Algorithms Engineer

Base Power
Austin, US
Remote

Who this role is best for

Strong fit for senior algorithms engineers with experience in physical system controls and energy markets, comfortable with real-time operations and startup agility.

Best fit for

  • Senior engineer with algorithmic control experience in physical systems.
    — “Proven experience deploying algorithmic control for physical systems.
  • Expert in control disciplines like model predictive control or reinforcement learning.
    — “Deep understanding of any number of control or control-adjacent disciplines
  • Comfortable with real-time operations and on-call scheduling.
    — “Participate in fleet scheduling as an on-call scheduling engineer.

Things to consider

  • Requires participation in real-time desk rotation.
    — “become part of realtime desk rotation
  • Expect role evolution in a fast-moving startup environment.
    — “priorities shift and evolve quickly
  • In-person work with non-traditional hours expected.
    — “We work in-person. It’s not a 9-to-5.

How to stand out

  • Highlight energy market profitability track record.
    — “Track record of profitability and scale in energy markets
  • Demonstrate data-driven mindset with modern tools.
    — “comfort working with modern tools (e.g., SQL, Grafana)
  • Show experience with first-of-its-kind system implementations.
    — “Implement controls for first-of-its-kind concentrations
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · CompanyLevel · Senior

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Built algorithms for distributed battery fleet dispatch
  • Integrated wholesale energy market operations algorithms
  • Implemented controls for aggregated battery deployments
Typical background
Algorithmic controlEnergy markets

Skills & requirements

Required

Algorithmic ControlEnergy MarketsModel Predictive ControlReinforcement LearningMarkov Decision ProcessesSignal ProcessingData-driven Mindset

Preferred

Wholesale Energy Market OperationsGrid-service Control Loops

Stack & domain

Algorithmic ControlEnergy MarketsModel Predictive ControlReinforcement LearningMarkov Decision ProcessesSignal ProcessingSQLGrafanaCommunicationData-driven MindsetEnergyBatteriesGridWholesale Energy MarketsDistributed Battery Fleet DispatchGrid-service Control Loops

About the role

As an Algorithms Engineer at Base Power, you'll develop and implement sophisticated algorithms to optimize the performance of distributed battery fleets in real-time energy markets, requiring a blend of technical expertise and a strategic mindset to navigate the dynamic landscape of energy trading.

Original posting from Base Power via Ashby

ABOUT BASE

Base is America’s next-generation power company. We’re rebuilding the foundation of modern civilization–electricity–by deploying a vast network of distributed batteries that is transforming today’s fragile, centralized grid into a resilient and abundant system. We are engineers, operators, and creatives solving some of the most complex, interdisciplinary challenges of our time.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Algorithms engineering at Base is the heart of our distributed fleet control and coordination. The fleet aggregation and distribution loop is a sequential decision making problem; algorithms engineers will work to solve this problem in a variety of settings and fleet configurations. Algorithms engineers are first-class members of our trading desk, and become part of realtime desk rotation, gaining hands on perspective about how the fleet behaves under real world conditions.

What You’ll Do

  • Build and develop algorithms for distributed battery fleet dispatch for realtime energy arbitrage and ancillary services in wholesale energy markets (e.g. ERCOT, etc).
  • Integrate wholesale energy market operations algorithms with grid-service control loops for voltage regulation and system peak shaving.
  • Participate in fleet scheduling as an on-call scheduling engineer.
  • Implement controls for first-of-its-kind concentrations of aggregated battery deployments at distribution system voltages.

What You'll Bring

  • Proven experience deploying algorithmic control for physical systems. Track record of profitability and scale in energy markets is a plus.
  • Deep understanding of any number of control or control-adjacent disciplines: e.g. model predictive control, reinforcement learning, Markov decision processes, signal processing.
  • A data-driven mindset and good communications skills; comfort working with modern tools (e.g., SQL, Grafana) to crystalize understanding of drive development work across the company (device efficiency, deployment configurations).

About this Team

The Markets team at Base is tasked with ensuring the grid-support performance and profitability of Base’s distributed battery fleet. This encompasses device communications with balancing authorities, telemetry analysis, algorithms for fleet aggregation and economic dispatch, through to financial portfolio management in wholesale energy markets. Our team is made up of physicists, economists, computer scientists, and engineers; the best candidates will bring the day-over-day intensity of an operator with the foresight to drive the long term development of simpler, more performant automated control. Success looks like building the airplane as it falls out of the sky.

Please note: Base is a startup, which means priorities shift and evolve quickly. Your role may expand or change based on the needs of the business at any given time, so the responsibilities listed may not be exhaustive.

OUR VALUES

  • First Principles Thinking: Question assumptions. Principles > rules.
  • Operate at Base Pace: Focus on what matters, act quickly, and learn by doing.
  • Give & Get Feedback: Be direct, be humble, and maintain a growth mindset.
  • Everyone’s an Owner: Follow through on commitments and own results.
  • Strong Opinions, Loosely Held: Drive clarity and make calls with imperfect information.
  • Committed to the Mission: Rebuilding the grid is a big challenge. We work hard because we care deeply about the impact we’re creating. We work in-person. It’s not a 9-to-5. We are all-in.
  • Fun & Optimism Coexist with Grit: Collaboration and celebration coincide with the intensity of building real things.

DO THE BEST WORK OF YOUR LIFE AT BASE.

Source: Base Power careers (Ashby)

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