Software Engineering Intern for Grid Modeling Applications

About National Laboratory of the Rockies

NLR is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado, and is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development.

Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts accelerate energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. NLR is known for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future, focusing on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Your work will strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth. At NLR, you'll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.

Job Description

Ready to build software that powers the future? The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) is looking for a creative and driven intern to join our Application Development team. This isn't your average internship; you'll be writing code that helps researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders solve some of the world's most pressing energy challenges.

This Software Engineering Intern for Grid Modeling Applications role focuses on turning complex scientific energy models and data into robust, user-friendly software applications. You'll work alongside world-class scientists and software engineers to design, develop, and deploy tools that analyze and visualize the future of energy. If you have a passion for elegant code and an interest in making a real-world impact, we want to hear from you. Your work will contribute to the open-source Sienna Tool, developed by NLR (NREL-Sienna GitHub).

The primary programming language for this project will be Julia, known for its high performance in scientific computing.

Primary Responsibilities

• Contribute to the full software development lifecycle, from design and prototyping to testing and deployment of applications in the Sienna platform.
• Develop new features for existing and new energy analysis applications and libraries, including planning and operational models.
• Collaborate with researchers to take technical specifications and translate them into code.
• Write documentation and unit tests to ensure code quality and maintainability.
• Participate in code reviews and team meetings, actively contributing to our agile development process.

Basic Qualifications

• Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD degree program, or graduated in the past 12 months from an accredited institution.
• Candidates who have earned a degree may work for a period not to exceed 12 months.
• Must have a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.

Please Note: You will need to upload official or unofficial school transcripts as part of the application process. If selected for 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 a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Operational Research, Applied Mathematics, or a related field, or currently enrolled in a Master's or PhD program in these fields.
• Demonstrated proficiency in at least one modern programming language (e.g., Julia or Python).
• Solid understanding of core computer science principles and software engineering practices.
• Experience using Git and GitHub for version control.
• A link to a GitHub profile and a portfolio of software projects or applications is required for consideration.
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with mathematical optimization for energy modeling (e.g., capacity expansion models, unit commitment, economic dispatch).
• Knowledge of software development best practices like CI/CD and automated testing.
• A strong interest in power systems.

Submission Guidelines

To be considered, please submit your resume and links to your GitHub profile and a portfolio showcasing your best work. The portfolio can include web apps, data analysis projects, optimization models, or significant contributions to open-source software. Please note that in order 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.

Benefits Summary

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match; 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.

Key skills/competency

• Software Development
• Grid Modeling
• Julia Programming
• Python Programming
• Git Version Control
• Energy Analysis
• Scientific Computing
• Data Visualization
• Mathematical Optimization
• Power Systems