Machine Learning Engineer (SmartBidder)

Machine Learning Engineer (SmartBidder), Boulder, CO (Hybrid or Remote)

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. 

Our Mission @ Ascend

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.

Your Impact @ Ascend

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.

Key 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.  
  

Key Qualifications  

Required

• 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.  

Preferred

• 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. 
  

Our Values @ Ascend

Ascend Analytics promotes a culture of teamwork, inclusion, work-life balance, creative thought, and learned ideas. We operate by five core pillars:

• Integrity: We act with honesty and uphold the highest ethical standards, doing the right thing even when it's difficult.

• Purpose Driven: We are united by a shared purpose — to deliver meaningful impact for our customers, our industry, and the energy transition to a low carbon future.
• Belonging: We foster a respectful, inclusive environment where everyone is valued, diverse perspectives are embraced, and equitable opportunities for all are ensured.
• Innovation: We anticipate and address new challenges, embracing change and continuous improvement
• One Team Mindset: We collaborate across teams and functions, supporting one another and prioritizing shared success over individual wins.

Your Value @ Ascend

We offer competitive compensation — calibrated to your experience and structured to grow with you — along with a comprehensive benefits package:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Parental leave for growing families.
• FSA, HSA, and dependent care accounts.
• 401(k) with 3% non-elective contribution.
• Flexible PTO to take time when you need it.

Join a team that values your work, supports your growth, and invests in your future!

We offer a competitive salary range of $100,000–$160,000 USD Annually. Compensation is flexible and will be tailored to your experience and background — we're proud to offer pay that is often above industry average. But the perks don’t stop there — we’re committed to creating a workplace where people can do meaningful work, grow their careers, and still have a life outside the office. You’ll enjoy flexible work hours, a collaborative environment, and real opportunities for advancement. 

Collaboration is in our DNA, and we thrive on the energy of working together — the spontaneous ideas, face-to-face teamwork, and culture you can only build in a room.

But we also value the focus and freedom that remote flexibility brings. That's why our Boulder, CO office runs on a hybrid schedule (3 days in-office, 2 days remote). We prefer candidates who can work from Boulder HQ, though we're open to strong remote candidates as well.

Need accommodations? Contact us at [email protected].

Ascend Analytics is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to an inclusive environment for all employees regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, disability, or genetic information.

Note: We regret that we are currently unable to offer visa sponsorship.