Optimisation Functional SME

Job Description Optimisation Functional SME Start: ASAP Duration: 6-12 months Location: Wokingham (3-days on site) Pay: Inside IR35, up to £425 /day We are seeking a technically skilled Optimisation & Algorithm Test Engineer to join a high-impact programme within the Electricity System Operator’s Balancing Transformation initiative. This pivotal role supports the development and quality assurance of a modern dispatch optimisation algorithm, working closely with Business Analysts, QA professionals, and Developers to ensure accurate and efficient algorithm functionality. Key Responsibilities • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support the Dispatch Algorithm development and testing. • Contribute to the Quality Assurance of optimisation components within the broader Balancing Transformation Programme. • Review and validate algorithmic test scenarios with business and technical teams. • Perform exploratory testing and identify defects or irregularities in algorithm performance. • Assist in developing tools and automating testing processes for optimisation algorithms. • Work closely with developers and data scientists to refine algorithm outputs and ensure reliability. Essential Skills & Experience • Proven experience in solving optimisation problems using a variety of mathematical and computational techniques. • Familiarity with mathematical programming solvers such as Gurobi for LP, QP, and MIP (MILP, MIQP, MIQCP) problems. • Strong programming skills in Python and relevant libraries for optimisation and data analysis. • Solid understanding of data collection, pre-processing, and exploratory data analysis techniques. • Experience building and deploying custom data models and algorithms to solve real-world problems. • Experience working with large datasets and drawing actionable insights. • Strong communication skills to collaborate effectively with business stakeholders and technical teams. • Experience in QA or software testing environments, ideally within algorithmic or mathematical software contexts.