Research Engineer

Our Civil Group offers an array of exciting career opportunities for the best IT, energy, logistics and engineering professionals. 

Leidos currently has an opening for a Research Engineer to work at the US Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in Morgantown, WV. NETL is a DOE national laboratory that produces technological solutions for America's energy challenges. The Research Engineer in this position will support the Hybrid Performance (Hyper) Facility. The Hyper Facility is the only truly dynamic pilot-scale hybrid energy-conversion system in the world. It is a recuperated gas turbine system integrated with a cyber-physical fuel cell environment that is automated through an industrial power system configuration.

Responsibilities are functional in nature and performed under limited supervision. Specific tasks include, but are not limited to:

• Development of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) Hardware.

• Development of new hardware components, including: preliminary design (process flow diagram and stream summary table); design of the piping and instrumentation diagram (P&ID); specifications of equipment, sensors, control actuators, and supporting materials; knowledge of mechanical design for fabrication, installation, integration, and system shakedown.

• Development and execution of technical test plans for real-time dynamic experiments, including system coupling and integration effects that could cause hazards to equipment and personnel.

• Development of research proposals, including identifying metrics in FOAs, developing technical ideas, securing resources, negotiating with potential partners, outlining a viable technical route, work breakdown structure, milestones, budgeting, and technical writing.

• Coordinate with partners to develop task plans, write quarterly reports, prepare review materials, and provide technical summaries.

• Provide technical support for educational programs, including working with student interns, providing professional assistance and advice, helping young STEM professionals along their career paths, coordinating with other partner awardees regarding to project progress and achievement showcase, and providing guidance in the preparation of technical journal papers.

• Active participation in group meetings.

• Work independently and collaboratively with members of the research team to meet milestones and deliverables.

• Lead efforts in preparation of technical papers, reports, conference papers, and annual and quarterly reports.

• Presenting the results of the research at technical conferences and publishing in archival journals.

Required Qualifications:

• PhD from an accredited university in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

• A minimum of 3 years work experience post-PhD.

• Technical expertise in the cyber-physical approach, hardware-in-the-loop simulation, concept design, and dynamic operability.

• Experience in the development of new hardware components, including: preliminary design (process flow diagram and stream summary table); design of the piping and instrumentation diagram (P&ID); specifications of equipment, sensors, control actuators, and supporting materials; knowledge of mechanical design for fabrication, installation, integration, and system shakedown

• Knowledge of integrated power systems comprised of multiple assets with distinct time constants and dynamic characteristics with experience in system analysis, system integration, thermal management, signal communication, experimental operation, control development, and data acquisition and analysis.

• Experience with real-time numeric model simulation of electrochemical and fuel processing components.

• Experience with CPS signal integration and operations through a high-speed industrial control platform.

• Demonstrated proficiency in the writing of scholarly publications.

• Demonstrated proficiency in collaborating technical findings with external research organizations such as research laboratories and/or academic institutions.

• Ability to document and present research results, including using power point presentations and making podium presentations at technical meetings.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of R&IC SARS and CROPS processes

• Experience in hardware through dedicated CPS platforms such as dSPACE and OPAL-RT.

• Experience with high-speed industrial control platform, Woodward Industrial Controls MicroNet Plus.

• Experience in the development of research proposals, including identifying metrics in FOAs, developing technical ideas, securing resources, negotiating with potential partners, outlining a viable technical route, work breakdown structure, milestones, budgeting, and technical writing.

• Preference for experience in a national laboratory environment or industrial R&D lab where safe working practices are paramount

• Strong oral and written communication skills with ability to represent Leidos or its clients at conferences or public forums or contribute to technical reports and scientific journals.

Driven by our talented workforce, the Integrated Missions Operation builds trust through an array of energy-related IT, environmental science and engineering solutions to meet our customers’ needs. 

Key Programs and/or Capabilities:

• Antarctic Support Contract (ASC)

• Large Infrastructure 

• Mission Support

• Digital Modernization

• Command & Control

• Mission Applications 

• Science

• Energy and Environment

• Engineering Services

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We value and support the well-being and mobility of our employees with competitive benefit packages, complementary e-learning training, work-life flexibility, an exciting External Referral Program, and a diverse, inclusive and ethical work place. In fact, in 2020, Leidos was ranked as one of the “World's Most Ethical Companies” by the Ethisphere Institute for the third consecutive year.