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Principal Energy Trader (SmartBidder), Boulder, CO (Hybrid or Remote)

As a Principal Energy Trader, you will shape the strategic direction of SmartBidder’s trading strategy and lead efforts to improve performance across our growing fleet of renewable and energy storage assets. This is a senior individual contributor leadership role with broad influence across market analytics, customer success, sales, product, and engineering reporting to the SmartBidder Managing Director. You will establish the frameworks used to evaluate trading performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and translate market insight into analytical, operational, and product priorities. The ideal candidate is a seasoned power market professional with deep wholesale electricity market expertise, a strong point of view on bidding strategy and market dynamics, and the ability to influence both internal stakeholders and executive‑level customer audiences.

Although remote applicants will be considered, we strongly prefer candidates who can work in a hybrid capacity from our downtown Boulder office.

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.

SmartBidder delivers tailored bid optimization solutions for wholesale assets using advanced probabilistic and AI‑driven models that integrate forecasted nodal price trends, asset‑specific operational constraints, and risk‑adjusted optimization strategies. The platform is trusted to manage over 5 GW of battery storage assets across ERCOT, CAISO, PJM, and ISONE. From fully managed to self‑service, SmartBidder customers have unparalleled control and flexibility to use built‑in strategies based on profit and risk tolerance or integrate their own models into the platform.

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

• Set the strategic direction forSmartBidder’strading analytics by defining success metrics and leading initiatives that improve performance across the fleet.
• Serve as a senior individual contributor and thought leader within the SmartBidder analystand engineeringteams, establishing best practices for performance monitoring, analytical rigor, and ongoing strategy refinement.
• Act as the team’s primary subject matter expert on wholesale electricity trading, market fundamentals, bidding strategy, and ISOprotocols and operations.
• Own fleet‑level trading performance monitoring, benchmarking, and reporting across customers and markets. Identify trends, diagnose underperformance, surface emerging opportunities, and direct the team’s analytical response.
• Develop and maintain repeatable processes for evaluating bidding strategies, model performance, market outcomes, and customer‑specific constraints.
• Partner closely with product and engineering to manage the market performance backlog, translate analytical findings into product requirements, and inform roadmap prioritization.
• Monitor regulatory developments and market design changes across relevant ISOs. Evaluate their commercial and operational implications and communicate proactively with internal teams and customers.
• Serve as a technical expert and trusted advisor to customers and sales prospects, including leading executive‑level discussions, supporting strategic account conversations, and presenting complex market concepts clearly.
• Represent Ascend as an industry thought leader through market commentary, customer education, conference presentations, webinars, and other external forums.
• Support the development and mentorship of SmartBidder analysts.
• Depending on expertise and business needs, participate in an on‑call rotation supporting live market operations and time‑sensitive trading decisions, including occasional evening or weekend coverage.

Key Qualifications Required

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, data science, economics, finance, mathematics, or another relevant quantitative field.
• 6+ years of professional or postgraduate experience in wholesale power markets, electricity trading, market analytics, or a related field. Experience at a utility, independent power producer, trading firm, market operator, or energy software company is strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of energy modeling systems and analytical methods, including price forecasting, dispatch optimization, revenue analysis, or related frameworks.
• Deep expertise in at least one major U.S. ISO, with working knowledge across multiple markets.
• Demonstrated ability and interest in using AI‑enabled tools to support research, coding, data analysis, and workflow automation.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex datasets and translate findings into actionable recommendations. Proficiency in Python is preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex market dynamics to technical teams, commercial stakeholders, and executive audiences and to produce polished customer‑facing materials.
• Experience in a customer‑facing, consulting, trading, or advisory role, with a demonstrated ability to establish credibility, build trust, and manage client relationships effectively.
• Self‑directed, highly organized, and able to manage multiple priorities independently while maintaining analytical rigor in a fast‑paced operational environment.

Preferred

• 10+ years of experience in wholesale power trading, energy market analytics, or related fields.
• Direct electricity trading, bidding, or asset optimization experience for batteries, renewables, or generation assets in CAISO, ERCOT, or PJM.
• Trading and risk management structuring and transaction al experience including with forward energy contracts, hedges, FTRs, CRRs and other electricity derivatives.
• Deep knowledge of power market operating protocols, rules, and stakeholder processes.
• Graduate degree in economics, engineering, finance, business, energy systems, or a related field, ideally with a concentration in energy.
• Demonstrated industry thought leadership through publications, conference presentations, participation in industry or ISO working groups, or equivalent external engagement.
• Experience influencing product and engineering roadmaps through market, customer, and operational insights.
• Experience leading complex, cross‑functional projects or programs through influence rather than direct authority.

Our Values @ Ascend

• 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 delivermeaningful impact for our customers, our industry, and the energytransition to a low carbon future.
• Belonging: We foster a respectful, inclusive environment where everyone is valued, diverse perspectives are embraced, and equitable opportunities are provided for all.
• 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 $200,000 - $250,000 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 recruiting@ascendanalytics.com.

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.