Forward Markets Development Specialist

Contact Energy; Wellington; On-site; NZD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free health insurance

KiwiSaver boost

Contact Shares access

Home setup allowance

Parental leave policy

Product purchase/blind discounts

Job summary

Contact Energy seeks a Forward Markets Development Specialist to bridge traders and Technology, translating trading requirements into technical specs and coordinating cross-functional delivery.

The role focuses on algorithmic trading development, improving market-making of New Zealand electricity futures, and shaping the tech supporting the Forward Markets team. You’ll drive testing, data-driven improvements, and AI explorations.

Qualifications

• Experience in derivatives or financial trading environments.
• Hands-on experience with a trading system or platform.
• Knowledge of New Zealand electricity markets and electricity derivatives.
• Familiarity with programming languages such as R, Python, C# or SQL.
• Ability to unpack complex concepts and communicate them clearly across teams.

Responsibilities

• Drive the ongoing development of market-making algorithms with traders and the Technology team.
• Analyze trader feedback and algorithm data to identify opportunities and implement changes.
• Establish robust approaches to algorithm testing, including automated testing.
• Develop our trading deal capture systems as new types of transactions emerge.
• Create trading models, tools and reporting that improve speed, accuracy, and consistency of repeatable work.
• Explore how artificial intelligence could be applied across Forward Markets activities.
• Shape technology product roadmaps and priorities for the Forward Markets team.
• Share expertise to grow technical capability across the team.

Skills

Derivatives trading

Algorithmic trading

Python

C#

SQL

Team collaboration

Communication

Education

Tech/Engineering degree

Tools

Trading system

AI concepts

Job description

At Contact, we believe home is the most important place in the world. That belief shapes everything we do, from leading the energy transition to how we power Aotearoa and care for our people and communities.

We’re a power, broadband, and mobile company, but we’re also investing boldly in renewable energy and smarter, more connected ways of working ( mahi ). Our ambition is simple: to leave Aotearoa better than we found it.

Guided by our values & behaviours, we’re a team who care deeply about the work we do, how we support one another, and the impact we have. Simply put, we touch lives to make life better.

Our Wholesale Markets team connects Contact’s generation assets with the electricity market, providing access to electricity derivatives and short to mid-term risk management products. Within it, our Forward Markets team trades electricity derivatives, including market making ASX-listed New Zealand electricity futures, with technology integral to how the team operates.

As our use of technology across Forward Markets continues to evolve, we’re looking for someone with the specialist expertise to shape our algorithmic trading capability and the wider systems and tools the team relies on.

Job Description

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The Opportunity

As Forward Markets Development Specialist, you’ll sit between our traders and Technology team, turning trading requirements into clear technical requirements and bringing the right people together to take solutions from concept through to implementation.

Algorithmic trading will be a significant focus. You’ll drive the ongoing development of the algorithms that support market making of New Zealand electricity futures, using trader feedback and data to understand performance, identify opportunities and take changes through testing and implementation.

Alongside this, you’ll shape the technology supporting the wider Forward Markets team. Your mahi will include:

• Driving the ongoing development of market-making algorithms in close collaboration with traders and our Technology team.
• Analysing trader feedback and algorithm data to identify opportunities and take changes through development, testing and implementation.
• Establishing robust approaches to algorithm testing and implementation, including automated testing where appropriate.
• Developing our trading deal capture systems as new types of transactions and requirements emerge.
• Creating trading models, tools and reporting that improve the speed, accuracy and consistency of repeatable work.
• Exploring how artificial intelligence could be applied across Forward Markets activities.
• Shaping technology product roadmaps and priorities for the Forward Markets team.
• Sharing your expertise to grow technical capability across the team.

It’s a role with genuine breadth, spanning algorithmic trading, trading systems and technical development. You’ll have the scope to apply deep specialist knowledge while influencing how technology supports the team’s work.

Qualifications

Ko wai koe | About You

You might come from electricity markets, financial services or another derivatives environment. Electricity sector experience would be valuable, but we’re also interested in relevant experience from other markets where your knowledge can transfer.

You understand derivatives trading and have the technical depth to work confidently with the systems behind it. You can move between complex concepts and practical application, communicate clearly with people from different professional backgrounds, and know when to get into the detail and when to step back and see the bigger picture.

You’ll bring:

• Experience working with technology in a derivatives or financial trading environment, ideally with exposure to algorithmic trading.
• Hands-on experience using a trading system or platform and a strong understanding of the technology supporting trading activity.
• Knowledge of New Zealand electricity markets and electricity derivatives, or relevant experience from another derivatives market.
• Familiarity with programming languages such as R, Python, C# or SQL.
• The ability to unpack complex concepts and communicate them clearly to people with different areas of expertise.
• The initiative and judgement to take ownership of specialist work while collaborating effectively across teams.
• A technology, engineering, mathematical and/or commercial qualification.

You’ll thrive here if you’re curious, comfortable working through complexity, and enjoy applying your expertise to find practical ways forward.

Additional Information

If you’re looking for a senior specialist role where you can apply your expertise, tackle complex technical work and have real influence in a sophisticated trading environment, we’d love to hear from you.

Contact is not a place you’ll stagnate. We’re growing, evolving, and investing in our people.

• free health insurance cover
• boosted KiwiSaver
• access to Contact Shares
• a ‘Good to be Home’ annual payment toward your home set up & wellbeing
• a trail-blazing parental leave policy
• twice yearly payments towards our products if you’re a Contact customer

Applications close on Friday 20th November.

We love a good story at Contact, it’s what keeps our energy flowing! If you’ve got one that connects with this role,

Here at Contact Energy (Te Mata Hiko), we know our strength lies in developing a sense of belonging - one that helps us attract and retain people with a broad range of perspectives and experiences.

We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to bring their whole selves to work. Our goal is to reflect the diversity of our customers and communities to help build a better Aotearoa New Zealand.

We have a rich community of talented people that we support to thrive at Contact.

Our inclusive hiring process is designed to embrace the diversity of Aotearoa New Zealand, ensuring a wide range of perspectives are included in our decision-making and helping reduce bias along the way.

The wellbeing of our kaimahi is super important to us.

We use employee insights to offer a range of initiatives and resources to support physical, mental, financial and emotional wellbeing - including flexible working arrangements, employee network groups and a market-leading parental leave policy.

At Te Mata Hiko, we want everyone to thrive. We welcome applicants far and wide - of every age, stage, background, and pride. Join us and be part of a team that values your passion and attitude just as much as your experience and skills.

Please note, only candidates with the right to live and work in New Zealand will be considered for this role.

Research shows that while men apply to jobs where they meet 60% of the criteria, women and those in underrepresented groups tend to only apply if they tick every box.We're not about box ticking, so if you think you have what it takes but don't meet everything stated above, please still get in touch. We'd love to kōrero.

Te Mata Hiko (Contact Energy) does not accept any CVs received from recruitment agencies where a formal engagement has not been confirmed and agreed to with our Talent team. In the event that unsolicited CVs are submitted by recruitment agencies, Te Mata Hiko (Contact Energy) reserves the right to contact these candidates directly and consider them for current/future vacancies without any financial obligation to the recruitment agency in question. This will also apply to any CVs sent directly to line managers.