What are the responsibilities and job description for the Transmission Modelling Research Associate position at Aurora Energy Research?
Department: Research
Location: Austin, USA
We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated energy market expert / electrical engineer with a strong quantitative skillset to assist in building and refining Aurora’s Security Constrained Economic Dispatch (SCED) power flow model, used to forecast nodal basis and curtailment across North American energy markets.
You will be responsible for researching and analyzing transmission congestion/losses and hourly nodal prices across energy markets in North America, developing reports that synthesize insights on investment opportunities for solar, wind, battery, and conventional assets, and refining our modelling results. You will work with regional market research and modelling teams to improve model accuracy and input assumption consistency. You will assist in preparing our models to be used with software products allowing clients to run bespoke scenarios, visualize results of our forecast in an interactive map, and utilize forecast results in asset dispatch models. Additionally, you will develop relationships with clients across the energy industry, presenting the results of our reports and explaining the fundamental drivers behind them.
You will report to the Aurora NORAM Nodal Lead. You will be a valued member of our Research team, working on a key product with substantial room for growth. You will need to work pragmatically, be a supportive team player, and be confident to generate creative ideas that engage audiences.
If you have 3 years’ experience working in energy markets and transmission analysis, and are looking for more responsibility, this job is ideal for you! You’ll gain experience within an innovative, globally expanding company.
Key Responsibilities
- Research and analyze trends in pricing across thousands of nodes in all North American markets and develop reports synthesizing insights into investment opportunities
- Work with regional research and modelling teams to build and refine our SCED power flow models across energy markets in North America
- Ensure consistency in inputs, approach, and products across North American markets
- Work with Aurora’s software team to roll out new products involving nodal analysis (e.g. interactive maps to visualize results and tools to launch asset dispatch models)
- Develop and share tools for analyzing nodal results, and preparing reports
- Document analysis and manage shared team files in an organized, efficient manner
- Serve as an expert for Research and Advisory teams for ad hoc support on nodal analysis
- Help to improve understanding of nodal markets across all teams
- Communicate complicated and technical analysis to clients
- 3 years’ experience working in energy markets, ideally with a strong focus on transmission analysis
- Undergraduate / Graduate degree in a highly quantitative discipline, ideally electrical engineering or physics
- Strong analytical and quantitative skillset; experience working with large datasets using Python, SQL, and Excel
- In-depth understanding of Locational Marginal Price (LMP) formation and power flow fundamentals
- Pragmatic and commercial mindset, optimizing decisions based on impact and feasibility
- Confident and articulate, contributing to discussions with colleagues of all levels
- A great team player
- Attention to detail and ability to switch fluently between high-level strategic considerations and details of implementation
- Demonstrated ability to concisely articulate technical topics to a public audience
- Demonstrated ability to manage and coordinate multiple projects accurately and meeting deadlines
- A dynamic, intellectually stimulating, and supportive environment
- The opportunity to work in a key research team and grow with the company, take on further responsibilities and bring in your own ideas
- A fun, informal and international work culture
- An office in East Austin with coffee, fruit and snacks available in the office
- A competitive salary package
- Access to the Aurora Academy, our training program offering a range of opportunities to develop your skills