Stillingsbeskrivelse
Posting Title
Postdoctoral Researcher - Acoustics of Industrial Equipment in the Energy Sector (Cooling Systems, Fuel Cells, Distributed Wind Turbines).
Location
CO - Boulder.
Position Type
Postdoc (Fixed Term).
Hours Per Week
Job Description
The Flatirons Campus of the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) is seeking a qualified candidate to help execute projects on the acoustic emissions of industrial equipment in the energy sector, including cooling systems, fuel cells, and distributed wind turbines. This is a postdoctoral position combining experimental and numerical work.
Experimental activities consist of deploying an existing array of microphones covering the audible and low-frequency ranges at various distances and radial distributions. The first field deployments will happen on site; later deployments may require travel. Once data is collected, the candidate is expected to post-process and analyze it, draw takeaways, and inform future campaigns. Numerical work consists of implementing existing emission and propagation models and developing next-generation ones. The candidate will focus on validating these models against measurements and on investigating and proposing design changes toward quieter energy systems.
The postdoc will work with a wide variety of customers, including the U.S. Department of Energy Integrated Energy Systems Office, the Alternative Fuels and Feedstocks Office, and the Office of Policy. Over time, the postdoc will also collaborate with other national laboratories, industry and academic partners, and the international community to execute projects and promote the energy industry. The postdoc is expected to demonstrate a broad understanding of engineering principles and general knowledge of energy-related disciplines, applications, and challenges.
The postdoc will be expected to publish research results in technical journals/conference proceedings and present work at conferences, symposia, and review meetings. They will also be expected to support project proposal preparation and reviews.
The period of performance is anticipated to be one-year with the opportunity to extend for up to three years.
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Basic Qualifications
Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
Additional Required Qualifications
- Candidates must hold a Ph.D. in a relevant field prior to beginning assignment.
- Strong coding skills, preferably in Python, proficiency in data analysis using open-source software, and familiarity with agentic AI tools.
- Published research in acoustics, aeroacoustics, mechanical, aerospace, statistics, data science, or similar.
- Excellent writing, interpersonal, and communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with numerical and experimental acoustics
- Proficiency in open-source software, preferably Python
- Familiarity with agentic AI tools
- Research background in the energy sector
- Hands-on experience with field acoustic measurements and microphone arrays, including low-frequency or infrasound.
- Signal processing of acoustic data (spectral analysis, background noise correction.
- Familiarity with relevant standards, such as IEC 61400-11 and ISO 9613-2
- Familiarity with airfoil noise source models: Brooks, Pope, and Marcolini (BPM) and Amiet
- Familiarity with fan and turbomachinery noise models
- Demonstrated ability to organize and clearly present complex concepts and results.
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Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)
Job Profile: Postdoctoral Researcher / Annual Salary Range: $76,600 - $126,400NLR 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 Summary
Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short-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; and paid holidays. 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.* Based on eligibility rules
Badging Requirement
NLR 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
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 you are offered employment at NLR, 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 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.
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Equal Opportunity 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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Løn og goder
Om stillingen
Om National Laboratory of the Rockies
Virksomhedsoversigt
National Laboratory of the Rockies, et nationalt laboratorium under det amerikanske energidepartement
HovedkontorGolden, CO, USA
Grundlagt1977
StørrelseOmkring 3.700 ansatte inklusive personale, postdoktorale forskere, praktikanter, gæstefagfolk og underleverandører (kilde: wikipedia.org)
Hvad de arbejder med
National Laboratory of the Rockies er en føderalt finansieret forskningsinstitution med fokus på anvendt energiforskning og udvikling på tværs af hele energisystemet, herunder produktion, distribution og slutbrug (kilde: nlr.gov). Deres arbejde dækker et bredt spektrum af energiteknologier såsom solenergi, vind, vedvarende brændstoffer, køretøjssystemer, bygninger, geotermi, energividenskab, beregningsvidenskab og energianalyse (kilde: nationallabs.org). Laboratoriet huser også specialiserede centre, herunder National Center for Photovoltaics, National Bioenergy Center og National Wind Technology Center, som understøtter fokuseret forskning og innovation inden for deres respektive områder (kilde: wikipedia.org). Som et nationalt laboratorium under Department of Energy opererer det under en føderal kontrakt og betjener offentlige og industrielle partnere ved at udvikle teknologi og mindske risici ved nye energisystemer (kilde: nlr.gov).
Projekter og resultater
Laboratoriet har en lang historie med betydningsfulde projekter, herunder udviklingen af SEA-Stack, et værktøj til screening og design af bølgeenergi-teknologi, som hjælper virksomheder med hurtigt at evaluere koncepter for at reducere tid og omkostninger i innovation inden for havenergi (kilde: nlr.gov). Det støtter også BOTTLE Consortiums kemiske oxidations-genanvendelsesplatform, der sigter mod at muliggøre skalerbar behandling af forurenet, blandet og flerlags plastaffald, hvilket adresserer kritiske udfordringer inden for bæredygtig materialehåndtering (kilde: nlr.gov). National Laboratory of the Rockies driver National Wind Technology Center i Colorado, en central facilitet for udvikling af vindenergiteknologier, og har en tilstedeværelse i Washington, D.C. for at støtte politik og interessentinddragelse (kilde: nlr.gov). Disse projekter demonstrerer laboratoriets lederskab inden for forskning i vedvarende energi og dets engagement i at fremskynde løsninger for ren energi på landsplan.
Seneste udviklinger
I december 2025 omdøbte Department of Energy officielt National Renewable Energy Laboratory til National Laboratory of the Rockies, hvilket afspejler dets udviklende mission og regionale identitet (kilde: nlr.gov). Gennem 2025 og 2026 forblev laboratoriet aktivt inden for avanceret energiforskning med meddelelser, der fremhævede fremskridt inden for marine- og bølgeenergi-teknologier, innovationer i plastgenanvendelse og forskning i kvante-relaterede materialer (kilde: nlr.gov). Dog gennemgik laboratoriet også personalenedskæringer, hvor 134 ansatte blev afskediget i februar 2026 efter tidligere nedskæringer på mindst 114 ansatte i maj 2025, hvilket afspejler organisatoriske tilpasninger i lyset af ændrede finansierings- og programprioriteter (kilde: cpr.org).
At arbejde der
National Laboratory of the Rockies tilbyder en bred vifte af stillinger inden for forskning, software- og beregningsvidenskab, laboratoriedrift, ingeniørarbejde, projektledelse, kommunikation og administrativ støtte, alt sammen i et føderalt finansieret F&U-miljø (kilde: techjobsforgood.com). Medarbejdere nyder godt af omfattende sundheds-, tand- og synsforsikring, 403(b)-pensionsordninger med arbejdsgivermatch, pensionsberettigelse, invaliditetsdækning, refusion af studieafgifter og muligheder for faglig udvikling (kilde: nlr.gov). Campus i Golden, Colorado, tilbyder wellness-ressourcer på stedet, herunder fitnesscenter, cafeteria, kaffebar, mødelokaler og åbne stier, hvilket fremmer en samarbejdsorienteret og fleksibel arbejdskultur, der støtter tidlig karriereudvikling og balance mellem arbejde og privatliv (kilde: nlr.gov).