Reference:10030358
Contract type: Temporary
City: Toulouse, 31000, France
Education: Doctorate
Minimum experience: 3-4 years
Contract duration: 18 months

Company:

Total is one of the first international oil companies, the world actor of the gas, the petro chemistry and tomorrow, the biomass and the solar energy. Gathering 100 000 employees in more than 130 countries, the Group implements its technological know-how to contribute to satisfy the present and future world energy demand.

Position:

TOTAL is one of the largest energy companies in the world, with over 96,000 employees, activities in more than 130 countries, and a branch, TOTAL Gas and Power (TOTAL G&P), dedicated entirely to the commercial development of gas resources and alternative energies (Solar PV, concentrated solar power, advanced biofuels, carbon capture and storage).

TOTAL has been involved in photovoltaic energy research (crystalline silicon, thin film, organic PV and CSP) since 1983, and is driven by the ambition to become the global leader in the solar industry. TOTAL G&P pursues differentiation through technology as the first step towards building competitive integrated industrial operations in photovoltaic energy. In line with this strategy, the company makes important investments in technology research, such as the recent co-foundation of the Institut Photovolta°que d'Ile-de-France (IPVF), which will be one of the five largest photovoltaic research centers worldwide.

TOTAL G&P leverages an original networked innovation model in order to develop technologies that will make a real difference in the near or mid-term future. The network already includes several partnerships with leading companies and start-ups. In each partnership, researchers at the partner institution and TOTAL G&P scientists jointly design and carry out the research efforts.

A TOTAL Post-doc position at the CNRS-LAAS laboratory

One of TOTAL G&P's most important R&D partners is the Laboratory of Analysis and Architecture of Systems (LAAS), a unit within the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). In collaboration with LAAS, TOTAL G&P is setting up a team of scientists conducting short, medium and long term research in systems, products and services as well as power conversion, to improve the electrical architecture from the panel to the grid.

For this R&D team, TOTAL G&P is offering a Post-doc position in the field of energy conversion applied to PV devices. His/her research will focus on modelling and simulating power electronic systems relating to PV generation and battery management systems at both the module and system levels. The findings will contribute to the design of a cutting-edge power conversion structure which will be commercialized by TOTAL G&P's industrial affiliate, SunPower Corp., renowned for producing the world's most efficient and reliable solar panels.

The principal responsibilities of the candidate will be to:

• Conduct research to model and simulate power electronic systems relating to PV generation and battery management systems at both the module and system levels.
• Contribute to existing projects on inverter/converter topology development, model, simulation, fabrication and test for PV grid interconnection.
• Work proactively with other LAAS scientists to develop new concepts in the field of power conversion focused on achieving a performance improvement and a strong production cost reduction.
• Develop research proposals to support new and ongoing work in the power electronics and electrical machinery research program.
• Report regularly on the research activity to TOTAL Headquarters, in particular the TOTAL PV R&D team to share R&D findings.
• Establish a new policy of technological innovation that will lead to patentable results and will increase the competitive advantage within the solar market.
• Assist in the recruitment, mentoring and technical supervision of PhD students

The candidate will benefit from a highly dynamic and inspiring international R&D environment. He/she will be trusted with a large extend of autonomy, while being part of a team of outstanding scientists, and of TOTAL, a company where ¿Developing complementary next generation energy activitiesis a strategic top priority.

Profile:

Educational background:

• PhD degree in Electrical Power Systems (for example Power Quality) or Power Electronics including experimental work.

Experience

Knowledge and experience:

• At least 3 years of relevant experience in electronics applied to PV.
• Experience in power electronics, power conversion systems or/and battery management systems.
• Extensive experience and proficiency in Digital Signal Processor and Field Programmable Gate Array programming.
• Experience with Matlab development and simulation tools.
• Knowledge and know-how in methods for module and system level laboratory testing and evaluation.
• Knowledge of the state of the art industrial communication protocols.
• Capacity to design and implement new concepts, as well as establishing comparison and evaluation procedures that would verify the advantages of the proposed solutions.
• Proficiency in mechanical and electrical operating concepts and strong analytical skills in problem solving.
• Understanding of Classical and Modern Control design techniques or experience in developing Control Systems in real applications.
• Capacity to coordinate research activities with PhD students.
• Track-record of original research and publications presented in prestigious international conferences and scientific journals
• Fluent proficiency of the English language, spoken and written.

Skills

Personal qualities:

• Innovative thinker and problem solver.
• Capacity to work independently.
• Team player.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Willingness to travel on a regular basis