Application Guide

How to Apply for Software Engineering Manager - Optimisation Team

at Amber Electric

🏢 About Amber Electric

Amber Electric is a fast-growing Australian energy tech company that uses dynamic pricing and smart technology to help consumers save money and profit from green energy. Their mission to democratize energy markets and their remote-first culture make them an exciting place for engineers passionate about sustainability and innovation.

About This Role

As the Engineering Manager for the Optimisation Team, you will lead a group of engineers building data-driven decision systems that optimize energy pricing and consumption for thousands of customers. Your work directly impacts the company's ability to empower consumers and drive the green energy transition.

💡 A Day in the Life

Your day starts with a stand-up with your distributed team, followed by 1:1s with direct reports to discuss career growth and project blockers. You'll then collaborate with product managers on roadmap priorities, review a pull request for a new forecasting model, and end the day by analyzing team metrics to identify areas for improvement.

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🎯 Who Amber Electric Is Looking For

  • Has 2+ years of engineering management experience, specifically leading machine learning teams to deliver high-impact projects.
  • Combines strong technical expertise in optimization models or time series forecasting with a service-oriented leadership style.
  • Excels at coaching and growing engineers through honest feedback and creating a collaborative, high-trust environment.
  • Thrives in a remote setting, demonstrating excellent communication and empathy across time zones.

📝 Tips for Applying to Amber Electric

1

Highlight specific examples of how you've grown ML engineers (e.g., mentoring, career development plans, or performance reviews).

2

Showcase your hands-on experience with optimization models or time series forecasting – mention libraries like Pyomo or Prophet.

3

Demonstrate your understanding of the energy industry by referencing Amber's dynamic pricing model or similar concepts.

4

In your cover letter, explain how you've contributed to product strategy and roadmap decisions as a manager.

5

Tailor your resume to emphasize remote leadership skills, such as async communication and building team culture virtually.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your passion for green energy and how it aligns with Amber's mission.", 'Proven track record of leading ML engineers to successful outcomes, with specific metrics or team achievements.', "Your technical depth in optimization or forecasting, and how you've applied it to solve real-world problems.", 'Your approach to remote team management, including how you foster collaboration and accountability.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read Amber's blog and case studies to understand their dynamic pricing algorithm and how it benefits customers.
  • → Familiarize yourself with the Australian energy market, including the role of the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).
  • → Check out Amber's engineering culture on Glassdoor or LinkedIn to understand their values and remote work practices.
  • → Review their current job openings and team structure to see how the Optimisation Team fits into the broader organization.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a time you coached an underperforming engineer and turned their performance around.
2 How would you prioritize between technical debt, new features, and team growth in a fast-paced startup?
3 Explain a complex optimization model you've built – walk through the problem, approach, and results.
4 How do you ensure alignment between engineering, product, and design in a remote setting?
5 What's your strategy for hiring and onboarding engineers to quickly ramp up on domain-specific challenges?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't focus solely on your technical skills without demonstrating leadership and people management experience.
  • Avoid generic cover letters – failing to mention Amber's mission or dynamic pricing shows lack of research.
  • Don't underestimate the remote aspect – not addressing how you manage teams asynchronously is a missed opportunity.

📅 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 Amber Electric!

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