Postdoctoral Researcher - Acoustics of Industrial Equipment in the Energy Sector (Cooling Systems, Fuel Cells, Distributed Wind Turbines)

Posting Title

• Location
• CO - Boulder.
• Position Type
• Postdoc (Fixed Term).
• Hours Per Week
• 40.

Working at NLR

NLR's 305-acre Flatirons Campus is the nation's premier wind energy, water power, and grid integration research facility. Nestled south of Boulder, Colorado, and north of NLR's main South Table Mountain campus, Flatirons Campus sits adjacent to the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge and countless acres of open space and parks with stunning views of the Flatirons rock formations.

Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NLR stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future.

Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth.

At NLR, you'll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.

About the role

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..

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..

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: Postdoctoral Researcher / Annual Salary Range: $76,600 - $126,400

NLR 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

• 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..