Staff Algorithms Engineer, Autobidder

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Job Category
Engineering & Information Technology

Location
Palo Alto, California

Req. ID
229299

Job Type
Full-time

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What to Expect
The mission of the Autobidder team is to accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy by maximizing the value of storage and renewable assets. We achieve this by building state-of-the-art software products for monetizing front-of-the-meter and behind-the-meter energy storage systems. Our flagship product, Autobidder, is an end-to-end automation suite for wholesale electricity market participation of grid-connected batteries and renewable resources that maximizes revenues by optimally bidding in all available revenue streams in these markets. We are a multidisciplinary algorithmic trading team with expertise in machine learning, numerical optimization, software engineering, distributed systems, electricity markets and trading. We have a proven track record of operating storage assets and delivering high revenues in both utility-scale and Virtual Power Plant (VPP) settings. Our products currently manage over 7GWh of energy storage worldwide and have returned over $420 million in trading profits, and we're slated for rapid growth on the horizon.
You will be responsible for steering the evolution of Autobidder's bidding and automation algorithms. This includes rapid iterations when entering new markets and devising sophisticated algorithmic approaches to optimize revenues and increase automation in advanced markets. You will develop deep expertise in electricity markets and leverage your technical skills to craft algorithms that help Autobidder deliver best-in-class performance. You will be intimately familiar with the performance and operational nuances of assets operated by Autobidder and will serve as the feedback loop between operational learnings and algorithmic advancements to ensure our algorithms deliver real-world value. You will own production systems and be responsible for their performance, reliability, and availability. Your work will help proliferate battery storage and renewable projects around the globe.
What You’ll Do
  • Design, implement, and maintain production code for sophisticated bidding, optimization, simulation, and forecasting algorithms
  • Prototype, benchmark, deploy, and monitor advanced algorithmic features that account for uncertainties in prices and clearing outcomes, optimally allocate quantities to maximize risk-adjusted revenues, reason about interactions with strategic competitors, and account for the influence of quantity on clearing prices for large fleets of utility-scale storage assets and VPPs
  • Develop in-depth knowledge of electricity markets and grid operations, including the complex dynamics of supply and demand, market structures, and regulatory frameworks
  • Guide algorithmic decisions to balance performance and complexity while making thoughtful design and infrastructure choices that facilitate a positive developer experience in the long run
  • Design and develop tooling and simulation systems to monitor, track, and improve the field performance of assets by defining metrics, tracking performance, and driving algorithm changes to enhance asset performance under management
  • Develop monitoring systems to programmatically detect and diagnose issues
  • Plan technical roadmaps and lead execution
  • Inform product definition and business development
  • Mentor and develop a growing team of exceptional Algorithm Engineers
  • Collaborate with Machine Learning Engineers, Traders, Market Analysts, and Software Engineers to ensure algorithms drive end-to-end value
What You’ll Bring
  • Proficiency in Python with at least 6 years of experience in software development, familiarity with software development practices including Git, CI/CD, writing production-quality code, and agile development
  • Experience building real-world products and solutions using numerical optimization technology LP, MILP, nonlinear optimization, and solving real-world optimization problems using solvers such as Gurobi, XPRESS, GLPK or CPLEX
  • Expertise with relevant Python libraries such as cvxpy, pyomo, pandas, numpy, sklearn or streamlit
  • Demonstrated experience in developing and maintaining production software systems
  • Self-motivation, enthusiasm for learning and collaboration, and a passion for working in the clean energy space
  • Experience with working on cloud-hosted systems and related tooling compute services such as EC2, GCP Compute Engine, container orchestration Kubernetes or Docker
  • Degree in Mathematics, Statistics, related to numerical optimization, operations research, stochastic control, optimal control, computational finance, or equivalent experience
  • Domain expertise in forecasting, analysis, or trading in electricity markets such as ISOs like ERCOT, CAISO, PJM, AEMO, and UK National Grid
  • Experience researching, developing, and deploying new algorithmic strategies to solve novel optimization problems such as decision-making under uncertainty, scenario optimization, MDPs, financial risk modeling, complementarity problems, distributed and decentralized control
  • Familiarity with machine learning and statistical algorithms including gradient-boosted decision trees, the ARIMA family, transformers, and recurrent networks
Compensation and Benefits
Benefits

Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:
  • Aetna PPO and HSA plans > 2 medical plan options with $0 payroll deduction
  • Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits
  • Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution
  • Company Paid (Health Savings Account) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High Deductible Aetna medical plan with HSA
  • Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
  • LGBTQ+ care concierge services
  • 401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits
  • Company paid Basic Life, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions), and Paid Holidays
  • Back-up childcare and parenting support resources
  • Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance
  • Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs
  • Tesla Babies program
  • Commuter benefits
  • Employee discounts and perks program

Expected Compensation

$144,000 - $240,000/annual salary + cash and stock awards + benefits

Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.

Tesla is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.
Tesla is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.