Application Guide

How to Apply for Optimisation Manager

at Octopus Energy

🏢 About Octopus Energy

Octopus Energy is revolutionizing the energy sector by leveraging AI and renewable technologies to create transparent, low-carbon solutions. Their commitment to disrupting traditional energy models with innovative tech makes them an exciting place for forward-thinking professionals. Working here means contributing directly to the UK's green transition while being part of a company that values transparency and customer-centric innovation.

About This Role

As an Optimisation Manager at Octopus Energy, you'll be responsible for analyzing energy markets and grid services to develop participation strategies for various assets and customers. This role directly impacts the company's ability to maximize value from renewable technologies while navigating complex regulatory environments. You'll bridge commercial, technical, and policy teams to translate market opportunities into actionable strategies.

💡 A Day in the Life

You might start your day analyzing overnight market data to identify optimization opportunities for Octopus's battery fleet, then meet with the Trading team to refine participation strategies for upcoming capacity auctions. In the afternoon, you could be translating new grid code requirements into technical specifications for the engineering team while coordinating with policy colleagues on regulatory responses. The role balances deep analysis with cross-functional collaboration to drive market participation.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Octopus Energy Is Looking For

  • Has 3+ years of hands-on experience with GB energy markets (Elexon, National Grid ESO) and understands grid services like balancing mechanisms, frequency response, and capacity markets
  • Demonstrates proven ability to build techno-economic models for grid-tied assets (solar, wind, storage, demand response) using Python, Excel, or specialized tools like PLEXOS
  • Can show examples of translating Ofgem regulations or technical grid codes into commercial strategies that drove revenue or participation
  • Has experience collaborating with trading desks or data science teams to validate market insights through data analysis

📝 Tips for Applying to Octopus Energy

1

Quantify your market experience: Instead of saying 'worked in energy markets,' specify 'developed bidding strategies for 50MW of battery storage in the Balancing Mechanism'

2

Highlight your GB market knowledge: Mention specific experience with UK grid codes, Elexon processes, or National Grid ESO services to show immediate relevance

3

Showcase your translation skills: Include a brief example of how you turned a technical requirement (like grid connection standards) into a commercial opportunity

4

Demonstrate Octopus alignment: Reference their Kraken platform or renewable focus in your application to show you understand their tech-driven approach

5

Prepare a portfolio: Have 1-2 anonymized modeling examples or strategy documents ready to discuss, showing both rapid prototyping and comprehensive analysis

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your specific experience with GB energy markets and how it applies to Octopus's asset optimization challenges", 'Examples where you simplified complex market structures or lowered barriers to entry for new technologies', "How you've collaborated with trading teams to develop and implement market participation strategies", 'Your approach to balancing technical requirements with commercial objectives in renewable energy projects']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Octopus's specific market activities: Look into their existing participation in flexibility markets, their EV tariffs, and their 'Power-ups' demand response programs
  • → The Kraken platform: Understand how their proprietary technology platform manages assets and interacts with markets
  • → Recent regulatory changes: Research Ofgem's Access and Forward-Looking Charges reform and how it impacts distributed energy resources
  • → Octopus's global expansion: Note their operations in other markets (US, Europe) to understand how your GB experience might generalize

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through how you would evaluate participation in the Dynamic Containment market for a portfolio of residential batteries
2 How would you approach simplifying market access for Octopus's EV customers to provide grid services?
3 Describe a time you had to translate a complex regulatory change into actionable commercial strategy
4 What metrics would you use to validate the effectiveness of a new optimization strategy for solar+storage assets?
5 How would you coordinate between the Trading team and Data Science team to scope an investigation into a new revenue stream?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using generic energy market experience without specifying GB market knowledge or grid service participation
  • Focusing only on technical modeling skills without showing how they translate to commercial outcomes
  • Failing to demonstrate collaboration experience with trading, data science, or engineering teams in previous roles

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Octopus Energy !

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