Graduate Intern - Artificial Intelligence for Power System Operations

Graduate Intern - Artificial Intelligence for Power System Operations

At National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado, we are the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development. Join our world-class scientists, engineers, and experts to accelerate energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. Our mission-driven environment, supported by state-of-the-art facilities and multidisciplinary teams, focuses on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions, strengthening U.S. industries, supporting job creation, and promoting national economic growth.

We offer robust professional development opportunities and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being, fostering strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories.

Job Description

The Grid Automation and Controls group at National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) is dedicated to high-impact projects that enhance power system modernization. We develop cutting-edge solutions and work closely with industry and utility partners to improve grid reliability, resilience, and security. Our team is seeking a Graduate Intern - Artificial Intelligence for Power System Operations with a strong technical background in machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI), specifically in large language models (LLMs), natural language processing (NLP), and/or foundation models. This is a 3-month internship opportunity with potential for extension up to 12 months, available remotely or on-site.

Job Responsibilities Will Include But Are Not Limited To

• Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to advance research projects
• Developing innovative AI/LLM solutions to address emerging power system needs
• Contributing and/or leading the writing of research papers
• The ideal candidate should be able to conduct research work independently

To learn more about the work this group does, check out the following link: https://www.nlr.gov/grid/distributed-energy-resource-management-systems

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

• Completed an undergraduate degree and either be enrolled in or recently graduated from a master’s degree in computer science, data science, electrical engineering, or related fields, or be enrolled in a PhD program in these fields
• Experienced in one of the following: natural language learning, large language models, foundation models, transformer models
• Have good fundamental knowledge of neural networks, state-of-the-art learning algorithms, and their applications to complex systems
• Strong in Python programming and other comparable programming languages
• Self-motivated and passionate to learn new things

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with other ML/AI techniques, including reinforcement learning and graph neural networks
• Experience in using high-performance computers, Linux systems
• Experience in JavaScript, SQL, MongoDB, and developing interactive web-based dashboards and tools
• Familiar with power systems and possess basic knowledge of power flow

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

The annual salary range for this job profile (based on full-time 40 hours per week) is $51,200 - $81,900. NLR considers a candidate’s education, training, 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 salary. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, 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 with 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 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 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 offered employment, 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. A positive test may result in withdrawal of the employment offer.

Submission Guidelines

To be considered an applicant 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.

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Key skills/competency

• Artificial Intelligence
• Machine Learning
• Large Language Models
• Natural Language Processing
• Power Systems
• Neural Networks
• Python Programming
• Reinforcement Learning
• Data Science
• Grid Modernization