Principal Engineer - Building Energy Efficiency at GTI Energy in Des Plaines, Illinois

Job Description:

GTI Energy is a leading technology development organization. Our trusted team works to scale impactful solutions that shape energy transitions by leveraging gases, liquids, infrastructure, and efficiency. We embrace systems thinking, innovation, and collaboration to develop, scale, and deploy the technologies needed for low-carbon, low-cost energy systems. Fostering a positive and respectful work culture that promotes growth, collaboration, and opportunity, our 18-acre headquarters is home to state-of-the-art labs and facilities where scientists, engineers, program managers, trainers, and other professionals take a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving. We are proud of what we do because our work matters. GTI Energy is focused on solving global energy challenges in transitioning to a low-carbon economy. We have a proven track record in producing creative and important intellectual property and commercializing solutions to deliver safe, clean, and reliable energy. At GTI Energy, we deliver innovative solutions that transform lives, economies, and the environment. At GTI Energy, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Accessibility (DEI&A) is not only an important business priority, but it is also deeply rooted in our culture and values and something we celebrate every day. GTI Energy is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We offer generous benefits, competitive salaries, enticing incentives, career advancement, and the opportunity to work in a professional R&D environment committed to purposeful work. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

General Summary

GTI Energy, the nation’s leading research, development, and training organization serving energy markets, has an opportunity for a Principal Engineer within our Building Energy Efficiency group to identify, evaluate, and develop new energy-related technologies. The qualified candidate will conduct studies, laboratory evaluations, and technical, economic, and market assessments of new and emerging technologies for residential and commercial buildings. The technology will focus on distributed power generation, microgrids, water heating, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) that optimize the use of natural gas, electrical, and renewables.  The work will involve interacting and collaborating with researchers from utilities, private industry, government agencies, universities, and national laboratories. The candidate for this position will take a systematic approach to develop and lead multiple projects, understand individual project goals and how they support strategic organizational goals, manage project budgets and schedules, and establish or expand competency areas. The candidate will collaborate with technical staff and external partners on new project proposals as well as laboratory, field, and analytical research projects.

 

Why GTI Energy?

GTI Energy embraces the power of innovation and collaboration to solve consequential energy challenges.  By demonstrating continuous improvements in technology and solutions that lower the emissions and costs of energy, we will shape energy systems that decarbonize economies, protect our environment, and benefit the people they serve. We do this by putting people at the center of everything we do. We support and uplift people, ensuring they have the resources and confidence needed to live as their authentic selves and reach their full potential.

We offer generous benefits, competitive salaries, opportunities for professional growth and career advancement. We prioritize and maintain an inclusive, diverse, and respectful culture, and we ensure reasonable accommodation is made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their role.

Being part of the GTI Energy team means being surrounded by people that are passionate and purpose driven, empowered to continuously learn, ask hard questions, and leverage their knowledge and experience to drive toward a greater purpose.

 

Work Location

The position will be based in the Chicagoland area at the GTI Energy Headquarters. We offer a hybrid/core work week, where employees are remote Mondays and Fridays, and required to be on-site Tuesday through Thursday.

 

Primary Responsibilities

• Evaluate new or emerging technologies based on measured energy savings, carbon emissions, lifecycle costs, and non-economic benefits with a focus on commercial buildings, distributed power generation, and microgrids.


• Manage analytical, experimental, and field demonstration projects, including budgets, schedules, deliverables, and coordinate with project partners including customers, internal staff and external contractors.


• Lead project teams to develop field test plans. design and install instrumentation and data acquisition systems to quantify performance.


• Use software tools to analyze data, summarize results, and report findings.


• Prepare technical documents, test reports, and research publications to fulfill project reporting needs as well as communicate technical information and place key results in context for customers, partners, and subcontractors.


• Develop new project ideas and proposals.


• Travel up to 30% to participate in field site visits, pilot implementations, and industry events.


• Perform other duties as assigned.

 

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics

• Fundamental understanding of thermodynamics and power generation.


• Prior industry/academic laboratory research experience.


• Strong written and verbal communication skills.


• Knowledge of all safety protocols in field or lab settings.


• Individuals who are self-motivated and able to work independently and as part of a team.


• Active and recognized participant in professional societies and codes and standards is a plus.

 

Education and Experience

• Bachelor of Science in an engineering or scientific field with 10+ years relevant work experience or an advanced degree in an engineering or scientific field with 8+ years of experience.


• Relevant industry certifications are a plus (Licensed Professional Engineer, CEM, PMP, etc.)


• Supervisory experience, particularly in a research or engineering-based setting is a plus.


• Experience identifying new technical and/or business areas of activity is a plus.


• Hands on experience with instrumentation, data acquisition, control systems, and programming is a plus.

 

Pay Transparency

The salary range for this position is $115,000 - $160,000 USD annually. This salary range is GTI Energy’s good faith estimate, and the actual salary may vary based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, GTI Energy’s business or organizational needs and an individual’s relevant experience, education, qualifications, certifications, skills, seniority, geographic location, and/or performance. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate, monthly rate, or annual salary only, and do not include bonus. The range listed is just one component of GTI Energy’s total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, paid time off, and region-specific benefits.

 

EEO Statement

GTI Energy is committed to developing a barrier-free recruitment process and work environment.  If you require any accommodation, please e-mail us at HumanResources@gti.energy and we’ll work with you to meet your accessibility needs. You must have legal authorization to work for GTI Energy on your date of hire with no further action required by GTI Energy. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and give consideration to qualified applicants without regard to race, color, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, pregnancy, or genetic information.

Education

Required

• Bachelor of Science or better in Engineering or related field

Licenses & Certifications

Preferred

• PMP-Project Mgmt Prof


• PE-Prof Engineer

Skills

Required

• HVAC


• Water Heating


• Microgrid


• Thermodynamic Modeling


• Thermodynamics


• Building Envelope


• Building Energy Modeling


• Power Generation


• Distributed Energy Systems

Preferred

• Renewable Energy Systems


• Electrical Power Generation


• Gasification


• Techno-economic Analysis (TEA)


• Laboratory Techniques


• Research Skills


• Technical Communication


• System Testing and Validation


• Data Analysis


• Data Acquisition


• Instrumentation


• Experimental Design


• Field Data Collection


• Budget Management


• Project Management


• Emission Control


• Lifecycle Analysis (LCA)


• Carbon Emissions


• Energy Systems


• Energy Efficiency Standards


• Energy Audits


• Energy Industry Knowledge


• Energy Efficiency Ratings


• Emerging Technologies


• ASHRAE Standards

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

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