Senior Scientist, Smart Grids

Are you passionate about smart grids and eager to lead the development of cutting-edge research platforms that push the boundaries of power system control and artificial intelligence? Do you thrive on advancing next-level applied research methods and tools and want to drive transformative projects that bridge the gap between academia and industry? If you're excited about contributing to innovative research in state-of-the-art facilities and shaping the future of energy systems, VTT could be the perfect place for you.

VTT is one of the leading applied research organisations in Europe. What unites us are curiosity, a passion for learning, and a purpose: to solve the biggest challenges of our time and turn them into sustainable growth and well-being. Our cross-disciplinary community of over 2000 brilliant minds focuses on creating impact through science-based innovation. In recent years, we have created ground-breaking innovations such as the world's fastest and most accurate radiation detector, a cancer-sniffing sensor device for smartphones, and a headphone set entirely made of microbial materials. Get to know us further by exploring VTT's tech & infra.

We are now looking for a Senior Scientist to join our Smart Grids team!

As a Senior Scientist, your key goals are to lead groundbreaking research and innovation within the realm of smart grids, harnessing your deep expertise in power systems and cutting-edge technologies.

You will take responsibility for developing a sophisticated experimental research platform through co-creation, focusing on real-time simulations and digital twins, Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing methods, and advanced data sharing and platforms. Your responsibilities will extend to leading significant research projects, with a special emphasis on energy communities, microgrids, data analytics, machine learning (ML), and artificial intelligence (AI) applications to enhance power system flexibility, reliability, and resilience. Through your visionary approach and collaborative spirit, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of energy systems and fostering an environment of excellence and innovation within the team and the broader scientific community.

The Smart Grids team is at the forefront of crafting innovative solutions for the future low-carbon energy system in which the electrical grid plays a central role. With a deep understanding of the power systems' current operations within the broader energy system, our team is expert in anticipating and adapting to its future transformations. These changes are driven by a confluence of global developments: a shifting energy mix, the accelerated electrification of transport and industry, the rise of cutting-edge digital technologies, and the growing demand for a more reliable and flexible electricity supply. Our team's expertise positions us uniquely to navigate these complexities, ensuring that our solutions not only meet today's needs but also pave the way for a sustainable and resilient energy future.

As a Senior Scientist, you will:

• Lead advanced research in Smart Grid technologies. Your work will involve developing research challenges – use cases of power system transition phenomena – with different stakeholders, combining theoretical research with practical laboratory experimentation. You will particularly advance research through real-time simulations with digital twins, HIL testing, and integrating different living laboratories.
• Pioneer experimental research methodologies. Design novel experimental approaches in the IntelligentEnergy laboratory, including power system analysis and tools, advanced data analysis and application of data sharing and platforms.
• Develop research infrastructure. Formulate strategies for expanding and enhancing the research platform through co-creation, ensuring it remains at the forefront of technological advancements and supports various stakeholder needs.
• Develop and manage research projects. Identify opportunities for, secure funding for, and manage research projects through the novel research platform, particularly those focusing on microgrids, energy communities, data analytics, ML, and AI applications in power system developments, planning and operations.
• Mentorship and team building. Provide mentorship and guidance to scientists early in their careers, promoting a culture of learning and innovation. Your support will help build a cohesive, collaborative team.
• Advance collaborative partnerships. Initiate and cultivate partnerships with academia, industry, and governmental agencies.
• Contribute to scientific knowledge and policy development. Actively engage in the dissemination of research findings through publications, conferences, and workshops. Additionally, contribute to developing policies and standards related to smart grids and renewable energy systems, ensuring that your research has a lasting impact on the scientific community and society.

Your profile and experience:

• You demonstrate expertise in power systems, especially in active distribution grid or power system analysis and flexibility use cases. Your experience extends to power system management and automation.
• You hold a Doctor of Science (Tech) degree in Electrical Engineering or Master of Science (Tech), and you have gained a holistic understanding of power system development and operation through your work experience.
• You have a proven track record in leading research initiatives, some of which are related to the integration of distributed and renewable energy resources, improving power system flexibility, reliability, and resilience, and the development of cutting-edge electricity distribution systems and power quality data analytics, with a strong emphasis on AI applications.
• Your experience includes leading roles in modern research, testing and piloting environment development, where you have preferably designed advanced testing setups and overseen comprehensive experiments with various types of HIL. Your background in strategic planning of laboratory facility development is beneficial.
• You are skilled in utilizing and integrating power system simulation tools into research and development projects, including RT-Lab, RSCAD, Simulink, PSCAD, PowerFactory, and PSS/E.
• Your expertise in data platforms and analytics techniques makes you valuable to the team.
• You are skilled in programming languages such as Python, MATLAB, Julia, Java+
• You speak English fluently. Other languages, especially Finnish, are considered an asset.
• You work well in a multicultural environment with other researchers and engineers.

Your unique skills and experience may be just what we need, so please consider applying even if you do not meet every requirement listed!

As a person, we hope that you are:

• Good team worker and have a positive attitude towards complex research challenges.
• Fast learner and curious person, excited about learning and working with different projects on integrating energy resources in future power systems.
• Safety-minded person and comfortable working in a low voltage electrical laboratory environment, too.
• Excited about producing high-level research that leads to relevant publications; willing to perform strong networking with international academic partners.

What we offer you:

• Visionary work in technology. We offer positions at the cutting-edge of technology and engineering from next-generation microelectronics and quantum technology to automation and robotics, energy systems and more. Our research agenda is dedicated to creating sustainable growth by solving systemic and technological challenges, so your work will go towards creating real, positive impact. Read more about our strategy – the path of exponential hope. 
• Fascinating projects, excellent research environment. Our researchers get to work on a combination of cutting-edge academic research and applied customer projects, both locally and internationally. At VTT, you’ll have state-of-the-art research facilities at your disposal, such as VTT FutureHub, the headquarters of VTT.   
• Great career opportunities, superb colleagues. At VTT, excellence in research is a strategic priority. We offer long-term positions and stable career paths in top-level research. People tend to stay with us for over 10 years since there are always new roles and responsibilities to grow into. Collaborating in a cross-disciplinary community with superb colleagues is a source of learning, inspiration, and fun. Read more about our organisational culture as the builder of the world's most meaningful place to work. 
• Support for your well-being. Our people are our main asset, so we take good care of them. We aim to nurture great team spirit and leadership and offer versatile well-being services to enable a good work-life balance. On top of annual 6 weeks of paid holidays (after one year of work), we offer exercise and culture benefits, hobby clubs, and voluntary well-being services such as meditation programmes and trainings on cognitive ergonomics.

Apply now and join our community of brilliant minds!

Please send your CV and application with your salary request via our recruitment system as soon as possible but at the latest by 18 September 2024. We will process applications as they come in and fill the position as soon as we find the right candidate since we hope that the person can start as soon as possible. A security clearance procedure may be conducted during the recruitment process.

Interested and want to know more?

For further information, please contact Research Team Leader Katja Sirviö, e-mail: katja.sirvio@vtt.fi, or tel. +358503140749 on 4 September at 15–16 or 16 September at 13–14 (Finnish time, UCT+3).

We look forward to hearing from you!

Apply between 28 August 2024 and 18 September 2024 23:59 (Europe/Helsinki)

Employment type: Full-time, Permanent

VTT

VTT is a visionary research, development and innovation partner. We drive sustainable growth and tackle the biggest global challenges of our time and turn them into growth opportunities. We go beyond the obvious to help the society and companies to grow through technological innovations. We have 80 years of experience of top-level research and science-based results. VTT is at the sweet spot where innovation and business come together.

VTT – beyond the obvious.