.

Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.

Click here to view Argonne employee benefits!

About Argonne National Laboratory

Argonne National Laboratory is a science and engineering research national laboratory operated by the University of Chicago Argonne LLC for the United States Department of Energy. It is located in Lemont, Illinois, outside of Chicago. Argonne conducts research in a variety of fields, including energy, environment, national security, and technology. The laboratory was founded in 1946 as part of the Manhattan Project and has since become one of the largest science and engineering research laboratories in the United States.
Learn more about Argonne National Laboratory
Size
3,400 employees
Industry
Founded
1946

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