Joshua MacFie is the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Electronics Engineer at Group NIRE in Lubbock, Texas. He received his B.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering with a minor in Mathematics from Texas Tech University and an A.S. in Engineering from McLennan Community College, both in 2017.

Since joining Group NIRE in 2017, Joshua has made significant contributions to various electronics projects, including serving as Co-Principal Investigator on grants from ESTCP, SETO, and TWC. He has managed teams and projects, developed cutting-edge technologies, and designed network infrastructure and renewable energy installations.

As a Principal Electronics Engineer, Joshua has developed multiple iterations of energy management systems, created numerous device and DER communications drivers, and has a patent pending on a load control algorithm. He has also developed the network architecture, servers, and systems used to control and communicate Group NIRE's energy management systems and their connection to TTU's GLEAMM Microgrid. Additionally, he has created a Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification implementation plan for the Group NIRE network.

Joshua's electronics expertise extends to designing and creating electronics and high voltage labs, developing nano-second pulsing technology, and researching and designing a cutting-edge maximized H field low inductance power coil. He has also designed multiple PCBs used to evaluate SiC MOSFETs for pulsed power applications and developed a chip on board design for SiC testing.

Throughout his career, Joshua has been involved in various research projects, including cooperatively designing an automated tank using an FPGA and other circuitry, creating a micro-controller Maximum Power Point Tracker algorithm, and developing an automated environmental system for the Mars Desert Research Station.

As CEO, Joshua provides fiscal, strategic, and operational leadership to improve the company's growth trajectory. He negotiates and executes various agreements, manages board meetings, and works with state entities, utilities, and landowners to develop and construct wind turbine test sites.

Joshua has co-authored several publications in the renewable energy field and has a pending patent on a load control priority grouping system. With his extensive experience in electrical engineering, energy management, and cybersecurity, Joshua MacFie continues to drive innovation and growth at Group NIRE through his expertise in electronics and related projects.

Background

Bachelors in Electrical & Computer Engineering - Cum laude - Honors - 2017

Minor in Mathematics

Education

Associate of Science Electrical and Electronics Engineering - Phi Theta Kappa - Deans list - Honors College - 2017

person holding black and silver camera lens

Texas Tech University

McLennan Community College

Portfolio

On the Job Experience

Chief Executive Officer

Served as Co-Principal Investigator with Texas Tech University on ESTCP grant “IoNM Solution for Scalable Agile Microgrids.” ($660k sub-award)
Served as Co-Principal Investigator with Syndem on SETO “Autonomous Grid-forming Inverters Enabled by Always-on Universal Droop Control without External Communication or Phase-Locked Loops” ($60k sub-award)
Served as Co-Principal Investigator with Texas Tech University on Phase 1, 2, and 3 TWC grant “Cyber-Physical Security Training for Critical Infrastructure” ($240k sub-award)
Managed staff of up to 7 personnel and contractors to meet operational milestones of company
Provide fiscal, strategic, and operational leadership to reduce inefficiency while improving operational results
Successfully redirected the company toward a net-positive growth trajectory
Negotiating and executing term sheets, confidentiality agreements, interconnection agreements, construction contracts, and change orders
Working with state entities, utilities, and landowners to develop/construct wind turbine test sites
Working with partners to propose projects to potential customers and governmental programs
Coordinate, manage, and attend quarterly board meetings with CEO overviews and financials presentations

Honors, Awards, and Certificates

TTU Capstone program mentor
KidWind judge
Best Robotics Judge
Boy Scouts of America

Cooperatively designed an automated tank using an FPGA and other circuitry
Created a micro-controller Maximum Power Point Tracker algorithm
Cooperatively created a super-heterodyne POES weather satellite receiver
Mars Desert Research Station (Crew 139b) - Automated Environmental System
Created an automated environmental system
Developed a “Progressive-Response Artificial Intelligence” for Connect-4
Conducted a testing survey to gather data on Progressive-Response AI functionality
Designed multiple PCBs used to evaluate SiC MOSFETs for pulsed power applications
Tested and evaluated SiC MOSFETs using multiple variations of gate driver circuitry
Developed chip on board design for SiC testing
Analyzed SiC MOSFET for viability as a replacement for pulse power technologies

Research

Group NIRE - Lubbock Texas

June 2017 -Present

Principal Electronics Engineer

Managed team and project in ESTCP “IoNM Solution for Scalable Agile Microgrids.” ($660k sub-award)
Managed team and project in SETO “Autonomous Grid-forming Inverters Enabled by Always-on Universal Droop Control without External Communication or Phase-Locked Loops” ($60k sub-award)
Managed on-site engineering and troubleshooting in ARPA-E NODES ($1.14M project)
Managed on-site engineering and troubleshooting in ARPA-E CHARGES ($1.55M project)
Managed team and project for wide bandgap testing project ($300k project)
Developed cutting edge wide bandgap testing for awarded PowerAmerica project
Developed and implemented IoT Energy Management System
Designed network infrastructure for high density loading
Created data management and analyzation systems
Designed multiple measurement systems, hardware and software, for essential data
Developed nano-second pulsing technology and managed project for Sparkfund
Researched and designed cutting-edge maximized H field low inductance power coil
Created materials and rubrics for teaching Cybersecurity class
Taught cybersecurity standards, policies, and tools
Designed solar buildout for multiple installations
Worked alongside field techs and contractors to build/rework several PV installations
Managed up to 12 MW of grid interconnect projects
Designed multiple field installations of renewable projects (up to 179 kW)
Lead TTU EE capstone students in multiple applied field projects
Reviewed multiple Wide Band Gap DOE-FOA project proposal submissions for the DOE
Designed and created electronics and high voltage labs

Group NIRE - Lubbock Texas

June 2021 -Present

Community Involvement

IEEE Regional paper winner (2016)
Golden Key International Honour Society (2016)
McLennan Community College — Honors College (2013-2014)
Boe Award Nominee (2014)
Phi Theta Kappa (2012-present)
NASA Aerospace Scholar (2013)
SEPA DER Fundamentals Certified
Member of IEEE
IFR Certified Pilot
UAS Remote Commercial Pilot Certified
Amateur General Radio Licensee

Publications & Patents

Total number of citations: 40

• Subburaj V., Gallegos N., Subburaj, A.S., Sopha, A., MacFie, J. (2023). Predictive Analysis of Solar Energy Production Using Neural Networks. Book: Advances in Information and Communication, Proceedings of the 2023 Future of Information and Communication Conference (FICC), Volume 2

• Chamana, M. Schmitt, K.E., Bhatta, R., Liyanage, S., Osman, I., Murshed, M., Bayne, S.B., & Macfie, J. (2022). Buildings Participation in Resilience Enhancement of Community Microgrids: Synergy Between Microgrid and Building Management Systems. 2022 IEEE Access PP(99):1-1

• Chamana, M., Schmitt, K.E., Bhatta, R., Osman, I., Liyanage, S., Murshed, M., Bayne, S.B., & Macfie, J. (2021). Hierarchical Operation of Flexible Building Microgrids for Distributed Critical Loads Resiliency. 2021 Resilience Week (RWS), 1-9.

• Atique, S., Noureen, S., Roy, V., Bayne, S.B., & Macfie, J. (2020). Time series forecasting of total daily solar energy generation: A comparative analysis between ARIMA and machine learning techniques. 2020 IEEE Green Technologies Conference(GreenTech), 175-180.

• Atique, S., Noureen, S., Roy, V., Subburaj, V.H., Bayne, S.B., & Macfie, J. (2019). Forecasting of total daily solar energy generation using ARIMA: A case study. 2019 IEEE 9th Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference (CCWC), 0114-0119.

• MacFie, Joshua. 2019. Load Control Priority Grouping System and Methods of Use. U.S. Patent App Number 17/835,039 filed 06/08/2022. Patent Pending.

• Video content: https://www.youtube.com/@geek3502