Energy Analyst

Open Position | Energy Analyst

Cx Associates encourages candidates with marginalized identities to apply. We’re committed to continuous learning and growth as a company and we’re working toward a more just and equitable future for all. Read more about our justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion goals and efforts.

Read about Cx Associates' Commitment to Applicants.

Cx Associates is seeking to hire an Energy Analyst who’s keen to work on energy efficiency program evaluation and technical assistance support for CxA’s utility clients, as well as support CxA’s building commissioning work. The ideal candidate has education in the STEM fields and/or experience in commercial building mechanical system design, energy evaluation or a combination of education and experience.

We’re looking for someone who is self-directed, a strong verbal and written communicator, excellent at collaborating with other team members, and committed to sustainability. The ideal candidate is interested in making commercial buildings more efficient and is excited about working with large data sets. If you’re eager to work on our team to bring best-in-class energy engineering consulting services to our clients, then read on.

Cx Associates is a small firm that offers a relaxed, flexible, open (and dog friendly!) working environment. We believe in a solid work/life balance, offer a competitive salary, excellent benefits, opportunities for advancement, and a staff-friendly workplace.

Location: Burlington, VT; Portland, ME; or Remote (core hours overlap with USA Eastern Time required).

Travel Requirements: This position requires minimal travel. If remote, the candidate may need to travel to Burlington, VT 1-4 times per year for staff gatherings, training, etc.

About Cx Associates

Cx Associates is a busy, mission-driven consulting engineering firm headquartered in Burlington, VT with a second office in Portland, ME. We’re a small but driven team of 13 dedicated to engineering better buildings for people and planet. What started with building commissioning in 1994, Cx Associates has since grown to offer a suite of services for new and existing buildings, energy management, and efficiency programs.

We are a collaborative organization, not a top-down corporation. We believe in identifying how we can improve as individuals and as a firm, and we support one another in furthering our skills and knowledge. Cx Associates is a team-oriented community that provides room for individuals to shine while maintaining a strong, cohesive environment.

Who We're Looking For

You like analyzing data. You have a degree in a STEM field with a strong aptitude and interest in data analytics. You can run analyses in Excel, R or Python and interpret the results so that they are meaningful to the audience. If only highly proficient in Excel, you’ve mastered most kinds of formulas and know your way around pivot tables and macros. You’ve used spreadsheets to run complex analyses and boil down large amounts of data. You may have experience with modeling software like Open Studio or eQUEST.

You’re interested in building science and energy savings. You’re a data geek with interest in buildings and how they can perform more efficiently. You may have experience evaluating energy efficiency measures, performing energy audits, or designing commercial HVAC systems and controls.

You’re curious. You’re a creative problem-solver who excels at finding innovative solutions to problems. You are an intellectually curious individual who is committed to continuous learning and staying abreast of developments in the field. You’re not afraid to look for and learn new solutions that you think could benefit the organization and execute them.

You’re a demonstrated skilled written communicator. Even though most of your day will be spent doing analysis, our work often includes a lot of writing. You’re adept at different types of writing, from professional emails to proposals to technical reports in Microsoft Word. You can keep your audience in mind and tailor your style (more/less technical) to reach your reader most effectively.

You’re self-motivated. You’re the kind of person who takes initiative to insert yourself when you see opportunities to improve process efficiency. You keep the proverbial monkey off of other people’s backs and tackle things yourself, constructively seeking input when needed.

You have a sense of humor. We take our work very seriously, but we also like to have fun. You’re someone who can get along with a lot of different types of personalities and people with different backgrounds, and you enjoy the occasional viral cat video.

You’re eco-conscious (or at least eco-curious). We try to walk the sustainability talk at Cx Associates. If you’re taking any steps to make your life “greener,” we’d love to hear about it. This may take the form of opting for public transit or your bike when possible, composting, being an activist for environmental causes, or taking other steps to lessen your environmental footprint.

You’re trustworthy. You have stellar references and a clean record.

Bonus points. You have experience performing savings verification of Energy Conservation Measures, you’re familiar with utility Technical Resource Manuals (TRM), you’ve been involved in the design of building HVAC or electrical systems, you’ve worked on energy audits, you’ve managed projects, and/or you are in the process of earning a professional certification like a P.E., CEM, BESA, BEAP, etc.

Things You Might Do

Cx Associates is a small but growing business, with dozens of active projects. The Energy Analyst will have to juggle a lot of balls at once. Here are some examples of things you might do:

Install energy meters to collect data at a large university student center facility to analyze usage, and develop and quantify recommendations for reducing consumption
Perform technical desk reviews of the energy savings of VFDs, compressors, fans, pumps, lighting, refrigeration, air handlers, and heat pumps for utility energy efficiency program installations
Collect and analyze Building Automation System trend data of a chiller plant and air handlers to determine the operating profile, analyze their control parameters, and determine energy saving opportunities
Use energy modeling software to model a 300,000 SF dormitory and make recommendations for increasing energy efficiency to the owner
Develop our analysis spreadsheet tools to examine building energy meter data and make determinations on where to focus energy saving recommendations
Write and cost estimate a winning proposal and scope of work with the help of a Senior Engineer for a new program evaluation client
Get into the building commissioning world through writing a commissioning plan, construction checklists, and functional performance test protocols, as well as writing retrocommissioning and commissioning reports, detailing the performed work and its energy impacts

The Whole Package

Cx Associates cares about its staff and recognizes that they are the firm’s most important and valuable resource. We believe in a solid work/life balance not often found at engineering consulting firms. We encourage our team members to use their personal time. And while we recognize that we all have the occasional crunch period, we also know that regularly working tons of overtime can actually be counterproductive. Therefore, we provide:

Competitive salary
Excellent health care coverage (CxA pays 90% for individual plan premiums, plus 50% of coverage for additional family members)
Health plan includes telemedicine service
• Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance
Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
401(k) Plan with 3% Safe Harbor contribution and annual profit sharing
Green incentives program with free bus passes, CarShare Vermont membership, and credits for bike supplies/tune ups or new walking shoes
Life insurance
30 days of paid time off annually, increasing on the 4^th and 8^th anniversaries of your hire
Support for professional development

Please see below for a full job description for the Energy Analyst Position.

Job Responsibilities

Provide building measurement and verification services for mechanical systems in new and existing buildings. Tasks include:
- Desk reviews of energy efficiency measures claimed by an energy efficiency utility program
- Calculations of energy saving measures’ impact according to the Technical Reference Manual or industry standard calculation methodologies.
- Research of energy efficiency measures savings potential
- Set up and installation of power meters and light loggers to measure baseline and/or efficient equipment operation for energy efficiency analyses
- Determination of Building Automation System datapoints needed for energy analyses
- Manipulation of large datasets of trended or metered data to determine load profiles and operating conditions and evaluation of these data to determine energy saving opportunities
- Understanding of mechanical HVAC systems to recognize important trending/metering datapoint requirements and energy saving opportunities
- Development of internal energy saving analysis tools
- Writing of reports explaining analysis methodology, data inputs, data results, and analysis conclusions in a manner understandable to the client
- Development of a new construction commercial building model in Open Studio or calibration of an existing building in Open Studio
- Manipulation of an Open Studio model to identify and quantify energy saving opportunities
- Meetings with clients to summarize the methodology and conclusions of the important aspects of the energy saving analyses, at a level that is understandable to the client
- Periodically present energy saving methodology and findings in a conference
- Periodically assist commissioning work by developing documentation for new construction building commissioning projects
- Develop budgets for analysis work and assist in development of energy efficiency evaluation proposals

Key Knowledge Requirements

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Ability to organize, analyze, and draw significant conclusions from disparate sources
Strong technical writing and presentation skills
Experience with managing and analyzing large data sets
Excellent Excel and spreadsheet management and analysis skills
Develop, understand, and meet project objectives, scope, budget, and schedule

Key Skill & Ability Requirements

Proven analytical skills
A high level of proficiency of computer skills, including Microsoft Word and Excel
Technical writing and presentation skills including: reports, factsheets, guides, white papers
Anticipating and identifying complex problems, finding and reviewing relevant information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions
Analyzing energy efficiency that results from optimization of systems and equipment
Analyzing and synthesizing information from disparate sources and drawing conclusions
Organizing, planning, and prioritizing work tasks
Updating and using relevant knowledge (keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to the job)
Teamwork, interpersonal communication, and creative/innovative thinking
Personal initiative/motivation
Attention to detail
Critical thinking and intellectual curiosity

Preferred Education & Experience

Candidates should possess a four-year college degree in the STEM fields or related area and 0-3 years of related work or internship experience.
Familiarity with commercial building energy using systems (chillers, boilers, heat pumps, air handlers, pumps, etc.) ideal
Familiarity/comfort with electric test instruments a plus
Proficiency in R or Python software programs a plus
Experience with eQUEST/Open Studio modeling software a plus
Familiarity/comfort with HVAC controls a plus

To Apply

Please fill and submit the form below, including an attachment for your cover letter and resume. Alternatively, you may email your resume and cover letter to lauren[at]cx-assoc[dot]com.

Submissions without cover letters will not be considered.

Cx Associates is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, gender identity, sex, ancestry, mental or physical disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, veteran status, or military status.