Energy and Climate Analyst

About the Hiring Group

RTI's Center for Innovation and Applied Economics helps clients build innovation capacity, accelerate technology from lab to market, and understand the economic impact of innovation on organizations and regions. As an Innovation Analyst focused on energy and climate, you will conduct rigorous research and translate findings into actionable recommendations for clients across commercial, government, and NGO sectors. Research topics may include renewable energy generation, renewable fuels, energy storage and demand management, electrification, energy efficiency, and carbon capture, storage, and utilization.

What You'll Do

• Conduct investment due diligence on start-up companies, including evaluation of the Total Addressable Market, Serviceable Addressable Market, intellectual property position, value proposition, technical feasibility, and leadership team structure.
• Collaborate with RTI subject matter experts to conduct market research that informs technoeconomic analyses and bankability assessments evaluating the business case and economics of energy and climate startups.
• Support companies operating in RTI's Pilot Accelerator with commercialization services (e.g., market sizing, value proposition testing, partnership development) to strengthen and advance their go-to-market strategies.
• Connect applicants with Department of Energy funding opportunities as part of the team for TechWerx.
• Scout and assess emerging technologies, partners, and business models across academia, startups, and industry; evaluate feasibility, scalability, and potential impact.
• Leverage artificial intelligence tools responsibly, balancing adoption of leading-edge tools with a high bar for scientific rigor, quality, and validation of findings by human experts.
• Synthesize complex information into clear, compelling deliverables (reports, presentations, workshops) for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Collaborate with cross-functional, international teams; manage tasks, timelines, and client communications to deliver high-quality work on time.
• Facilitate meetings and present interim and final findings to clients and stakeholders.
• Contribute to a positive, inclusive team culture while upholding RTI's mission and values.

Minimum Qualifications

• 1–2 years of work experience related to the energy or renewable fuels industries.
• Bachelor's degree in science or engineering with interdisciplinary R&D experience; electrical and computer engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and environmental and civil engineering are preferred.
• Business acumen and some familiarity with technology transfer or commercialization, innovation accelerator programs, or startup fundraising.
• Strong scientific communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences; strong analytical and time-management skills.
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to work beyond your core field; comfort learning new scientific or technical domains quickly.
• Team-centric mindset and strong interpersonal skills; ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Proficiency with MS Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word) and collaboration tools (e.g., Teams), and a desire to learn and drive responsible use of artificial intelligence technologies in scientific research.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with the structure, players, and regulatory environment shaping the electric utility and generation industry in the United States; familiarity with the same in Canada, Europe, and other regions of the world.
• An advanced degree in science or engineering (e.g., PhD, MS) may be considered as R&D experience, especially if commercialization of research was explored.
• Degree or certificate in business, marketing, or finance, or equivalent experience working closely with one of these functions.