Senior Researcher – HVAC/Building Science

Overview

Apply your technical skills to truly make a difference in the fight against climate change and inequity of its impacts. The Senior Researcher role at Slipstream is part of our Research and Innovation Team where we study, develop, and test the next generation of energy solutions across multiple sectors of the economy. Slipstream is a national, mission-driven organization that accelerates climate solutions. For everyone. We inspire new solutions to big energy challenges. We are optimistic, inclusive, and ambitious about our impact. Our Research and Innovation Team is a national leader in understanding the real impacts that these new solutions have on addressing climate change.

 

We are seeking a Senior Researcher who will play an integral role by conducting research to quantify carbon and energy impacts of different electrification and decarbonization strategies, including both technological (heat pumps) and user-centric (utility billing) approaches. Our ideal Senior Researcher has experience in conducting and managing research and analysis on residential systems including HVAC, water heating, and heat pump applications. You want to creatively address climate change using both your technical skills and your curiosity. You thrive in a collegial and collaborative environment with a diverse group of researchers.

 

We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds. You are key to the success of our organization by demonstrating our values, engaging in our mission, and creating results that will produce enduring economic and environmental benefits for all. Show us how you collaborate and how you include under-represented perspectives to drive better ideas. We welcome candidates from anywhere in the continental U.S. The current geographic focus of our work is New England and the Midwest, so locating there would be an added plus.

 

What you’ll do:

– Conduct primary and secondary research on residential and community decarbonization, with a focus on electrification and heat pump approaches.
– Conduct field research at homes and community facilities to gather information and data, which may include measurements and qualitative outcomes.
– Manage research and development projects, including cross-functional teams, and report results to clients and to the broader industry.
– Develop and implement research strategies for Slipstream in areas of expertise; prioritize and execute strategic partnership activities to advance strategies
– Assist in securing funding, including proposal development
– Serve as a technical resource for various teams throughout Slipstream.
– Analyze research data, which includes gathering, cleaning, and applying statistical or econometric methods to a variety of data sources
– Publish results in high-quality journals or other significant media; develop policy briefs on behalf of the organization.

What you’ll need:

– Natural curiosity and interest in learning about new approaches to decarbonization
– Experience in residential building systems, specifically HVAC, water heating, and/or heat pumps; connection to and knowledge of the market that delivers these systems
– Analytical thinker, ability to solve complex problems and conduct energy analysis
– Experience with research methods and conducting research
– Ability to manage complex projects both independently and a diverse set of research teammates
– Ability to communicate complex concepts with a diverse group of energy stakeholders, including technical and non-technical (researchers, facility operators, building occupants, working groups, etc.)
We’d like it if you had familiarity with these too, but if not here’s what you’ll learn:

– Field experience including measurement and verification, and observation of energy systems
– Understanding of methods for equitable deployment of decarbonization strategies
– Experience processing and analyzing data sets, using statistical and data management tools (e.g. R, Stata, Python, etc.)
– Knowledge of relevant building energy codes and standards (e.g., ASHRAE, AHRI, IEEE)

Qualifications

– Bachelor’s degree, or advanced degree preferred, in mechanical, electrical, architectural engineering, physics, or professional equivalent
– 8-10 years of experience in related work