Researcher III - Photovoltaics Scientist

Posting TitleResearcher III - Photovoltaics Scientist

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LocationCO - Golden

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Position TypeRegular

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Hours Per Week40

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Working at NRELThe National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

From day one at NREL, you’ll connect with coworkers driven by the same mission to save the planet. By joining an organization that values a supportive, inclusive, and flexible work environment, you’ll have the opportunity to engage through our ten employee resource groups, numerous employee-driven clubs, and learning and professional development classes.

NREL supports inclusive, diverse, and unbiased hiring practices that promote creativity and innovation. By collaborating with organizations that focus on diverse talent pools, reaching out to underrepresented demographics, and providing an inclusive application and interview process, our Talent Acquisition team aims to hear all voices equally. We strive to attract a highly diverse workforce and create a culture where every employee feels welcomed and respected and they can be their authentic selves.

Our planet needs us! Learn about NREL’s critical objectives, and see how NREL is focused on saving the planet.

We invite all interested candidates to apply for this opportunity. While we recognize that job seekers may hesitate if they don’t meet every requirement, we encourage dedicated individuals who meet all the basic and additional required qualifications of the role to submit an application. We value the opportunity to consider those who believe they have the necessary skills and ambition to succeed at NREL.

Job Description

The Materials, Chemical and Computational Science Directorate at the National Renewable Energy lab is hiring a full-time research scientist at the Researcher III level with expertise in III-V photovoltaic devices, semiconductor growth methods, and project management. The candidate will work within a larger effort focused on reducing the cost of III-V photovoltaics through the development of lower cost growth methods, effective device exfoliation and substrate reuse, and lower cost processing toward commercialization. 

This position will involve:

• Development of the halide vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE) growth method toward greater understanding of the process and the impact of specific growth system designs.
• Research into the performance and measurement of photovoltaics and other devices produced by HVPE.
• Coordinating research efforts and communication between multiple research groups.
• Business development and stakeholder .engagement with companies, universities, and government agencies
• Writing and presenting technical papers, reports, and conference proceedings on research carried out on this project.
• Mentoring postdocs, graduate students, and technicians.

Teamwork and collaboration define the modern scientific approach, and the employee will be expected to collaborate, be open to new ideas, and recognize the contribution of others. Inclusion and diversity are core values, and the employee will be expected to support a work environment that maximizes the unique talents and innovative ideas of every other employee.

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Basic QualificationsPhD in Material Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Chemistry or related discipline OR MS in Material Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Chemistry or related discipline and 3 years of relevant work experience.

* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

• Excellent technical writing, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Knowledge and application of materials, methods, and tools used in solar cell manufacturing and characterization.
• Experience with III-V material growth and processing.
• Detail oriented, safety minded, strong problem solving and troubleshooting skills.
• Experience partnering with industrial and/or academic collaborators.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Firm grounding in the foundations of semiconductor materials and device science, as demonstrated in published work.
• Demonstrated experience with growing, processing, modeling, and characterizing III-V solar cells.
• Cleanroom semiconductor processing experience.
• Experience with design, operation, and maintenance of complex equipment.
• Experience with semiconductor and photovoltaic materials and device characterization and measurement techniques.
• Leadership in one or more areas of team, task or project lead responsibilities.
• Demonstrated experience in management of own research projects or deliverables.
• Very good technical writing, interpersonal and communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

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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 (based on full-time 40 hours per week)Job Profile: Researcher III / Annual Salary Range: $79,600 - $143,300

NREL takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and 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 the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.

Benefits SummaryBenefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short*- and long-term disability insurance; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; paid holidays; and tuition reimbursement*. NREL 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. Limited-term positions are not eligible for long-term disability or tuition reimbursement.

* Based on eligibility rules

Badging RequirementNREL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to 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.Drug Free Workplace

NREL 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 you are offered employment at NREL, 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. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

Submission Guidelines

Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL 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.

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EEO Policy

NREL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of 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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