As a Software Engineer at Uplight, Lauren Vossler builds tools that help people understand and reduce their energy usage. By designing machine learning models and data pipelines, she turns complex energy data into insights that promote efficiency and sustainability.
A Career Sparked by Curiosity
Lauren’s path to tech began in high school when her dad encouraged her to take a coding class offered at her school. The course used CodeHS as part of the curriculum, giving her an early hands-on introduction to programming.
“I never looked back,” she says. That first spark led her to Georgia Tech, where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science.
Her early experiences with Computer Science ranged from studying abroad in Barcelona, where she toured one of the world’s fastest supercomputers, to presenting research at a conference in Portugal. She also interned at IBM, where she gained hands-on experience in data engineering.
Turning Data into Energy Insights
Uplight’s mission is to accelerate the clean energy transition, and Lauren’s work plays a key role in that goal.
The company’s software has two main areas:
Demand Response – tools that help utilities manage energy load, such as controlling AC units during peak hours.
Customer Insights – personalized dashboards that estimate a household’s bill, break down usage patterns, and compare energy consumption with similar homes.
Lauren focuses on the second area, building machine learning models and ETL pipelines systems that Extract, Transform, and Load data so it is ready for analysis. “We take raw data, shape it into what we need, and send it where it can be used to help customers understand their energy habits,” she explains.
Making Coding Fun
For students just starting out, Lauren recommends treating programming like a puzzle or game.
“It’s fun, and it’s a game that’s applicable to life,” she says. “It will help you in the long run and it’s worth it.”
She fondly remembers her college class mascot, a stuffed animal dog named Karel. Each week, the “Coder of the Week” got to take Karel home. When Lauren earned the honor, it happened to be over break, so Karel even joined her on a flight to Ohio.
Breaking Barriers and Building Confidence
Lauren acknowledges that being a woman in tech comes with challenges, but she encourages others to persevere.
Imposter syndrome hits everyone. But you can do it. You’re just as good as everyone else. The code will show that; the code doesn’t lie.
Lauren’s journey shows how one high school coding class can lead to a career shaping the future of clean energy. By combining technical skill with a passion for sustainability, she proves that coding is not just about solving problems, but about making a real-world impact.
