Strategic Analysis, Inc. (SA) is a mid-sized business operating for over thirty years to successfully provide our U. S. Government and private sector clients with the very best in scientific and engineering analysis, software development, strategic planning, and program management support.

We seek a Senior Scientist/Engineer in the Energy Analysis Division of Strategic Analysis Inc.  The new hire will conduct technoeconomic analysis on a variety of cutting-edge issues related to fuel cell power generation and associated alternative energy systems. The analysis is a multi-disciplinary blend of electrochemistry, material science, mechanical engineering, and chemical engineering. Additional activities include technical evaluation, performance modeling, and Design for Manufacturing & Assembly (DFMA) capital cost estimation of advanced/emerging technology energy systems. Other activities include research support and evaluation, preparation of briefing materials, identification of technology gaps, technical risk management, technology transfer efforts, business case modeling, basic economic evaluation, market assessment, new concept generation, proposal generation, and supervision of team members.

The ideal candidate will have a degree and experience in one or more of the sciences and engineering specialties mentioned above and below. Success in this role will require the candidate to be capable of learning concepts from technical reports, patents, and scientific literature and deriving actionable model inputs from non-obvious sources. Team members typically work on multiple projects:

• Electricity production, transmission, and distribution, particularly as they apply to alternative energy or distribution production systems, and the market systems to balance and execute an efficient and economical electric grid.
• Alternative energy systems with a particular focus on hydrogen production and automotive and stationary fuel cells.
• Hydrogen production, including electrolysis, steam methane reforming, solar thermal, photocatalytic, etc.
• Hydrogen storage including onboard fuel storage for vehicles and long-term hydrogen storage.

Requirements

• Must be a US Citizen either with a security clearance or the ability to obtain/maintain a DoD secret clearance.
• STEM degree required. Mechanical, Electrical, or Chemical Engineering degree preferred.
• PhD or Master’s Degree, preferred.
• 5+ years engineering experience preferred.
• Experience/Familiarity/Awareness of all types of fuel cells preferred.
• Experience with capital cost estimation methodologies (e.g. DFMA, ACCE) preferred.
• Familiarity with factory manufacturing methods/practices preferred.
• Experience with system performance estimation/analysis preferred.
• Experience with techno-economic analysis preferred.
• Experience with process simulation software (e.g. ASPEN or HYSYS) preferred.
• Familiarity with the Python programming language preferred.
• Familiarity with electric grid design and issues preferred.
• Familiarity with hydrogen storage, steam reforming, hydrogen generation, fuel cell technologies, energy system analysis preferred.
• Familiarity with capital cost estimation of large projects (e.g. power plants, nuclear plants, natural gas combined cycle, etc.)
• Experience with analysis of alternative energy systems preferred.
• Superior written and public presentation skills required.
• Ability to work well in a team in a matrix organization required.
• Ability to work independently and to formulate a self-directed action plan from a general problem statement required.
• Ability to creatively brainstorm novel solutions to engineering problems (e.g. ability to formulate innovative approaches that would serve as the core concept of a funding proposal or product development effort) required.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct/Lead performance analysis of fuel cell systems.
• Conduct/Lead system/component conceptual design.
• Conduct/Lead techno-economic analysis.
• Conduct/Lead DFMA cost analysis.
• Conduct/Lead system performance modeling.
• Collect, or lead efforts to collect, technical data through review of reports/Journal-articles and oral interviews with researchers.
• Prepare, and/or direct preparation of, contract status reporting materials.
• Prepare, and/or direct preparation of, technical reports.
• Participate in or lead proposal efforts.
• Brief clients on project status and results.
• Present analysis results at meetings/conferences.