Grid Sensors R&D Engineer - Tennessee (TN)

Requisition Id 15824  · ­­Overview:   · As a Senior Grid Sensors R&D Engineer, you will lead the development, testing, and large-scale deployment of sensing technologies for future smart grids. High-fidelity, point-on-wave sensor applications are increasingly critical to address ...

Job description

Requisition Id 15824 

­­Overview:  

As a Senior Grid Sensors R&D Engineer, you will lead the development, testing, and large-scale deployment of sensing technologies for future smart grids. High-fidelity, point-on-wave sensor applications are increasingly critical to address grid resilience, asset health monitoring, and rapid fault recovery amid growing DER and EV penetration. You will set technical direction, mature technologies from lab to field, and integrate sensors, data pipelines, and analytics into operational environments.

This position requires deep practical experience in power engineering and a demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, shape research programs, and build strategic relationships with utilities and industry partners. You will grow a well-established ORNL testbed and expand field deployments across substations and distribution systems; drive standards activities to accelerate adoption; and lead publication efforts that establish ORNL's thought leadership.

This position resides in the Sensors and Electronics Group in the Electrification Section of EEID/ESTD at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Technical leadership
  • Direct technicians and field engineers in the build, integration, testing, and commissioning advanced grid sensors and associated instrumentation for medium-voltage and distribution systems, including high-resolution signal conditioning and point-on-wave acquisition.
  • Oversee software engineering efforts to develop tools that record, replay, and analyze waveform data for event detection, classification, and sensor benchmarking.
  • Expand and manage ORNL's grid sensor testbeds; plan and execute multi-site field pilots; ensure data quality, synchronization, and cyber-secure operation.
  • Set requirements and acceptance criteria; oversee selection, configuration, ruggedization, and lifecycle support of commercial data-acquisition systems for laboratory and field use.
• Program development and execution
  • Develop technical roadmaps and capture strategies; lead proposal development, cost estimation, work breakdown structures, schedules, risk/mitigation, and deliverable planning.
  • Serve as principal investigator or co-PI on multi-institution projects; manage budgets, milestones, reporting, and sponsor engagement to ensure on-time, on-scope delivery.
  • Identify new funding opportunities and partnerships across DOE, ARPA-E, EPRI, utilities, and industry; cultivate a robust external collaborator ecosystem.
• Utility and industry relations
  • Establish and grow strategic relationships with utilities, OEMs, and integrators; coordinate pilots, data-sharing agreements, and technology transfer.
  • Convene and lead utility advisory boards and working sessions to align requirements, validate use cases, and accelerate adoption.
  • Provide training, playbooks, and best practices for operations, protection, and asset management teams.
• IEEE standards leadership
  • Lead and contribute to relevant IEEE standards and working groups (e.g., IEEE PES committees) focused on distribution sensing, data models, time synchronization, and analytics.
  • Draft and harmonize specifications; drive balloting and consensus-building; represent ORNL in standards bodies and inter-committee collaborations.
  • Translate standards into implementable guidance for sensors, data pipelines, and utility operations.
• Publications and thought leadership
  • Lead the publication of high-impact journal articles, conference papers, best-practice guides, and technical reports; serve as corresponding author and organizer of special sessions or panels.
  • Deliver invited talks, tutorials, and workshops; establish benchmarks and open datasets where appropriate to advance the state of the art.
  • Contribute to IP generation and technology maturation toward licensing and commercialization.
• Team building and mentorship
  • Mentor staff, postdocs, students, and early-career engineers; foster a culture of safety, quality, and inclusion.
  • Coordinate cross-lab efforts with power systems, data science, cybersecurity, and communications teams.
• Field operations and reliability
  • Oversee installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of deployed systems at substations and feeders; direct field crews and partners to ensure safe, reliable, and continuous operation.
  • Ensure compliance with safety, cybersecurity, QA/QC, and data governance requirements.
• Deliver ORNL's mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

• B.S. or M.S. degree in electrical engineering, computer science, or a related discipline with a minimum of twenty years of experience (B.S.) or sixteen years of experience (M.S.).
• Experience in grid sensing, power systems, or instrumentation commensurate with a senior role, including demonstrated leadership of complex R&D projects and field deployments.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Deep practical experience with data acquisition systems, sensor interfacing, high-bandwidth analog front ends, and time-synchronized measurements.
• Proficiency with LabVIEW for instrumentation control and data processing; strong skills in Python and C/C++; familiarity with Unix/Linux environments.
• Experience architecting data pipelines (edge to cloud), data quality assurance, metadata and time synchronization, and secure remote operations.
• Knowledge of utility operations, protection, relaying, communications, and integration of DERs and EVs into distribution systems.
• Active participation and leadership in IEEE standards development (e.g., IEEE PES committees); experience drafting, reviewing, or balloting standards.
• Proven track record of proposal leadership, program capture, budget/schedule management, and delivery of multi-partner projects.
• Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals and conferences; experience serving as corresponding author and organizing invited sessions.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain utility and industry partnerships, excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience mentoring and leading multidisciplinary teams; ability to coordinate across hardware/software and operations stakeholders.

Special Requirements:

 Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a clearance from the Department of Energy. As such, this position is a Workplace Substance Abuse (WSAP) testing designated position. WSAP positions require passing a pre-placement drug test and participation in an ongoing random drug testing program.

Please have two letters of reference sent when applying to this position. The referees should send these directly to   with the position title and number referenced in the subject line. Candidate should not submit letters of reference themselves.

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About ORNL

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation's most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well-being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.

Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email: or call

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

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ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply.  UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.