Research & Development STEM Student Assistant - Year Round

Apply by Date: 11/28/2025
Hourly Minimum Pay Rate: $23.63
Hourly Maximum Pay Rate: $28.80

 

The Grants, Partnerships, Research & Demonstration (GPR&D) department acts as a catalyst and enabler to SMUD's 2030 Zero Carbon and long-term sustainability goals. Our research programs focus on three priority topic areas: Electric Transportation, Virtual Power Plants, and Thermal Transition. The Electrification topic area includes accelerating customer adoption and mitigating grid impacts of both Electric Transportation and Building Electrification. The Virtual Power Plants topic area includes aggregating and managing customer and utility-owned distributed energy resources (i.e. batteries, electric vehicles, thermostats, etc.) to provide grid operational support. The Thermal Transition topic area includes Short and Long Duration Utility-Scale Energy Storage, Alternative Zero Carbon Fuels (such as Renewable Natural Gas and Green Hydrogen), Carbon Capture and Sequestration, and Grid Modernization.

 

GPR&D is responsible for research that advances innovation in critical enterprise initiatives, furthers our position of industry influence, and prepares SMUD for long-term solutions and alternatives.

 

This position will support the R&D Team by providing engineering, data analysis, and/or project support for research analysis, experiments, demonstrations, and pilot programs to advance the technical capabilities and assess the business justification for Distributed Energy Resources (DER), load flexibility, virtual power plants, utility scale storage, clean fuels exploration, and carbon capture and sequestration.

 

About SMUD's College Internship Program

SMUD's College Internship Program provides college interns with an opportunity to contribute their skills and knowledge to SMUD while gaining valuable work experience. Workshops and activities will also be part of the program where interns will have the opportunity to be immersed in SMUD's culture and learn leadership skills as well as develop their professional skills.

SMUD was also recognized by Interns 2 Pros for the 2020 Internship Program of The Year Award in recognition of excellence in internship strategy, implementation, and impact and was one of five finalists for the 2023 Internship Program of the Year from Interns 2 Pros along with Paramount, Fox Corporation, Intuit, and Toyota.

Purpose

Under staff direction, incumbents in this classification are full-time students in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Math program who perform research and analytical tasks for projects and assignments that utilize specific and acquired academic skills and knowledge in alignment with their educational disciplines.

Nature and Scope

The work performed in this classification calls for regular application of analytical and independent research skills. Work is closely related to the employee’s academic major in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics.

Duties and Responsibilities

Work may include, but is not limited to, the following: (NOTE: While in general all the functions and requirements listed are essential, individual positions and/or locations may not require all duties be performed.)
•    Performs tasks of an analytical or research nature for suitable projects or ongoing assignments which call for specific acquired academic skills and knowledge in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math.
•    May locate sources of information; collect and organize data.
•    Makes computations and analyzes data for degree of confidence and for alternative courses of action.
•    May develop computer programs relating to assignments and may code material for established programs.
•    May develop written, graphical and/or oral reports.
•    May assist staff analysts and technical personnel by performing elements of their work under close supervision.

Required Education

Registration as a full-time student (minimum of 12 units) at an accredited college or university in a declared curriculum with a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) emphasis that will provide the specific skills and knowledge that will contribute to available work assignments.

Desirable Qualifications

• Major: General Engineering
• Communication skills
• Microsoft Suite
• Data Analytics
• Completion of English (a writing class), inital engineering classes, at least up to the first calculus class

Physical Requirements

Applicants must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Application Deadline: It is guaranteed that the online system will accept applications until 5 PM on the apply by date. It i