Job Description

Minimum Pay Rate: $93,225.60

Maximum Pay Rate: $123,531.20

Limited Term Position: No

Civil Service Status: Civil Service

Apply by Date: 05/31/2026

Posting Type: Open

SMUD is currently recruiting for a Resource Optimization Specialist (Entry) within the Energy Trading & Contracts Resource Optimization team. This team focuses on production cost modeling for the economic planning of SMUD's resource portfolio mix. Qualified individuals will possess a strong financial and mathematic background. Experience in data analytics, statistical analysis and data science is highly preferred.

Purpose

To play a key role within the Energy Trading & Contracts Department, optimizing SMUD's resource portfolio to enhance efficiency and performance. Routinely assess optimization results and market data and provide insights that inform strategic decisions, ensuring SMUD effectively meets its energy supply and demand needs.

Nature and Scope

There are five (5) levels in this job classification series that have similar job content but with progressively more challenging degrees and levels of skill, responsibility, knowledge, experience and qualification requirements:

Flex classifications (that permit progression from lower-level classes to higher level classes without examination based upon assessment of an individual’s experience and performance) within the series:

• Entry Incumbent acquires knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the tasks associated within the series but are not yet demonstrating these at the Journey level.
• Intermediate Incumbent continues to acquire the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the tasks associated within the series but are not yet demonstrating these at the Journey level.
• Journey Incumbent is demonstrating the required skills and knowledge to independently perform the full scope of the job.

Non-Flex classifications (that promote from lower-level classes to higher level classes and require an examination, such as an interview, based upon individual experience and performance) within the series:

• Senior Advanced journey level resource who is responsible for advanced assignments, as dictated by the work needing to be performed; may serve in a lead/supervisory capacity.
• Principal Subject matter expert/lead/supervisory level and is responsible for leading the most advanced work, as dictated by the work needing to be performed.

Entry/Intermediate to Journey: Incumbents at the entry (or intermediate) level are required to successfully “progress” to the journey level within 60 months of appointment to remain within the job series.

Seniors and Principals must be hired through a promotional process and do not automatically progress from lower levels in the series.

Duties and Responsibilities

Modeling & Optimization:

• Learn about quantitative models to optimize the portfolio mix based on various parameters, such as risk tolerance, market conditions and strategic objectives.
• Assist in various analysis of multiple horizon optimization of infrastructure and long-term resource opportunities.
• Assist in ensuring all modeling inputs, including resource conditions, attributes, forecast weather, runoff, and solar are accurate and producing reasonable results for trading operations.
• Learn the management of hydro reservoir levels and forecast inflows to ensure economic dispatch in adherence to FERC Licensing and operational constraints for the purpose of maximizing assets' value.
• Learn about asset pricing signals for fuel and energy limited resources for the economic dispatch in ISO regulated markets.
• Review CAISO Generator Resource Data Template, Default Energy Bids, major maintenance adders, and CAISO Market participation system configuration for trading software development.
• Assist with all underlying assumptions of the market portfolio optimization tools and develop new functionality around trading interfaces for model interpretation and implementation.
• Monitor resource outage conditions for the reliably economic dispatch of portfolio resources.

Data Analysis & Performance Assessment:

• Assist in tracking and evaluating the performance of investments or assets within the portfolio, providing regular reports, and suggesting adjustments as needed.
• Verify resources modeled are optimized to meet NERC/WECC reliability criteria during all operating conditions.
• Review historical data for resource market and reliability performance for determination of market participation benefits.
• Recommend, when necessary, adjustments for optimizing and balancing schedules to account for system outages.
• Assess large sets of financial and operational data to determine portfolio performance and identify trends.
• Learn to assess all forecasting tools, including but not limited to price, solar, weather, and load for significant variance and economic contract viability.
• Conduct economic assessment of current resource options and market opportunities, utilizing historical and forecast data.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

Market Research & Leadership:

• Grow a high-level understanding about integrated power system operations, NERC, WECC, FERC, and CAISO policies and procedures.
• Communicate and maintain harmonious relationships with other SMUD and external stakeholders.
• Review instructions for optimization, modeling and software processes.
• Assist in the implementation of SMUD’s trading guidelines and management directives.
• Assist as a liaison for SMUD with outside organizations on issues impacting SMUD generation portfolio, including but not limited to Upper American River Project and/or Chili Bar Hydroelectric Project interest groups.
• Perform other related duties as needed; schedules, hours and locations may fluctuate based on business needs.

Required Education

• Bachelor's degree majoring in Public or Business Administration/Management, Economics, Computer Information Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, or a related field from an accredited college or university. 4 years of additional related experience required without a degree.

Required Experience Qualifications

• At least one (1+) year of equivalent professional experience in a similar position or related area, such as, but not limited to, Portfolio Optimization, Energy Trading, Resource Planning, System Operations, Risk Management, Finance, Information Systems, Contracting, Regulatory, or a field that would provide the applicable knowledge and skills, or at least six (6+) months internship at SMUD or an electrical industry related employer 5 years of related experience required without a degree.

Knowledge Of

Normal business practices and ethical behavior. Contract fundamentals, accounting and financial statements, operations, maintenance, and capital budgeting fundamentals. Qualitative statistical and economic analysis fundamentals. Computers and Microsoft product suite, as well as analytical software fundamentals. Basic electrical engineering.

Skills To

Effectively communicate verbally and in writing internally and externally. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Utilize a personal computer and/or computer terminal, systems and software relevant to the job duties. Ability to prioritize work on multiple projects with multiple deadlines. Interpret and apply industry and business policies and regulations. Evaluate large data sets related to resource capacity, energy supply and demand, transmission and related transactions. Perform quantitative and qualitative analysis to support portfolio decisions and evaluate economic impacts. Implement relevant trading directives from Management.

Desirable Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or higher from an accredited college or university majoring in Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, Business finance or a related field is preferred.
• Major coursework or experience using programming, such as Python, R or SQL.
• Coursework or experience with data analytics, data sciences, or electrical or mechanical engineering.

Physical Requirements

Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) - Who We Are

As the nation's sixth-largest community-owned electric service provider, we're proud of our reputation as one of the best places to work in Sacramento. Our employees tell us in our engagement surveys they're "Happy, satisfied and engaged" which helps create a workplace that best serves our customers. Sacramento was named as the 2nd happiest place to work in America by Forbes Magazine. Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and the world-renowned Napa Valley are within easy driving distance of our locations.

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

SMUD celebrates diversity, and inspires an inclusive culture based on trust and respect to create belonging and connection among our employees, customers, and communities. By working together, we are powering positive, equitable opportunities for all. We aspire to be a workplace where you can be yourself, achieve your best, and thrive together.

An example of our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging is when SMUD signed the California Equal Pay Pledge in 2020. This requires equal pay for employees who perform “substantially similar work,” when viewed as a composite of skill, effort, and responsibility at the time those employees started within that classification. As such, initial hiring salary range is not subject to negotiation and salaries will vary over time based on performance.

SMUD is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected characteristic. All employment decisions are made on the basis of individual qualifications, merit, and business needs and interests.

Why Sacramento, California?

The capitol of California, Sacramento is the state's sixth-largest city, and the 35th largest in the U.S. Local universities include California State University, University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law, and the University of California, Davis and several competitive community colleges. The UC Davis Medical Center, a world-renowned research hospital, is one of more than a dozen hospitals and shared services centers in the Sacramento region. Part of the agriculturally-rich Central Valley, Sacramento is at the forefront of the farm-to-fork food movement. Northern California is home to some of the country's top technology companies, including Google and LinkedIn, and a multitude of startups in many industries. Sacramento is home to the NBA Kings, the River Cats (AAA baseball), the Republic FC (soccer) and the San Francisco Giants, NBA Warriors and NFL 49er's aren't far away. Sacramento offers an affluent liberal arts community with Broadway, Mondavi Center, Crocker Museum and summer musical theater to name a few.

Hybrid Work
This position may be eligible for SMUD's remote work employee benefit, the schedule of which will be determined by the successful candidate and the Hiring Manager. SMUD takes pride in powering the Sacramento region community where we live and work. We value the strong working relationships we develop with our colleagues. Our approach to remote work will continue to evolve. Please be aware that should SMUD’s business needs change, emergencies occur, or various other reasons arise, you may be required to report onsite on a part-time or full-time basis.

CalPERS

SMUD is a CalPERS agency As a member of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), SMUD offers eligible employees access to a defined benefit pension plan along with other valuable retirement and health benefits. This program helps provide financial security both during your career and after retirement. To learn more about CalPERS and the benefits it offers, please visit www.calpers.ca.gov