Post-Undergraduate/Graduate (Year-Round) Data Engineering Intern

Posting TitlePost-Undergraduate/Graduate (Year-Round) Data Engineering Intern

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LocationCO - Golden

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Position TypeIntern (Fixed Term)

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Hours Per Week40

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Working at NRELNREL is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development.

Join NREL, where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NREL 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 NREL, 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.

Job Description

NREL's Grid Planning and Analysis  team is seeking a curious, sharp, and technically skilled Data Engineering Intern to help build the largest grid datasets in the world. We are looking for a candidate passionate about building trusted, validated databases from the ground up using messy, heterogeneous datasets that fuel real-world energy research and national policy decisions.

You'll be instrumental in transforming unstructured or semi-structured data into high-integrity, queryable databases that support machine learning models, visual analytics, and advanced simulations. 

Responsibilities

• Ingest, clean, and validate diverse datasets from internal and external sources (e.g., CSVs,  spreadsheets, Text Files and SQL dumps)
• Design and assemble structured, high-quality relational databases
• Collaborate with domain scientists and software engineers to understand data contexts and ensure correct integration into the Sienna Platform
• Document data provenance, validation logic, and database design decisions
• Write reusable scripts for data transformation and validation (preferably in Python or similar languages)
• Contribute to internal Git repositories and maintain clean, reproducible codebases

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Basic QualificationsMust be enrolled as a full-time student in a Bachelor's, Master's or PhD degree program, or graduated in the past 12 months from an accredited institution. Candidates who have earned a degree may work for a period not to exceed 12 months. Must have a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.

Please Note:

•You will need to upload official or unofficial school transcripts as part of the application process.

•If selected for position, a letter of recommendation will be required as part of the hiring process.

* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

• Completed a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Data Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or currently enrolled in a masters or PhD program in these fields
• Must provide a GitHub profile or portfolio showcasing relevant projects as part of application, please include a link in your resume/CV
• Strong programming skills in Julia and python with experience with Pandas, NumPy, or similar libraries a plus
• Demonstrated experience working with datasets and databases
• Ability to communicate technical details clearly and collaborate in a team-oriented environment
• Data requests through APIs

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency in SQL and experience with relational databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, etc.)

• Machine learning experience

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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: / Annual Salary Range: $50,200 - $80,300

NREL 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 SummaryBenefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; and sick leave (where required by law). NREL 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. Internships projected to be less than 20 hours per week are not eligible for medical, dental, or vision benefits.

* Based on eligibility rules

Badging RequirementNREL 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. Intern assignments extending beyond six months will be subject to this requirement.Drug Free Workplace

NREL 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 NREL, 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 NREL 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.

Reasonable Accommodations

E-Verify For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish.

E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This business uses E-Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce. 

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