Detalles del empleo
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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Salario y beneficios
Sobre este empleo
Sobre National Laboratory of the Rockies
Resumen de la Empresa
Laboratorio Nacional de las Rocosas, un laboratorio nacional del Departamento de Energía de EE. UU.
SedeGolden, CO, Estados Unidos
Fundación1977
TamañoAproximadamente 3,700 empleados incluyendo personal, investigadores postdoctorales, pasantes, profesionales visitantes y subcontratistas (fuente: wikipedia.org)
Qué Hacen
El Laboratorio Nacional de las Rocosas es una institución de investigación financiada federalmente que se enfoca en la investigación y desarrollo aplicado en energía a lo largo de todo el sistema energético, incluyendo generación, distribución y uso final (fuente: nlr.gov). Su trabajo abarca una amplia gama de tecnologías energéticas como solar, eólica, combustibles renovables, sistemas vehiculares, edificios, geotermia, ciencias energéticas, ciencias computacionales y análisis energético (fuente: nationallabs.org). El laboratorio también alberga centros especializados como el Centro Nacional de Fotovoltaica, el Centro Nacional de Bioenergía y el Centro Nacional de Tecnología Eólica, que apoyan la investigación e innovación focalizada en sus respectivos campos (fuente: wikipedia.org). Como laboratorio nacional del Departamento de Energía, opera bajo un contrato federal y sirve a socios del sector público e industrial desarrollando tecnología y reduciendo riesgos en sistemas energéticos emergentes (fuente: nlr.gov).
Proyectos y Trayectoria
El laboratorio cuenta con una rica historia de proyectos impactantes, incluyendo el desarrollo de SEA-Stack, una herramienta para el diseño y evaluación de tecnologías de energía undimotriz que ayuda a las empresas a evaluar rápidamente conceptos para reducir tiempo y costos en innovación de energía marina (fuente: nlr.gov). También apoya la plataforma de reciclaje por oxidación química del Consorcio BOTTLE, que busca habilitar el procesamiento escalable de residuos plásticos contaminados, mixtos y multicapa, abordando desafíos críticos en la gestión sostenible de materiales (fuente: nlr.gov). El Laboratorio Nacional de las Rocosas opera el Centro Nacional de Tecnología Eólica en Colorado, una instalación clave para el avance de tecnologías eólicas, y mantiene presencia en Washington, D.C. para apoyar políticas y la participación de interesados (fuente: nlr.gov). Estos proyectos demuestran el liderazgo del laboratorio en investigación de energías renovables y su compromiso con acelerar soluciones de energía limpia a nivel nacional.
Desarrollos Recientes
En diciembre de 2025, el Departamento de Energía renombró oficialmente el Laboratorio Nacional de Energía Renovable como Laboratorio Nacional de las Rocosas, reflejando su misión en evolución e identidad regional (fuente: nlr.gov). Durante 2025 y 2026, el laboratorio se mantuvo activo en investigación avanzada en energía, con anuncios que destacaron avances en tecnologías marinas y de energía undimotriz, innovaciones en reciclaje de plásticos e investigaciones relacionadas con materiales cuánticos (fuente: nlr.gov). Sin embargo, el laboratorio también enfrentó reducciones de personal, despidiendo a 134 empleados en febrero de 2026 tras recortes anteriores de al menos 114 empleados en mayo de 2025, reflejando ajustes organizacionales ante cambios en financiamiento y prioridades de programas (fuente: cpr.org).
Trabajar Allí
El Laboratorio Nacional de las Rocosas ofrece una amplia variedad de roles que abarcan investigación, ciencias computacionales y de software, operaciones de laboratorio, ingeniería, gestión de proyectos, comunicaciones y soporte administrativo, todo dentro de un entorno de I+D financiado federalmente (fuente: techjobsforgood.com). Los empleados disfrutan de cobertura médica, dental y visual integral, planes de ahorro para el retiro 403(b) con aportación del empleador, elegibilidad para pensión, cobertura por discapacidad, reembolso de matrícula y oportunidades de desarrollo profesional (fuente: nlr.gov). El campus en Golden, Colorado, ofrece recursos de bienestar en el lugar, incluyendo un centro de fitness, cafetería, cafetería, espacios para reuniones y senderos al aire libre, fomentando una cultura laboral colaborativa y flexible que apoya el desarrollo profesional temprano y el equilibrio entre vida laboral y personal (fuente: nlr.gov).