Software Engineer Energy Grid Data Platform.

woodmac; United States; Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Wood Mackenzie is seeking a backend engineer to join a small team building a platform for modelling the U.S. electric transmission grid.

The role focuses on Python applications, data processing pipelines, and Linux-based infrastructure to support power-system planning and interconnection studies. This position emphasizes production-quality software, database design with PostgreSQL, and scalable ETL for large geospatial datasets.

Qualifications

• Strong practical experience developing production-quality software in Python.
• Advanced PostgreSQL and SQL capability, including query optimisation and database design.
• Solid Linux administration and troubleshooting experience, including services, networking, permissions, process management and scripting.
• Experience working with large datasets and building or operating data-processing pipelines.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and debugging skills, with the ability to work with limited day-to-day direction.

Responsibilities

• Develop, test and maintain Python applications, backend services and data-processing pipelines.
• Design, write and optimise PostgreSQL queries, database schemas and data-access patterns.
• Build and maintain reliable ETL processes for large geospatial and energy-infrastructure datasets.
• Support engineering applications used for transmission modelling, electrical-infrastructure management and power-system analysis.
• Administer, monitor and troubleshoot Linux-based application environments and deployments.
• Investigate defects and performance issues across application, database and infrastructure layers.
• Collaborate with power-systems analysts to translate engineering requirements into maintainable software solutions.
• Contribute to technical documentation, code review and pragmatic improvements to engineering practices.

Skills

Python

PostgreSQL

Linux

Data processing pipelines

Debugging

Tools

PostGIS

GeoServer

OpenLayers

Redis

AWS

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

Company

Wood Mackenzie i s a global research, analytics and consultancy business serving the natural resources industry.

We provide data, analytics and insights that help customers make informed decisions across oil, gas and LNG, power and renewables, chemicals, metals and mining.

Our sector teams are located around the world and support customers with intelligence on assets, companies and market indicators. Together, we help customers address complex challenges and support the transition to a more sustainable future.

LandGate, a Wood Mackenzie business, is a fast-growing vertical intelligence platform specialising in energy, infrastructure, and data centre site selection.

Through proprietary datasets and market intelligence, it helps customers identify, evaluate, and develop energy and infrastructure opportunities across the United States.

Role Purpose

Join a small engineering team building a platform that supports modelling and analysis of the U.S. electric transmission grid. The platform manages large geospatial datasets, ETL workflows and engineering tools used for power-system planning, transmission infrastructure, interconnection queue analysis and Available Transfer Capability studies.

This is an individual-contributor role focused on backend engineering, data processing, database development and Linux-based application infrastructure. Frontend development is a useful additional capability, but it is not central to the role.

Main Responsibilities

• Develop, test and maintain Python applications, backend services and data-processing pipelines.
• Design, write and optimise PostgreSQL queries, database schemas and data-access patterns.
• Build and maintain reliable ETL processes for large geospatial and energy-infrastructure datasets.
• Support engineering applications used for transmission modelling, electrical-infrastructure management and power-system analysis.
• Administer, monitor and troubleshoot Linux-based application environments and deployments.
• Investigate defects and performance issues across application, database and infrastructure layers.
• Collaborate with power-systems analysts to translate engineering requirements into maintainable software solutions.
• Contribute to technical documentation, code review and pragmatic improvements to engineering practices.

About You

• Strong practical experience developing production-quality software in Python.
• Advanced PostgreSQL and SQL capability, including query optimisation and database design.
• Solid Linux administration and troubleshooting experience, including services, networking, permissions, process management and scripting.
• Experience working with large datasets and building or operating data-processing pipelines.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and debugging skills, with the ability to work with limited day-to-day direction.
• Clear communication skills and the ability to collaborate with technical and domain-specialist colleagues.
• Experience with one or more of the following would be beneficial: TypeScript, Node.js, REST APIs, Angular or another modern frontend framework, PostGIS, GeoServer, OpenLayers, GIS, Redis or DragonflyDB, AWS, or distributed job processing.
• Knowledge of electric utilities or power systems, including transmission, substations, interconnection queues, ATC or power flow, would be beneficial.
• Experience with machine learning or AI-assisted data processing would be beneficial.

We recognise that experience can be gained in different ways. If you meet most of the essential requirements and are interested in the role, we encourage you to apply.

Working Arrangements

We are a hybrid working company and the