Principal Analyst – Large Loads

Wood Mackenzie Inc.; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Wood Mackenzie is seeking a Principal Analyst to advance research on large electricity loads, including data centers and facility electrification. You will author client-facing insights, contribute to long-term demand forecasts, and collaborate with product and data teams to translate research into practical roadmap requirements.

The role requires 7+ years in the power sector with hands-on data center exposure, strong communication skills, and the ability to lead cross-functional initiatives

Qualifications

• Proven ability to translate market or client needs into product or data requirements.
• Experience authoring research or client-facing analysis (reports, forecasts, or similar).
• Strong written and oral communication, with external representation experience.

Responsibilities

• Author research reports and insights on large load topics, including regulatory changes and market dynamics.
• Serve as SME on data center technology, policy, siting, and energy supply for large loads.
• Lead AI infrastructure discussions, compute trends, DC vs. AC power architecture, and data center demand drivers.
• Engage with clients to gather feedback, use cases, and data requirements; represent research in client conversations.
• Guide and QA the work of data analysts and data scientists on large-load data extraction and vetting.
• Support sales and marketing with client conversations and internal webinars.
• Represent Wood Mackenzie at client meetings, conferences, and in-office events as needed.
• Assist consulting on large-load engagements as required.

Skills

AI infrastructure

Data center technology

Communication skills

Project management

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in engineering, energy, economics, finance, or policy

Job description

Wood Mackenzie is the global leader in analytics, insights and proprietary data across the entire energy and natural resources landscape. For over 50 years our work has guided the decisions of the world’s most influential energy producers, utilities companies, financial institutions and governments. Now, with the world’s energy system more complex and interconnected than ever before, sector‑specific views are no longer enough. That’s why we’ve redefined what’s possible with Intelligence Connected. By fusing our unparalleled proprietary data with the sharpest analytical minds, all supercharged by Synoptic AI, we deliver a clear, interconnected view of the entire value chain. Our trusted team of 2,700 experts across 30 countries breaks siloes and connects industries, markets and regions across the globe. This empowers our customers to identify risk sooner, spot opportunities faster and recalibrate strategy with confidence – whether planning days, weeks, months or decades ahead.

Wood Mackenzie Intelligence Connected WoodMac.com Wood Mackenzie Brand Video Wood Mackenzie Values Inclusive – we succeed together Trusting – we choose to trust each other Customer committed – we put customers at the heart of our decisions Future Focused – we accelerate change Curious – we turn knowledge into action

Job Description

We are looking for a Principal Analyst to join Wood Mackenzie’s Power & Renewables group, covering Large Loads (data centers, advanced manufacturing, and facility electrification). The P&R team consists of leading analysts covering some of the most cutting‑edge topics in the energy transition, including data centers, electrification, microgrids, and utility modernization. Our research and thought leadership inform the strategies of key players throughout the energy industry, driving innovative business models while hastening the energy transition. The Principal Analyst will author research and client‑facing insights on large loads — covering regulatory developments, market dynamics, and technology trends — and contribute to the team's long‑term demand forecast. They will also be a primary expert‑reference for Wood Mackenzie’s product and data teams for tool‑related conversations — understanding what customers need from our tools, translating that into concrete use cases and requirements, and partnering with the product and data science teams to validate our roadmap.

Responsibilities

• Author research reports and one‑off insights (regulatory changes, market insights, technology advancements) and contribute to the long‑term demand forecast assumptions.
• Serve as subject matter expert on data center technology, policy, siting, and energy supply for large loads; provide authoritative technical and market context to product and data teams.
• Serve as the team’s go‑to expert on AI infrastructure – compute trends, DC vs. AC power architecture, and the factors driving data center demand – informing both research and product.
• Participate in customer and client conversations to gather feedback, use cases, and data requirements; represent Wood Mackenzie research in these product‑facing conversations.
• Guide and QA the work of data analysts and data scientists in classifying, extracting, and vetting large‑load data from documents and other sources.
• Support Sales and Marketing in existing or new client conversations/presentations and internal webinars.
• Represent Wood Mackenzie at client meetings, conferences, and other Wood Mackenzie offices as needed.
• Support Wood Mackenzie’s consulting team on large load‑related engagements as needed.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise in AI infrastructure: compute (chip types, training vs. inference workloads, and how compute demand translates into power and siting requirements), the distinction between DC and AC power infrastructure within data center design, and the technical, commercial, and policy factors driving data center demand growth.
• 7+ years of industry or research experience in the power sector, with substantial, recent, hands‑on exposure to data centers or other large electricity loads.
• A track record of authoring research or client‑facing analysis (reports, forecasts, or similar).
• Demonstrated experience translating market or customer needs into product or data requirements, ideally through direct client‑or stakeholder‑facing work.
• Comfort partnering with product, data science, or other non‑research teams in ongoing, iterative workflows (standups, refinement sessions, and similar).
• A Bachelor's or Master's degree, preferably in engineering, energy, economics, finance, or policy.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to represent Wood Mackenzie externally with clients and at conferences.
• Strong organizational and project management skills — able to drive forward a workstream with multiple collaborators and moving parts.
• Ability to leverage AI tools for efficiency without compromising the correctness of the final data or product deliverables.

Equal Opportunities

We are an equal opportunities employer. This means we are committed to recruiting the best people regardless of their race, colour, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, disability or protected veteran status. You can find out more about your rights under the law at www.eeoc.gov If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over‑achievers, you’ll enjoy your career with us!

Work Experience

Our Work Experience is the combination of everything that’s unique about us: our culture, our core values, our company meetings, our commitment to sustainability, our recognition programs, but most importantly, it’s our people. Our employees are self‑disciplined, hard working, curious, trustworthy, humble, and truthful. They make choices according to what is best for the team, they live for opportunities to collaborate and make a difference, and they make us the #1 Top Workplace in the area.