Energy Forecasting & Optimisation Specialist vs Subsurface Data Scientist: what energy employers ask for
As of 12 November 2026, Plutarch tracked 120 open Energy Forecasting & Optimisation Specialist postings and 14 open Subsurface Data Scientist postings at energy employers.
Skills and tools
Share of the postings we could read in full that name each skill: 100 for Energy Forecasting & Optimisation Specialist, 12 for Subsurface Data Scientist.
— means not among those shown on that role's own page, not that no posting names it.
| Skill or tool | Energy Forecasting & Optimisation Specialist | Subsurface Data Scientist |
|---|---|---|
| Python | 43% | 58% |
| SQL | 19% | 33% |
| Excel | 28% | 25% |
| Energy trading / power markets | 25% | — |
| ETL / ELT pipelines | — | 25% |
| Machine learning | 15% | 25% |
| Power BI | 13% | 25% |
| Reservoir modelling (Petrel) | — | 25% |
| Statistics | 23% | 25% |
| US ISO/RTO markets | 24% | — |
| Load, price or generation forecasting | 23% | — |
| Mathematical optimisation | 19% | — |
| Power systems / grid | 18% | — |
Where the postings are
— means not among those shown on that role's own page, not that no posting names it.
| Country | Energy Forecasting & Optimisation Specialist | Subsurface Data Scientist |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 49% | 43% |
| Canada | 3% | 7% |
| France | — | 7% |
| India | 5% | 7% |
| Malaysia | — | 7% |
| Germany | 6% | — |
| Australia | 3% | — |
How many postings state pay
- Energy Forecasting & Optimisation Specialist: 36 of 73 postings whose pay we could read (49%)
- Subsurface Data Scientist: 0 of 8 postings whose pay we could read (0%)
Pay levels are not compared here: each role's figures come from different countries and currencies. They are on each role's own page. Pay disclosure tracks local pay-transparency law more closely than employer policy, so the two rates partly reflect where each role is advertised.
This compares what employers ask for in the two roles; it does not count how many people hold those skills or say that one role can do the other.
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