Virtuals/FTR power trading to term products feasibility

Spent the past few years out of college in a virtuals/FTR role at a relatively quantitative shop. Enjoyed the opportunity to use my CS/programming background as part of the analytical and trading process. However, I found the overall trading workflow felt a lot more like “gaming” the quirks of ISOs’ DA/RT model rather than learning and leveraging any transferable analytical/execution skills that one things of when referring to commodities trading.

I’m very interested in continuing to work in the power industry in a speculative, risk-taking role, but have found that I am substantially more interested in the workflow and skillset involved in trading term power products. The unique combination of quantitative and fundamental analysis and the level of in-depth market knowledge required to be successful is compelling to me.

So far, I’ve only ever heard of these kinds of opportunities at supermajors, which often involve several years of “grinding it out” in a trading program with no promise of a seat in the end. If I’m very hungry to pursue this type of transition, what options are out there besides at supermajors? I’d be willing to sit for several years in an analyst role under an experienced trader (or traders) and think that my non-traditional background in both physical power/gas (co-op during uni) and in quantitative power trading (first job out of uni) would be a perfect fit for this line of work.

For any of you guys with more experience and market understanding, any insight would be very appreciated. Thanks ahead of time!