Energy Analyst / Senior Energy Analyst (PowerVAL)

Job Description

PowerVAL delivers industry-leading project valuation across all generation asset classes and U.S. power markets. Leveraging 20+ year nodal sub-hourly price forecasts and proprietary dispatch simulation models, PowerVAL determines project value at specific locations to support siting, investment, and transaction decisions. PowerVAL integrates fundamental market drivers, technology-specific operating characteristics, and regulatory dynamics to produce bankable, transaction-ready valuations. These valuations form the foundation for financing, asset acquisition, and portfolio strategy for developers, investors, banks, and utilities across solar, storage, wind, hybrid, and thermal projects.

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

• Help clients make strategic decisions in the development, acquisition, and financing of their energy assets.
• Perform in-depth analysis of power market operations using both in-house software and commercially available production cost modeling tools.
• Assimilate complex information into readily understood reports and presentations that help to drive decision making for utilities, IPPs, and other stakeholders.
• Provide clients with expertise in power markets and guidance for how market evolution impacts revenue forecasts, asset valuation, risk management, public policy, and renewable integration.
• Solve complex analytic problems to make mission critical decisions for energy supply. Serve as the go-to resource for our clients' decision-making.

Key Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in a quantitative field; economics, engineering, or energy strongly preferred.
• 1+ years of experience in a power or electricity-focused role (3+ years required for Senior Analyst) at a utility, consulting firm, government agency, financial institution, or non-profit.
• Working knowledge of wholesale power market structures and deregulated electricity market operations.
• Strong analytical skills with a demonstrated ability to interpret and communicate complex data.

Preferred

• Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in a quantitative field; economics, engineering, or energy preferred.
• Proficiency in analytic programming languages such as Python or R.
• Experience with production cost modeling software (e.g., PROMOD, PLEXOS, Aurora, PSO).
• Direct experience with long-term electricity price forecasting, project valuation, dispatch modeling, risk management, or project finance - either in an advisory capacity or as an informed consumer of these services at a utility, ISO, or corporate energy function.

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 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 $80,000-$110,000 for the Energy Analyst role and $100,000-$140,000 for Senior Analyst. 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.