Remote Optical Engineer Jobs in Madison, WI (NOW HIRING)

Make a Difference for Climate and Equity - Join Slipstream as a Senior Research Engineer
Apply your technical skills to make a real impact in the fight against climate change and the inequities of its impacts. We are seeking a Senior Research Engineer to join our Research & Innovation team. This role is ideal for an experienced engineer who enjoys solving complex technical challenges, leading multidisciplinary projects, mentoring colleagues, and helping shape the next generation of climate and energy solutions.
We inspire bold ideas to tackle big energy challenges. Our work spans energy efficiency, community energy planning, equitable building decarbonization, emerging technologies, and green financing. We collaborate with governments, utilities, and community-based organizations to discover, test, and scale solutions that work for real people in real communities. We are optimistic, inclusive, and ambitious about our impact-and we're looking for someone who shares that drive.
Our Research & Innovation team is a national leader in understanding the real-world impacts of new solutions for addressing climate change. We study, develop, and test the next generation of energy solutions across multiple sectors of the economy.
Our ideal Senior Energy Engineer is an experienced technical leader who thrives in a collaborative, project-based environment. You bring deep expertise in building energy systems and enjoy tackling complex engineering challenges that advance energy efficiency, electrification, and decarbonization.
You are equally comfortable leading technical analysis, managing multidisciplinary projects, mentoring colleagues, and communicating with clients and stakeholders. You're curious about emerging technologies, motivated by real-world impact, and excited to help shape new research, consulting services, and business opportunities that accelerate climate solutions.
Unlike traditional engineering consulting, this role combines applied engineering, field research, emerging technologies, and strategic problem solving. Our engineers work across research, demonstration projects, policy, and technical assistance-helping shape how buildings and communities decarbonize rather than simply designing individual systems.
We encourage candidates from all backgrounds. You are key to our success by demonstrating our values, engaging in our mission, and creating results that produce enduring economic and environmental benefits for all. While we're mostly remote, Slipstream can only hire in select states (outlined in the application). Since much of our current work is in the Midwest and Northeast, being based in those regions is a plus. We have offices in Madison, WI and Chicago, IL.
What You'll Do

• Lead technical analysis and develop engineering solutions for applied research and consulting projects involving buildings, campuses, communities, and emerging energy technologies.
• Lead medium- to large-scale multidisciplinary projects from proposal through delivery, ensuring high-quality technical work, budget and schedule performance, and strong client satisfaction, while managing cross-functional teams.
• Analyze building and community energy systems with a strong focus on HVAC, controls, electrification, distributed energy resources, and other emerging technologies to identify, quantify, and prioritize efficiency and decarbonization opportunities.
• Design and conduct field studies and engineering evaluations to assess real-world performance of technologies, buildings, and energy systems.
• Translate findings into practical engineering recommendations that integrate proven efficiency measures and emerging climate technologies.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to engineers and researchers across project teams.
• Present findings to clients, utilities, government agencies, and industry audiences through high-quality reports, presentations, and conferences.
• Identify, develop, and secure new research and consulting opportunities by contributing to proposals, cultivating client relationships, and partnering on strategic business development initiatives.
• Shape Slipstream's technical strategy by identifying emerging trends and opportunities, proposing new research ideas, and contributing to the growth of our engineering practice.

What You'll Need

• Extensive experience with HVAC systems, controls, and building energy performance in real-world applications.
• Deep understanding of building science, energy systems, and engineering analysis methods.
• Demonstrated success managing complex technical projects from planning through completion, delivering on scope, schedule, budget, and quality.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary project teams and coordinating internal staff, external partners, and stakeholders to achieve shared outcomes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to solve complex engineering problems and communicate findings to technical and non-technical audiences clearly.
• Experience developing client relationships and contributing to successful proposals or business development efforts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presenting technical information to diverse audiences.
• Ability and desire to mentor junior engineers and researchers while fostering collaboration across teams.
• Curiosity and initiative to explore innovative technologies and approaches that address climate and equity challenges

Nice to Have (or What You'll Learn Here)

• Measurement & Verification, commissioning, or field verification.
• Energy modeling (EnergyPlus, OpenStudio, eQUEST, etc.).
• Programming or data analysis (Python, R, VBA, SQL).
• Building controls optimization.
• Knowledge of ASHRAE, IECC, ENERGY STAR, or related building codes, standards, guidelines and programs.
• Utility energy efficiency programs.
• Federal or state-funded research projects.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in mechanical, electrical, architectural, civil, or environmental engineering (or equivalent experience)
• 8-10+ years of relevant engineering experience
• Demonstrated experience leading complex engineering or research projects
• Experience with proposal development and client engagement preferred
• Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred

Work Environment

• Fully remote position with the ability to work from home or another suitable location with reliable internet access.
• Flexible schedules, meetings generally occurring 9-4 in Central Time zone.
• Requires a quiet and professional workspace for virtual meetings and collaboration.
• Hybrid work is available if located in Madison, WI or Chicago, IL. If in-office, expect a moderate noise level.
• Travel up to 10% for in-person meetings, conferences, client visits, etc.

Physical Requirements

• Primarily a sedentary role, with tasks typically performed while sitting or occasionally standing.
• Ability to operate a computer and standard office equipment.
• Ability to ascend and descend stairs, ladders, and into/out of vehicles as required.
• Tasks demand visual focus for reading and working on screens.
• This position frequently communicates via phone and video conferencing, with in-person interactions as applicable.

Slipstream is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all individuals feel valued, respected, and supported. We center community in everything we do and strongly encourage people of all backgrounds to apply and join us in our mission. We welcome applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected status or characteristic under federal, state, or local laws.
Slipstream will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of their position unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on Slipstream, or if it would pose a direct threat to the health or safety of the individual or others that cannot be mitigated. Questions or accommodation requests should be directed to Human Resources.
Please note that Slipstream will only contact candidates via the Paycom portal. We will never ask a candidate for payment of any kind as part of the hiring or onboarding process or send payment to any candidate prior to completing the hiring and onboarding process.
Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws.
Family & Medical Leave Act Equal Employment Opportunity Employee Polygraph Protection