AI Applications Analyst

NRECA is a unique national trade association providing advocacy, financial services and business support services to over 900 consumer owned electric cooperatives across the country. NRECA employees are united by our mission, inclusive culture, collaborative workplace and commitment to service excellence. As a "best place to work" employer, we operate with integrity, transparency and a spirit of innovation.

Summary of Position:

Supports NRECA's Business & Technology Strategies (BTS) team in identifying, evaluating, and translating artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) applications across the electric power industry that can benefit electric cooperatives. Contributes to research, analysis, and member engagement efforts focused on improving grid safety, reliability, resiliency, affordability, grid performance, operational efficiency, and member value with AI/ML. Collaborates with internal NRECA teams as well as cooperative staff and external partners to assist in evaluating AI applications, developing use cases, and translating findings into easily usable tools and practical guidance for cooperatives of varying sizes and capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Under guidance, assists in investigating and monitoring emerging AI/ML technologies, tools, and trends across the utility sector, identifying opportunities for application to electric cooperatives. Contributes to landscape analyses reports on adoption in utilities, energy markets, federal agencies, and adjacent industries.

• Contributes to identification and documentation of AI/ML use cases in areas such as load forecasting, anomaly detection, asset health monitoring, outage prediction, vegetation management, customer engagement, and work-management optimization. Assists in gathering requirements through interviews, data reviews, and collaboration with cooperative subject-matter experts.

• Analyzes utility datasets (AMI, SCADA, GIS, OMS, CIS, weather, DER, etc.) to support proof-of-concept modeling. Develops prototype scripts and notebooks to test AI approaches, applies ML workflows from preprocessing to model evaluation. Contributes to development of material for training cooperative staff in feature exploration, benchmarking, and model assessment.

• Supports and tracks AI exploration projects, pilots, and demonstrations involving multiple cooperative partners. Maintains a portfolio of use cases with status updates, lessons learned, and business value, and contributes to reports, grant proposals, and internal business cases to advance cooperative-led research initiatives.

• Assists in planning and tracking AI exploration projects and pilots, as well as association-led research projects. Supports planning and scheduling, and contributes to reports, grant proposals, or internal business cases, as needed.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's degree Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Data Science or related field. Master's degree preferred.

• 1 or more years of experience gained through professional work, coursework, capstone projects, or internships applying machine learning workflows (data preprocessing, feature engineering, model training/evaluation) desired.

• Experience with modern software development and project management tools required.

• Knowledge of electrical grid, power distribution networks and power engineering terms desired.

• Knowledge of general mathematics, advanced mathematics, linear algebra, multivariate calculus, matrix operations, operations research, machine learning algorithms, statistical methods and artificial intelligence and programming.

• Knowledge of Data mining and warehousing concepts, big data and applying machine learning concepts and software packages for data analytics

• Ability to apply AI/ML methods to realworld problems, ideally in energy, utilities, or other complex industries desired.

• Ability to use Microsoft Office tools (Excel, Word, Outlook, Power Point) and to operate various office equipment such as personal computer, copier, printer, fax machine or other job-related equipment.

• Ability to report to the office when required.

Preferred Qualifications

• 1 more years of professional work experience related to AI/ML desired.

Essential Physical Requirements:

• Requires close visual acuity to perform activities, such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing and writing; viewing a computer terminal; and reading details.

• Requires ability to exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most

Additional Requirement:

The preceding job description has been written to reflect management's assignment of essential functions. It does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

NRECA is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you need special assistance or an accommodation while seeking employment, please e-mail humanresources@nreca.coop or call: 703-907-5992 - NRECA Arlington Human Resources. Please call 402-483-9275 - NRECA Lincoln Human Resources, for Lincoln, NE employment opportunities. We will make a determination on your request for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.

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Pay Transparency Non-Discrimination. NRECA will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay. Please see the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision for more information.

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For more information about life at NRECA please visit www.Electric.coop.