Lead Modelling Software Developer

Aurora Energy Research Limited; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading energy research firm in Oxford seeks a Lead Model Developer to enhance its Chronos modelling software. The role involves developing and maintaining Python code to model battery energy storage systems and improve software quality. Candidates should have a relevant degree and at least 3 years of Python experience. The position offers a hybrid work model and various benefits, including private medical and dental insurance.

Benefits

Private Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Parental Support

Salary-Exchange Pension

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Local Oxford Discounts

Cycle-to-work Scheme

Flu Jabs

Qualifications

• 3+ years of professional experience in software development.
• Experience leading others in technical work.
• Interest in energy/decarbonization sector.

Responsibilities

• Be the in-house expert for battery dispatch modelling.
• Design and maintain Python modules in the modelling codebase.
• Translate modelling methods into production-quality code.
• Champion automated testing and modern software engineering practices.
• Participate in code reviews and technical design discussions.

Skills

Knowledge of power and energy trading methodologies

Familiarity with mathematical optimisation methods

Strong software engineering fundamentals

Professional Python experience (3+ years)

Comfortable collaborating with teams

Education

Relevant degree in Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, or Computer Science

Job description

Description

Chronos is Aurora's battery dispatch model. Written predominantly in Python, it uses optimisation techniques combined with heuristic trading policies to fundamentally model the trading decisions and physical dispatch of battery energy storage systems (BESS) across wholesale, ancillary, balancing, and real-time markets over investment time horizons (up to 2060). Used for valuing BESS assets globally -- as well as co-located sites with BESS and renewables -- Chronos's modular architecture is critical to Aurora's ability to accurately reflect the market rules and requirements of many different jurisdictions in a single configurable software ecosystem.

We’re looking for a Lead Model Developer to help us build and maintain the Python codebase behind Aurora’s Chronos modelling software product. You’ll work in a collaborative engineering environment, owning feature development and improving code quality, maintainability, and developer experience in the model stack used across our business. You will collaborate with your colleagues in the Modelling team to define practical methodologies, with your focus being on turning these approaches into robust, well‑tested, scalable software.

You’ll thrive here if you enjoy writing clean, maintainable Python, shaping libraries and packages other teams rely on, and raising engineering standards (TDD, CI/CD, reviews, readability) across a large, shared codebase.

The position suits an individual with 3+ years of experience in software development who is interested in a career applying software engineering techniques to modelling software solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Be the in-house expert for all battery and asset energy dispatch modelling
• Design, implement, and maintain Python modules/packages in the modelling codebase; own components over time and steward their quality and usability for other teams.
• Translate modelling methods into production‑quality code, collaborating with method owners in the Modelling team; ensure implementations are readable, tested, and traceable.
• Improve code quality and developer experience by refactoring for clarity, strengthening interfaces and simplifying implementations.
• Champion automated testing and TDD; driving the adoption of modern software engineering practices in the model development team.
• Participate in code reviews and technical design discussions
• Identifying and addressing architectural bottlenecks and opportunities to improve scalability and developer experience

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Required attributes:

• Knowledge of power and energy trading methodologies
• Familiarity with mathematical optimisation methods
• Strong software engineering fundamentals
• Experience of leading others in technical work
• An interest in working in the energy/decarbonization sector
• Professional Python experience (3+ years) in a commercial, team‑based software environment, delivering components used by other teams/customers
• Comfortable collaborating with Modelling, Research, and Product teams to implement methods as robust, maintainable code; motivated to raise standards for others
• A relevant degree in a quantitative field such as Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, or Computer Science

Desirable attributes:

• Experience building software using Test Driven Development and Continuous Delivery
• Experience developing modelling or simulation software, or with mathematical optimisation (LPs/MIPs) - particularly in the energy industry
• Experience in energy trading or energy generation asset simulation
• Experience stewarding internal libraries/SDKs, packaging (pyproject.toml, Poetry/uv) and dependency management at scale
• Experience in managing or mentoring junior colleagues

What we offer

Some of the benefits we include are:

• Private Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Parental Support
• Salary-Exchange Pension
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Local Oxford Discounts
• Cycle-to-work Scheme
• Flu Jabs

At AER, we are committed to offering flexibility in the way we work. Most of our roles are hybrid with a mix of in-office/home working and potentially adjustable working hours. Let’s discuss what works for you and AER during the interview process.

The Company is committed to the principle that no employee or job applicant shall receive unfavourable treatment on grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity.

To apply, please submit your Résumé / CV, a personal summary, your salary expectations and please inform us of your notice period. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept applications via email, telephone, or social media platforms. To be considered for this position, please submit your application using the link provided. Applications submitted through any other channel will not be reviewed.