Machine Learning Engineer (SmartBidder)

Ascend Analytics•Boulder, CO

3d•$100,000 - $160,000•Hybrid

About The Position

This position will be a key member supporting Ascend Analytics’ SmartBidder team, which works on optimization and management of energy storage and renewable assets. You will be part of a collaborative team advancing software solutions and analytics to support the clean-tech power revolution. Your strong data science skills will support mission critical decision analytics for renewable and battery storage power providers around the globe. At Ascend Analytics, our mission centers on creating sustainable economic value for energy buyers and producers to transform the power industry. Our team combines advanced analytics, cloud-based technology, and deep market expertise to help our clients solve complex challenges across grid reliability, power market volatility, renewable integration, infrastructure development, and energy investment strategy. As a high-growth, private equity–backed company, Ascend continues to expand its market leadership while investing in innovation, talent, and scalable solutions for an increasingly dynamic energy market. Real influence. Real outcomes. At every level. - High-impact work. Shape the tools and decisions that drive the clean energy transition. - Direct exposure. Work alongside executive leadership and key utility and corporate clients. - Room to grow. A rapidly scaling SaaS business with real advancement opportunities. - Collaborative culture. A team that values creative thought, inclusion, and work-life balance.

Requirements

2+ Years experience in a highly related role.
BS or MS in Engineering, Computer Science, Data/Information Science, Physics, Applied Mathematics, Signal Processing, Operations Research, Statistics, Economics, or Power Systems (or related fields).
Experience performing independent research including reading academic papers, developing and testing hypotheses, and analyzing experimental results.
Demonstrated academic or professional software coding experience in Python.
Familiarity with data processing in Python (including Pandas, Numpy, Sympy, Scikit-Learn) and machine learning development in Pytorch (or similar).
Strong interpersonal skills, a collaborative team-first mindset and results-oriented work ethic.
Demonstrated interest in the energy sector (e.g. coursework, professional development activities, podcasts, independent reading, etc.).
Ability to communicate with impact and confidence, effectively conveying ideas and influencing outcomes, both orally and in writing.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity or exposure to cloud computing platforms and ecosystems, e.g., Azure, AWS, and containerization, e.g., Docker.
Understanding of basic microeconomic principles.
Knowledge of wholesale electricity markets.

Responsibilities

Prototype and experiment with novel machine learning models and mathematical/statistical algorithms for short term energy market forecasting.
Optimize and enhance computational efficiency of algorithms and software design.
Work with our team of analysts to integrate new features, evaluate performance, automate, and generalize data science models within production software.
Design and write clean, scalable, production code in Python.
Implement systems for collecting, storing, and working with data at scale.
Communicate clearly and effectively (orally and in writing) with both technical and nontechnical stakeholders.
This position involves working collaboratively both within your software team and outside with the analyst team. The software development team follows an agile scrum process, and all team members are expected to contribute to technical design reviews, implementation strategies, operational system support, and sprint planning.