The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI) is looking for enthusiastic, driven professionals to join our team.
CMEI leads research, development, demonstration, and deployment of innovations in renewable energy, sustainable transportation and fuels, and buildings and industry.
You do not need to be an energy innovation expert or have a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) degree to have an energy innovation career. Although many CMEI positions are scientific or technical, many others support business operations, human resources, strategic analysis, communications, and more.
According to the U.S. Energy and Employment Jobs Report, energy innovation jobs are growing in all 50 states, employing 3.1 million workers in every pocket of the United States as of 2023. Learn more about how energy innovation is the future.
Careers in CMEI
FAQ about Federal Employment
CMEI’s staff is our greatest asset to accomplish our energy innovation mission. If you are considering employment with CMEI, the following information may be helpful:
Ready to join CMEI, but unsure how to prepare your federal resume so you can begin the application process? CMEI’s Workforce Management Office hosted a workshop on just that topic! Watch the workshop videos and learn from our hiring experts to better understand the federal hiring process.
To stay connected, please visit the CMEI website for the latest updates on career opportunities, events, and news. You can also subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates.
Yes, each role has unique requirements, and our hiring managers covered some key duties and skills in the webinars. For detailed information, please refer to the job postings on this page.
Consider tailoring your resume to match the specific requirements of the job description. Also, make use of the optional document sections in the application portal and provide any supplementary materials.
Your resume should align with the job description, focusing on relevant experience. While meeting grade-level requirements is beneficial, it is crucial to emphasize relevant skills and accomplishments. Learn how to build your federal resume for an energy innovation job.
Information on fellowship programs can be found at the CMEI Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Science and Technology Policy Fellowship page. Fellowships are not exclusively for students; eligibility criteria vary.
All CMEI jobs are listed in the table above. If you would like to focus on a specific technology area, you can visit each technology office’s career page:
USAJobs is the web portal job seekers use to apply for a position within the federal government.
Competitive Vacancy Announcements are posted on USAJobs and are open for a short time, usually 5-7 days. The USAJobs descriptions list the location, salary range, and who is eligible to apply for the position—i.e., the public or current federal employees only. These positions range from entry-level to senior executive–level.
Direct Hire Authority positions are STEM positions at the GS-11 through GS-15 grade level. Direct hire authority allows DOE to hire faster than the traditional government hiring process does. These positions are open to all U.S. citizens until filled.
We do! The links below provide more information.
Federal employment resources include:
- Veterans’ Employment. This website can help you understand the veterans’ preference in filling federal jobs and helps veterans find jobs. This page is specific to DOE.
- Persons with Disabilities. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management explains how federal agencies such as DOE fill jobs in relation to those with disabilities.
- Federal Executive Institute. This institute helps senior government leaders improve the performance of their organizations through programs like the Leadership for a Democratic Society, programs designed specifically for individual agencies, and interagency courses.
- Intergovernmental Personnel Act Mobility Program. This program enables temporary assignment of personnel across the federal, state, local, and tribal governments, colleges and universities, federally funded research and development centers, and other eligible organizations.
- Detail and Transfer to International Organizations. A federal agency such as DOE may send an employee on detail—a temporary assignment—or transfer an employee to any organization that the U.S. Department of State has designated an international organization. This U.S. Office of Personnel Management page answers questions about the process.
- Careers at Energy. If you're interested in employment with another DOE office, DOE's jobs portal provides information about benefits, employee profile videos, the types of positions available in DOE, and more.
GS stands for General Schedule, which is a classification and pay system for most civilian white-collar federal employees. Federal employees within the GS may receive an annual cost of living increase.
Within the GS system, there are 15 grades, with 10 steps within each grade. Step increases in each grade are based on performance and longevity. Learn more about GS classification and pay.
Federal employee benefits include health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance, flexible spending accounts, generous leave policies, insurance coverage for family members, and retirement services. Learn more about these benefits.
Employees get 11 federal holidays off each year. View these calendars for a list of federal holidays.
The application process is outlined in detail on our careers page (USAJOBS Help Center | How does the application process work?). Be sure to review the requirements and submit your application through the provided channels.
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American Energy Innovators David Arfin and Adam Cohen talk about their solar and battery storage company NineDot Energy and the important role EERE played in helping them build the successful business they operate today. -
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Industrious series: Meet Corey Tyree, who shares in Q&A interview how curiosity led him from a rural town into engineering. -
DOE and its partners celebrate the installation of a new hydrogen fueling station at Lincoln Financial Field. -
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