Hi FlyingRobot --- I'd be interested in hearing more about your career path (and openings at NREL). What I've personally heard and experienced aligns with the overwhelmingly negative accounts elsewhere in the thread, which (I feel) have also correctly identified the misalignment of incentives that's responsible.

On the other hand, I've never worked in the national lab system. If you're still monitoring this thread, I'd appreciate it if you contacted me at the email in my profile!