Junior Building Energy Modeling Analyst

The primary role of the Building Energy Modeling Analyst will be production of technical work analyzing building assemblies and overall building performance.  This will involve following guidelines, engineering standards, and processes to generate energy models, detailed finite element thermal models, or other calculations to evaluate existing and proposed building performance. Training will be provided to perform this work and help with process coordination, development, systematization, and documentation. We work in a very high trust environment and being conscientious in your work and person is an absolute requirement.

The ideal candidate will be motivated to advance both personal and company knowledge in the intersection of physics, design, math, software simulation and real-world building performance. You will be detail oriented, organized, and love science / math and engineering. You are the type of person who makes sure the physics units are correct when solving engineering problems. Our firm uses written processes to guide our work (we’re a small team so quite flexible) and you are keen to use and improve these processes for technical work.

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical Engineering and passed boards - Junior Level only
• Heat transfer and thermodynamics as part of your engineering course work
• Proficient with Microsoft Excel / Word used to organize, analyze, and report data.
• Excellent written, verbal communication in English.
• 3D modeling skills. We use SketchUp but good experience in any CAD is sufficient.
• The ability to read and understand a set of residential architectural plans
• Strong time management and organization skills
• Outstanding computer skills – learning a new software package is natural for you.
• Enjoy working independently with a high attention to detail and a quick learner

Nice to have skills

• Working knowledge of building HVAC and electrical systems, energy efficiency, green building, and high-performance design.
• Knowledge of building enclosure systems and building science
• Knowledge of the basic physics and engineering equations underlying building energy calculations
• Experience with finite element software or analysis
• Experience with modeling software such as Energy Plus, Open Studio and Rhino.
• Experience with Python or Excel VBA

Daily activities

Analyst will perform energy modeling analysis for residential and commercial buildings using whole building analysis programs such as Excel based PHPP, Energy Plus dynamic energy analysis, or specialized software for finite element thermal analysis. Analyst will collect data, build models and perform simulations using drawings and information from clients. Analyst will write reports communicating energy analysis findings and design recommendations for improved energy performance.

A common workflow would be to:

• Develop building geometry from plans which may be provided in a variety of formats in SketchUp,
• Calculate shading impacts using a SketchUp plugin tool,
• Change to an Excel based whole building energy modeling and analysis tool and analyze different options,
• Starting from a template write a report for this project detailing results, options, and recommendations for the client.

Additional activities would include building geometry models in SketchUp for other analysts; thermal bridge analysis in 2D and 3D finite element software; HVAC room-by-room heating cooling and ventilation loads; dynamic energy modeling with EnergyPlus for buildings and HVAC systems; SketchUp visualization of building constructions and drafting of construction details; and other technical work as required.

Work Location (Homebased)

• Candidates are required to have a personal device and a good working environment at home
• Candidates are required to have a stable/reliable internet connection of at least 20MBPS for both download and upload speed.