Sustainability Engineer

at  Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Overview:
PNNL’s Earth System Science Division enables energy independence and national security through leadership in earth systems science, engineering, and decision analytics. Our work focuses on solving complex problems in the dynamic Earth system. Our interdisciplinary scientists steward a breadth of efforts that encompass research on plants to groundwater science and coastal zones, to storm prediction.
Our research focuses on understanding and mitigating operational risks at the interface of human and natural environments. This includes predicting the impacts of natural hazards and extreme climate events on Earth and human systems, along with the impacts of wildfire, flooding, sea level rise and storm surges. We focus on understanding and mitigating environmental contamination and increasing the resiliency, security and sustainability of water resources. We provide geointelligence through advanced sensing and data analytics to forecast complex system behaviors and operational performance to understand human-natural systems. This includes informed decision making and enhanced community resilience, advanced monitoring, and remote sensing of environmental systems for energy and national security. It also includes developing energy systems, including geothermal energy, sustainable oil and gas production, storage and utilization, along with carbon sequestration.
Driven by a “science-to-solutions” philosophy, we provide scientific leadership and technology to enhance national security, mitigate natural hazards and optimize disaster response. In the critical areas of energy, environment, intelligence, and defense, we deliver insights and decision support through the development of tools and solutions.
Rockstar Rewards:

Employees and their families are offered medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, basic life insurance, disability insurance, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, tuition assistance, supplemental parental bonding leave, surrogacy and adoption assistance, and fertility support. Employees are automatically enrolled in our company funded pension plan and may enroll in our 401k savings plan. Employees may accrue up to 120 vacation hours per year and may receive ten paid holidays per year.

• Research Associates excluded.

**Once eligibility requirements are met.
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Responsibilities:
The Earth Systems Science Division (ESSD) at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is seeking a Sustainability Engineer to join our Operational Systems Engineering (OSE) Group. This represents a fantastic opportunity to be a key contributor and leader in an internationally recognized research group that is pushing the envelope in operational systems ranging from ecological systems and hydropower to nuclear and border protection systems and from initial concept and design, to scale up and demonstration, to deployment, and finally end of life cycle.
The successful candidate will have extensive knowledge and capabilities in proposing, designing, and executing scope related to life cycle sustainability engineering including significant experience with life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies, particularly dynamic LCA integrating temporal and geographic factors. Additional experience with other sustainability engineering and quantitative methodologies used for resource characterization, planning, and analysis is also expected, as well as the ability to translate Federal energy/water policy into research proposals, priorities, and objectives.
Working with colleagues across the Laboratory, and in collaboration with our research partners in industry, academia, and at other National Laboratories, the successful candidates will lead efforts to build new, high-visibility research projects that leverage OSE Group capabilities to meet the technology goals of the Department of Energy and other key stakeholders. The successful candidate will be comfortable working with a diverse set of research staff and project tasks, and possess the appropriate analytic, task management, and communication skills (both oral and written) to clearly define and articulate both objectives and outcomes of their research.
Plans, develops, designs, and manages holistic systems solutions throughout the project lifecycle. Provides expertise in how to tailor systems engineering techniques and processes to meet project objectives within constraints. Balances systems thinking and systems engineering best practices, as needed, over the full range of technology maturity levels. Applies systems engineering expertise to define cost/benefit and risk/opportunity, develop and analyze alternatives, support decisions, and mitigate risks

The selected candidate will have preferred skills in one or more of these areas:

• Significant experience with LCA research addressing diverse challenges and solutions for energy, water, and industrial systems.
• Approaches for integrating dynamic modeling and methodologies into the LCA framework.
• “Soft” skills in communicating with clients, mentees, sponsors, project managers, etc.
• Reviewing the work of others.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS/BA and 2 years of relevant experience -OR-
• MS/MA -OR-
• PhD

Preferred Qualifications:

• Preferred Ph.D. degree in sustainability engineering or civil, environmental or chemical engineering or the equivalent and 1 plus years of relevant project experience.
• Well-established research reputation with professional achievements, including excellent technical writing skills.
• Demonstrated success at proposal development and project management.
• Demonstrated participation in multidisciplinary efforts to provide solutions to complex problems where the problems are characterized by lack of precedents, source material, or lack of prior success.
• Ability to effectively communicate within a team environment and with sponsors and partners.
• Demonstrated experience securing project funding, working with and leading technical teams, and the ability to manage research projects.

Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment:
Not Applicable.
Additional Information:
Due to business needs and client space, US Citizenship is required.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is subject to the Department of Energy Unclassified Foreign Visits & Assignments Program site, information, technologies, and equipment access requirements.
Testing Designated Position (TDP):
Not a Testing Designated Position.
About PNNL:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a world-class research institution powered by a highly educated, diverse workforce committed to the values of Integrity, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Courage. Every year, scores of dynamic, driven people come to PNNL to work with renowned researchers on meaningful science, innovations and outcomes for the U.S. Department of Energy and other sponsors; here is your chance to be one of them!
At PNNL, you will find an exciting research environment and excellent benefits including health insurance, flexible work schedules and telework options. PNNL is located in eastern Washington State—the dry side of Washington known for its stellar outdoor recreation and affordable cost of living. The Lab’s campus is only a 45-minute flight (or ~3-hour drive) from Seattle or Portland, and is serviced by the convenient PSC airport, connected to 8 major hubs.
Commitment to Excellence, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Equal Employment Opportunity:
Our laboratory is committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment dedicated to solving critical challenges in fundamental sciences, national security, and energy resiliency. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. In support of this commitment, we encourage people of all racial/ethnic identities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities to apply for employment.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), protected veteran status, and any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local laws.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures and in employment. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, contact us at careers@pnnl.gov.
Drug Free Workplace:
PNNL is committed to a drug-free workplace supported by Workplace Substance Abuse Program (WSAP) and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs.
If you are offered employment at PNNL, you must pass a drug test prior to commencing employment. PNNL complies with federal law regarding illegal drug use. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug. If you test positive for any illegal controlled substance, including marijuana, your offer of employment will be withdrawn.
HSPD-12 PIV Credential Requirement:
In accordance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, new employees are required to obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Credential. To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation. This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last year. This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws

Please refer the Job description for details