Princeton University

The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment seeks applications for a lead software engineer and project manager, at the rank of professional specialist, in the research lab led by Assistant Professor Jesse Jenkins, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Andlinger Center for Energy and Environment.

The Zero-carbon Energy systems Research and Optimization Laboratory, aka ZERO Lab, works on improving optimization-based modeling tools, methods, and input data to understand complex energy systems. The group applies these methods to evaluate and optimize emerging low-carbon energy technologies, identify key cost and performance improvements, and provide insights to inform and target engineering research and investment. The group also uses energy systems models to generate decision-relevant insights to guide national and sub-national jurisdictions in transitioning to net-zero emissions energy systems and inform critical policy and planning decisions.

The professional specialist will lead the software development team, scientists, and lab members, and provide high-level expertise to the research group in the design, development, evaluation and release of software tools. The work focuses mainly on those tools that create inputs for open-source energy systems models, expand the functionality of open-source energy systems models, analyze the outputs of such models, and support the user and developer communities.

Responsibilities include: lead and manage a team of specialists, engineers, and researchers to develop and enhance the performance of all research software tools used by the ZERO Lab; work with researchers to translate research objectives to software solutions; oversee integration of open-source contributions to these software; develop and manage effective training for ZERO Lab researchers and a broad external community of users of these software tools; and work with scientists, data managers and other software engineers to evaluate scientific performance of software tools and create optimal workflows for computational modeling with large data requirements.

Work will initially focus on releasing Version 1.0 of the PowerGenome software project and development of data sets (e.g., concurrent hourly demand and variable renewable generation profiles) that can be processed in PowerGenome for use in GenX and other open-source energy system models. This position will also participate in academic research and publication.

Energy system models require a wide range of data, much of which must be collected and pre-processed before it can be used. Successful candidates will have experience:
* Oversight of software team projects
* Working with vector and raster geospatial data using open source software packages
* Cleaning energy sector data from public or government sources
* Processing data for use across a wide range of geographic aggregations
* Packaging energy systems data for use by a broader community of users

The initial appointment will be for 12 months with expectation of renewal contingent on funding and performance.

The Center is looking for candidates with demonstrated, high-level expertise in software engineering, management of open-source software projects, and collection and analysis of energy systems data. Domain expertise and proficiency with Python is required, experience with Julia and R is a plus. PhD degree in computer science, software engineering, engineering or other related field required. At least eight years of relevant professional experience is required, experience in the realm of energy systems modeling helpful.

Applicants must apply online at https://www.princeton.edu/acad-positions/position/29041 and submit a CV, cover letter, and contact information for three references. The position is subject to the University's background check policy.

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